Evening star., 1941-05-19
District Day Put
Off, Delaying
Small Loan Bill
PoIice-Firemon Pay
Increase Measure
Also Held Up
BY JAMES E. CHINN.

The House District Committee to-
day decided to forgo District Day
next Monday, automatically delay
ing until June 9 House considera-
ton of bill to regulate the small
loan business here.
The measure. which would author
lie small loan companies to Op-
crate and fix maximum interest
rate of 2 per cent per month on
the unpaid balance of loans up to
$500 is the only piece Of local legis-
1ation now on the House calendar.
It was favorably reported by the
1uli committee last Monday by a
vote of IL to 2 The committee also
decided to postpone consideration
until June 2 of bill which would
provide a substantial increase in
pay for police and firemen At that
meeting the measure will be the
special order of business.
Both delays are the result of the
expected absence from the city next
Monday of a number of members
of the committee. including Chair
man Randolph. who announced he
had to return to his congressional
district in West Virginia to make
series of commencement ad-
dresses.
Agrees on POStpOnement.
Representative Bolles, Republican,
OF Wisconsin, had expressed hope
that the committee at its meeting
today would act on the police and
fire pay bill. He subsequently agreed
to a poStponement, however, when
his attention was called to the lack
OF quorum.
Chairman Randolph told the COM
mlttee the Commissioners had SUBJ
mltted an unfavorable report or the
bill. Representative Dirksen. Re-
publican, of Illinois asked what the
proposed increases would cost the
District. When Corporation Coun-
Sci Richmond B. Keech read figures
showing the cost would amount to
approximately s1,900,000 year. in
Guiding increased pension annuities,
MIR. Dirksen declared:
1t seems to me that before we
spend any more money we ought to
get the matter of revenue out of the
way in view of the House action last
Monday in rejecting the Overton
Dill. The most important problem
before the District Committee at
this time is settling the revenue
question"
Calls Picketing Outrageous
Mr.. Bolles described as outrage
Gus the present picketing in front of
the White House by representatives
OF the American Peace Mobilization
and inquired where legislation
should originate to stop such DEM
onstrations. Mr.. Keech informed
him the White House and the side
walks around it are primarily under
Federal control and the District
Committee would have no jurisdic-
ton over such legislation.
Asked by neWspapermen after the
meeting what he proposed to do with
respect to the picketing, Mr.. Bolles
replied:
Nothing"
Mr.. Dirksen wanted to know what
had happened to a bill approved
by the Commissioners to permit
"standup" drinking at bars in il
censed on-sale liquor establishments.
Mr.. Keech told him the measure had
been referred to the Budget Bureau
for its consideration.
Stupid" Dirksen Says.
Il don't know of any experts at
the Budget Bureau on a matter like
that" Representative Dirksen re-
marked. The whole mechanics of
referring a bill like that to the bu-
reau seems little stupid"
Mr. Randolph announced that
Lyman j. Briggs, director of the Bu-
reau of Standards. had requested
a hearing on bill providing for the
closing of Van Ness street through
the institutions reservation. He
also said Secretary of Commerce
Jones had requested enactment of
the legislation because closing of the
grounds is necessary to carrying on
the work of the bureau which now is
engaged in national defense activi-
ties. Mr. Keech explained the Com
missioners had prepared an unfa-
vorable report on the bill.
No date for hearing was fixed,
however. The bill is now before the
streets and parks subcommittee,
whose chairman, Representative
Ecb,,lte Deroocra+ If Jpd;ap, ie ant
of the city