Evening star., 1941-08-03
Vital D. T.. Bills
Nearing Action
By House Units
Cos Tax, Criminal
Law Teeth Coming
Up This Week
By JAMES E. CHINN.

NO~e~~
In existing vagrancy and habitual
criminals laws, is scheduled to re-
ceive consideration this week by
House committees.
Six measures affecting the Capital
may move another step toward en-
actment during the week.
First action is expected tomorrow
at the regular meeting of the Dis
trict Committee. Chairman Ran
dolph will seek approval of two bills
to strengthen the vagrancy and ha-
bitual criminal laws, both OF which
are an outgrowth of the recent in
vestigation of the Metropolitan Po-
lice Department by the Schultz sub
committee.
Four Other Bills Pending.
Four other measures on which
action is likely to be taken by sub
committees before the close OF the
week would:
I. Provide for consolidation OF the
Police and Municipal courts and the
creation of an intermediate court OF
appeals.
2. Modernize the 36-year-old fire
prevention law.
3 Increase the local gasoline tax
from 2 to 4 cents a gallon to help
finance the proposed $44 ,O00
highway improvement program.
4. Further liberalize the unem-
olovment compensation act by eS-
tablishing a graduated scale OF pay
roll taxes for employers ranging
from the present 81 per cent levy
down to a minimum of one hall OF
one per cent depending on the size
of the fund for payment OF benent
claims.
The court merger and unemploy-
ment compensation bills are pend
ting in the judiciary subcommittee
headed by Representative McGehee'
Democrat, of Mississippi. He re-
vealed last night some minor
changes probably would be made
in each of them before they are
put into shape to report to the 1uil
committee.
Changes Considered.
Alterations in the court conSon-
dation measure on which "a series
of public hearings already nave
been held, Mr.. McGehee said, would
Involve chiefly provisions relating
to administration.
The merged court would be known
as the municipal court OF the Dis
Trict and judges would be appointed
for 10-year terms and would be ell
-rible for retirement on two-thirds
salary at the expiration OF 20 years
service. Some change might be made,
Representative McGehee intlmated,
in the length of time judge would
have to serve before becoming ELL
gible for retirement.
Every effort will be made to COM
plete revisions in the bill the early
part of the week. Mr.. McGehee
declared, so it can be placed on the
House calendar in time for consid-
Grafton August IL, the next District
day. He plans to ask Chairman Ran
dolph to call special meeting OF
the committee after the changes
are approved by the subcommittee.
Gas Tax Hike to Come Up.
Representative McGehee explained
that a new bill for revising the un-
employment compensation law en-
bodying changes in the measure
he sponsored several months ago
may be introduced in order to give
his subcommittee "a clean" copy.
Consideration of the bill to raise
the gasoline tax is scheduled to be
resumed at 10 am. Tuesday before
the Fiscal Affairs Subcommittee of
which Representative Hunter, Dem
ocrat. of Ohio is chairman. Several
hearings have been held on this
measure, and Mr. Hunter called
the meeting Tuesday primarily to
find out what disposition the sub
committee wanted to make OF It..
In view of the ban on night gaso-
line sales suggested by Defense Pc
troleum Co-ordinator IckeS for the
District and II Eastern States, an
other heating may be called to find
out from motor fuel experts what
effect the pm. to am. "blackout'
on sales might have on gasoline tax
revenue here.
Fire Prevention Bill Revised.
Chairman Harris of special sub
committee considering bill to
tighten the fire-prevention law, said
his group probably would meet dur
ing the week to act on a revised
draft of the original measure.
Changes will be made to give the
Commissioners authority to make
regulations with respect to fire
safety with certain limitations" p"
These revisions are being made, he
declared, with the approval OF the
Commissioners and officials of the
Fire Department.
The plan of Senator McKellar,
Democrat, of Tennessee to strip the
Commissioners of all authority over
the Police Department and give alb
solute control to a police commits
sioner appointed by the President,
has failed so far to receive any
support on the House side OF the
Capitol.
The only House member who
could be found to comment on the
proposal yeSterday-RepreSentatlVe
Schultz, Democrat, of Indiana
said he believed its adoption would
"demoralize" the police force.
LET Police Alone" Says Schultz.
"Let's let the Police Department
alone now and give the Commits
sioners a chance to carry out the
recommendations of the subcom-
mittee," he declared. Il am conf
dent that things will straighten
themselves out.
There are very good men now in
the department capable of running
it and Senator McKellar's proposal
is Just another reason why the dis
franchised people of the District
should be given an opportunity to
govern themselves"
The House Public Buildings ana
Grounds Committee will resume its