Evening star., 1941-07-15
2.Cent Increase
In D. +. Gas Tax
Asked in Bill
Revenue Would Go
Toward $4,000, 900
Street Improvements

The House District Committee
had before it for consideration to-
day two bills introduced by Chair
man Randolph at the request OF
the Commissioners. one of which
Rould increase the local gasoline
tax from 2 to 4 cents a gallon, ef-
fective January l. 1912, as means
of raising additional revenue to help
finance the proposed S44 900, 900
highway improvement program.
The other would modify existing
law to relieve abutting property
owners of paying so per cent of the
cost of new roadway construction
but would require them to continue
to pay half the cost of laying curbs
and cutters.
The Accent gasoline tax. under
provisions of the bill would re-
main il effect until June 80, 1949,
when the new highway program is
expected to be completed.
Almost simultaneous with intro
duction of the two bills the House
passed seven District measures on
its calender and sent them to the
Senate. And later in the day ar
rangements were made ia resume
public hearings tomorrow at 10
q m. on legislation designed to fix
and control rentals here, and on
the following day at the same time
on a bill which would mOdernize the
36-year-old fire. prevention law.
Price Official to Testify.
The hearing on the rent-control
bill will be held before the special
defense subcommittee of the House
District Committee. The principal
witness will be Sidney Simpson. le-
gal expert in the office of Federal
Price Control Administrator Leon
Henderson, who last week gave his
Endorsement TO local rent-control
legislation.
A special subcommittee headed by
Representative Harris. Democrat, OF
Arkansas will hold the hearing on
the fire prevention bill He was ap-
pointed chairman as a result of the
death last week of the former head
Representative Bolles. Republican,
Of Wisconsin. Representative Cope
land, Republican. of Nebraska has
been appointed to fill the vacancy
on the subcommittee caused by the
death of Mr.. Bolles.
Three Of the outstanding bills on
the House calendar passed yeSter-
day would:
Reorganize and coordinate recre-
etional activities here and place
supervision and control under a
board of seven members.
Establish an industrial accident
prevention board to enforce exist
Ing safety laws and promulgate other
regulations to safeguard industrial
workers if necessary.
Allow minors IA years Of age or
over to participate in professional
concerts and theatrical productions
for pay.
More Money Sought for Building.
The four other approved bills
would:
Tighten restrictions placed on the
confidential records of the Board Of
Public Welfare relating to appli-
cants for public assistance.
Authorize an increase in the cost
of the new building for the recorder
Of deeds, now under construction at
Sixth and D streets NV. from
s450O00 to s500000
Permit Out-Of-toWn sightseeing
buses to engage in "occasional'
operations here without paying the
present Sl0O annual license fee.
Authorize the L. P. Steuart Co. to
construct pipe lines for carrying
petroleum and its by-products in
the vicinity of Thirteenth and M
streets Sc.
The seven bills were rushed
through the House in about 30
minutes.
Three Bills Sidetracked.
However, three other District bills
on the House calendar-all regarded
as controversial-were sidetracked
until the next District day, July 28
One would authorize small loan COM
panies to operate here at an interest
rate of 2 per cent month on the
unpaid balance of loans up to $500
Another would prohibit advertising
of liquor prices by any medium. !"
The third would provide substantial
pay increases for members of the
police and fire departments.
The bill designed to bring about
coordination of reCreational activi-
ties-one of the most important local
measures brought before the House
at the present session of Congress
provides for creation of a board Of
seven members to supervise and con-
troll play activities. Four of the
members would be appointed by the
Commissioners. The remaining three
would be member of the Board Of
Commissioners, a representative of
the Board of Education, and the
superintendent of National Capital
Parks. The board would appoint as
the executive officer superintendent
of recreation who would serve on a
year-to-year basis at salary not TO
exceed $4,000 per annum.
The proposed accident prevention
board would be composed of three
members who would serve without
compensation. All three would be
appointed by the Commissioners.
One would represent the public,
another labor, and the third en-
ployers.