Evening star., 1941-04-15
D. T.. BIackout Bill
Is Expected 10 Get
Early Consideration
House Also Receives PIon
To Buy Old Abottoir
Site for $500, 900

Chairman Randolph OF the House
District Committee today promised
early consideration of his bill author
izing the Commissioners to make
preparations for series of expert
mental blackoutS here and in nearby
Maryland and Virginia.
His measure was one of three in
troduced yesterday that directly af-
fects the District. The others would {:
Authorize purchase by the Federal
Government, at a cost not to exceed
$500 900, a l7-acre site in Benning
formerly used as a stockyard and
abattoir.
Give additional powers to the Alley
Dwelling Authority so it can remove
slum conditions in areas other than
inhabited alleys.
In addition, the Commissioners
sent to Congress for introduction a
draft of a proposed bill designed to
give the Board of Public Welfare
increased authority to protect chill
dren born out of Wedlock and those
in danger of becoming delinquent.
Stimson Indorses Plan.
Representative Randolph intro
duced the bill providing for trial
blackouts after Secretary of War
Stimson gave his Endorsement to the
plan and promised the cooperation
of the War Department.
The bill authorizing Government
acquisition of the old abbatoir site in
Benning was sponsored by Repre-
sentative Boykin, Democrat, of Ala
bama, q member of the House Com
mittee on Public Buildings and
Grounds, to which it was referred.
Mr.. Boykin believes the property
could be used either as public
park or as a site for a new Gov
ernment building in view of the diff
ficulty Federal officials are having
in finding locations here for new
structures to house defense works
offices.
The 17-acre site was the subject
of bitter controversy few years
ago when the Adolf Gobel Packing
Co. made plans to rebuild an aban-
doned meat packing plant and
slaughter house that once f1ourished
there. Secretary of the Interior
Icks led a fight that ultimately re-
suited in abandonment of these
plans.
Could Be Transferred to d. c.
Representative Boykin's bill pro-
vides that in event the Federal
Government has no use for the
property it could be transferred to
the District government and used
for municipal purposes. The Dis
trict, however, would be required to
repay the Federal Government the
amount of the purchase price.
Representative Randolph intro
duced the Alley Dwelling Author
ity bill The measure would en-
power the Authority to investigate
substandard housing conditions
here and to hold hearings for the
purpose of determining sections
that have undesirable habitation.
The Authority's determination of
SuDStandard housing cOndltl0nS ana
the property necessary to be taken"
to eliminate them would be made
conclusive"
The principal purpose of the pro-
posed legislation of the Commits
sioners to increase the authority
of the Board of Public Welfare over
children in need of protection, ac-
cording to Corporation Counsel
Richmond B. Keech, is to make pro-
visions of existing law conform with
social security laws.
The board, however, would be
given authority to assume RESPONSE
bility for the care and support OF
neglected children" under 18
years of age needing public care
away from their homes when such
need has been determined by care
full investigation and Is requested