Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-10-01
aIAction Due
Today on Bill for
Police, Firenlen
Plan for Voluntary
Retirement Goes to
House for Approval
By JAMES Z. CHM.


pected to be taken in the House
today on . bill providing for the
voluntary retirement of District
police and firemen who have
reached the age Of IS and been in
the service for Is years.
Only House approval Of several
Senate amendments is necessary to
send the measure to the White
House for the signature Of Presi-
dent Roosevelt. Chairman RAN
dolph of the House District Com
mittee intends to seek House in
dorsement of these changes late
this. afternoon.
The police and firemen's retire.
ment bill is one of three District
measures Unexpectedly passed by
the Senate yesterday. At the same
time the House approved two bills
in which the District is vitality in
terested and completed legislative
action Of revised bill providing
for the regulation Of fire, marine
and casualty insurance companies
here.
Rail Underpass Authorized.
Aside from the police and fire.
mems retirement bill, the other
measures passed by the Senate and
their status follow:
/. Authorizing the Pennsylvania
Railroad to construct an underpass
across New York avenue NE. to
carry spur tracks to connect with
sidings at warehouses in that area.
House action still required.
2. Giving the Commissioners au-
thority to issue license to DR.. A. L.
Rulings to practice the healing art
Since the House approved this bill
several months ago, and no changes
were made in the Senate, it will
60 to the White House, together
with the one to regulate fire, marine
and casualty insurance companies.
One of the bills passed by the
House which still requires Senate
action would give the Smoot Sand
& Gravel Corp. dredging privileges
in the Potomac River in the vicinity
Of Four Mile Run and Hunters Creek
in exchange for land desired by the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission to prevent private de-
velopments that might mar the
scenic beauty of the Mount Vernon
Memorial highway. Altogether, the
Government would acquire about
1873 acres of land, and the sand and
gravel company would have the
privilege of removing sand and
gravel from about the same area
of Federal-owned property along
the Virginia side of the river.
Experimental Farm Approved.
Another bill passed by the Senate
last June and approved yesterday
by the House will have to go back
to the Senate for concurrence in
changes made in the House. This
measure provides for establishment
of a permanent infantry garrison
for the Army on the site of the
Agriculture Departments expert
mental farm in nearby Arlington
County, Va. This bill authorizes
an appropriation of 100000 for
acquisition of a new site for the
experimental farm. The House
Agriculture Committee said suit
able site is under consideration in
the vicinity of Beltsville. Md.
The bill also authorizes an adj
ditional appropriation of, $4,000, 900
of Federal funds for use of the
War Department for construction of
barracks and other buildings on
the present site of the experimental
farm and the acquisition of any
additional land that may be needed.
Includes White House Detail.
The major change made in the
Senate in the bill providing for the
retirement of police and firemen
would extend the plan to Is men,
bers of the United States Secret
Service assigned at the White
House for protection of the Presi-
dent. The bill as 1t passed the
House applied only to members of
the Metropolitan and United States
Park Police forces and the District
Fire Department. Majority Leader
Barley proposed the amendment.
Two other amendments were
adopted on recommendation of Sem
ator Overton, Democrat of Louisi-
ana, a member of the Senate Dis
trict Committee. One would pre-
vent voluntary retirement after Is
years service unless the age of SIS
had been reached. There was no
age limitation in the House-ap-
proved bill. The other amendment
fixes the retirement fund at $4,000
a year.
Chairman Randolph of the House
District Committee said he believed
the House would approve these
changes.