Evening star., 1941-04-17
8District Bills
Reported Out
By Senate Unit
Hunkin's S Fitness
For Utilities Post
Is Questioned

Eight bills we're reported favorably
by the Senate District Committee to-
day, including a House-approved
measure adding reckless driving to
the financial responsibility law.
Although the nomination of Gre
CORY Hankin for place on the
Public Utilities Commission was not
ready for consideration today, Sen
ator McCarran, Democrat, of Ne
vada raised a question as to his spe-
cial training for the post.
The Nevada Senator, chairman of
a special subcommittee in charge of
the nomination, said the nominee
has high educational attainments,
but that several weeks of study has
failed to disclose any special training
for the Utilities Commission, which,
the Senator said, is specialized
field of public service.
Favors ID. C. Residents.
The Hankin nomination was re-
ferred to while Senator McCarran
was explaining a bill he has intro
duced to repeal part of the residence
requirement for appointees to the
utilities board. Senator McCarran
Is proposing to strike out the stipula-
ton that a nominee shall not have
voted in any other place for three
years preceding appointment.
He explained that this question
does not affect the Hankin nomina-
ton, but that in studying the util-
tiles law 1t occurred to him the
voting clause may be circumscribing
the President in making appoint
ments.
Senator McCarran told the COM
mittee he is very much possessed
of the idea that all District posi-
tions should be filled as far as pos
siple by actual residents of Wash
ington," but thought the three-year
non-voting clause may be prevent
ing the appointment of qualified
men who have lived in the District
for long time but who have re-
tained the right to vote in one of
the States.
The Nevada Senator did not press
for action on his bill today and it
was postponed,
Traffic Safety Measure.
The traffic safety measure pro-
vides that persons convicted of
reckless driving involving personal
injury would be required to show
financial responsibility before they
could resume operation of car.
The present law applies only to the
offenses of driving while drunk and
leaving after colliding
The seven other bills approved also
have passed the House and cover
the following subjects:
To authorize the Commissioners to
extend streets across rarely used
railroad sidings without construct
ing underpasSes, but subject to
safety requirements.
To enable the Federal Security
Agency to accept gifts for Freed
mems Hospital.
To enlarge the powers of the police
property clerk in restoring property
to its owners.
To permit the Traffic Bureau to
Issue congressional tags to the tally
clerk of the House.
Eight Bills Put Off.
To extend the benefits OF the
school teachers retirement system
to Charlotte 4. Hunter.
To authorize the Red Cross to
erect a new recreation building at
st. Elizabeth's Hospital.
The committee also reported IA
vorably a bill not yet passed by the
House authorizing the Pennsylvania
Railroad to extend siding across
New York avenue NE.
The committee debated but post
poned action on eight other bills, in
cluding the measure to authorize
minors to take part in professional
stage performances, which was re-
ferred back to the Commissioners
for the consideration of safeguard
ing amendments suggested by Mrs.
Louis Gutenberg.
Among the other bills put off for
further study were these: To require
the finger printing of purchasers of
firearms; to increase the pay of po-
licemen and firemen; to give the
of insurance broader
authority to regulate companies car
rying taxicab insurance, and bill to
authorize the District government to
buy steam heat for its new buildings
from the Federal heating plant. The
last bill probably will be reported
after Chairman Reynolds confers
with Engineer Commissioner Nc
Coach regarding details.