Evening star., 1941-07-27
New HearingSef
On Po|iceCourt
House Subcommittee
Hopes to Complete
Testimony Tuesday
BY JAMES E. CHINN.

Plans were made last night by
Chairman McGehee of the Judiciary
Subcommittee of the House District
Committee to complete public hear
ings Tuesday on a bill providing
for consolidation of the Police and
Municipal Courts and the establish
ment of an intermediate court of
appeals
The principal witnesses. Repre-
sentative McGehee said. would be
Walter F. Bramhall, chief clerk of
Police Court, and Harlan Wood a
member of the Municipal Court
Committee of the District Bar As
sociation.
Under provisions of the bill. spon-
sored by Chairman Randolph of the
House District Committee. the con-
solidated court would be known as
the Municipal Court of the District.
Judges would be appointed for 10
year terms and would be eligible
for retirement on two-third salary
at the expiration of 20 years service.
Strong support already has been
given the measure by Judge Walter
j. Casey of Police Court and mem
oers of the Bar Associat ton.
Gas Tax Hearing Tuesday.
1he Fiscal Affairs Subcommittee
headed by Representative Hunter,
Democrat, of Ohio, will hold a hear
ing Tuesday on a measure recon-
mended by the Commissioners which
would raise the local gasoline tax
from 2 to 4 cents a gallon to help
nnance the proposed s44.500O0O
highway improvement program.
Representative of motor oreaniza-
tlons will be among the witnesses.
Both hearings are scheduled 10
begin at 10 am.
Another hearing on the easolin~
tax increase bill also is planned h.
the Fiscal Affairs Subcommittee
wednesday at which representa-
tlves OF civic organizations will be
given an opportunity TO expres3
their views.
Paving Cost Bill Up,
The House District Committee al
It's weekly meeting at 1920 am. to-
morrow is scheduled to consider
three bills, one of which would
modify the paving assessment law
to relieve abutting property owners
/ OF paying one-half the cost of new
roadWays but would require them to
! continue TO pay so per cent Of the
cost OF construction of curbs and
cutters. Another, recommended by
Chief Justice D. Lawrence Groner
OF the United States Court of Ap-
! peals for the District. would give
assistant clerks of the court the title
of deputy clerks with authority to
authenticate official papers.
! The Office of assistant clerk"
Chief Justice Groner wrote the COM
mlttee, lis an anomaly. 1t should
In any case be made uniform and
made to conform with the statutes
IN reference to clerks of Federal
/ District Courts elsewhere.
! He also pointed out that enact
ment of the proposed legislation
would involve no increase in salaries
or other additional cost.
Dupont Circle Hearing.
The third bill slated for consid-
Grafton is intended to modify exist
ing law relating to the annual sale
of tax certificates on property on
which taxes have become delinquent.
Hearings are to be continued Tues
day and Wednesday on the custer
of 700 to 1000 tenants of the Dupont
Circle Apartments because the Gov
eminent was taking over the build
ing for Office space The hearings
are to be held before the House
Committee on Public Buildings and
Grounds, which has before it a reso-
luton calling for decentralization
of Federal Government activities
due to the overcrowded condition
here since the defense program be-
gan.
Last week witnesses before the
committee charged there was Sub
/ terfuge" in concealing the owner.
of the apartment and the identit
of those responsible for initiati-
the lease Of the building.