Evening star., 1942-04-16
Bill 10 Create
D. {. Recreation
Unit Approved
House Committee
Delays Action on
Firm Tox Change


The House District Committee
today asked the House to accept
Senate amendments TO the bill es-
tabIishing q seven member recrea-
ton board for the Capital.
The members. however, postponed
until 10 am. Monday action on
proposed amendment 10 the District
corporation income tax law designed
10 limit the tax and license require
ments only to firms maintaining Of
fces here.
The committee also postponed for
consideration next week a bill to let
down the coming bars against oper-
alton OF rooming and boarding
houses In residential areas during
the emergency and agreed to hold a
hearing.
After objections from Corpora
ton Counsel Richmond B. Keech
that two proposed bills providing
for scientific tests of drunken driv-
srs might be unconstitutional,
Chairman Randolph asked Mr..
Keech TO study the measures and
draw up another bill satisfactory to
the Commissioners.
Speedy Action Asked.
With but a few minor changes,
the recreation bill accepted by the
committee is the same as that which
passed the House last summer.
Representative Hunter, Democrat. of
Ohio, who sponsored the House bill,
told the committee he had conferred
with all interested parties and found
no opposition to the Senate changes.
The measure provides for opera
tion by the board OF public recrea-
ton facilities controlled by the
Board OF Education. the Commis-
Capital Parks. Members of the
three agencies would be represented
on the proposed board, with the
other four being citizens appointed
by the Commissioners. Unified rec
reation administration has been
sought by District organizations for
more than a decade.
Harry S. Wender, first vice preSi-
dent of the Federation of Citizens
Associations. asked the committee
TO expedite House action on the bill.
Under a recent amendment to the
income tax law, out-of-town firms
doing business here are required to
take out a $40 license subject to stiff
penalties for failure to comply.
Their income earned in the District
Is subject to per cent levy.
Another amendment proposed by
Representative D'Alesandro, Demo-
crat. of Maryland would limit the
application of the previous amend
ment only to firms with Offices here.
Drop In Revenue Forecast.
Chairman Hunter of the Fiscal
Affairs Subcommittee at first recon-
mended approval OF the D'Alesandro
measure, but then asked for the
postponement when Commissioner
Young and Mr.. Keech asked that
consideration be given to changes
they thought would clarity the sit
uation.
Assistant Corporation Counsel
Glenn Simmon explained that under
the D'Alesandro proposal, the Dis
trict might be barred from taxing
income on investments here where
the owners might have Offices else
where.
Mr.. Keech estimated the D'Ales-
andre proposal might cost the Dis
trict some $l8o,000 In revenue.
Decision to hold a hearing on the
zoning bill came after Commissioner
Young said he thought measure of
such Importance should have the
views OF the community. Chairman
Randolph agreed,
The Commissioners have entered
no objection" to the measure, but
Mr.. Randolph said that because of
its Importance he preferred either a
recommendation for its passage or a
definite opposition.
Constitutional Question Raised.
While asserting the interest of the
Commissioners in the proposal of
scientific tests for drunken drivers,
Mr.. Keech told the committee the
present bills as drawn won't serve
any real purpose" because they pro-
vide merely for the establishment
Of facilities and personnel to make
the tests Because evidence obtained
from such tests might be of self-in-
eliminating nature, Mr.. Keech in
dicated the constitutional question
should be explored
Mr Keech was also asked TO look
into a proposed bill changing the
name OF Woodley place NV. to
Twenty-third street to eliminate
confusion because Of the proximity
Of Woodley place TO Woodley road,
The corporation counsel lives on
Woodley place.
The committee decided 10 give
further study to Senate bill re-
Quiring American citizenship of
doctors prscticing here after Mr.
D'Alesandro charged the bill was
discriminatory.
Tive Bills Reported Favorably.
The committee reported out IA
vorsbly bills which would:
Authorize public school jsnitors
to receive overtime pay for services
provided out of hours 10 draft
boards and other organizations even
though such compensation together
with their salary exceeds the $4,000
limit imposed on Federal employees
holding more than one job.
Reduce requirements for drivers
of ambulances and funeral cars
who must now know as much about
various locations here as taxicab
drivers. 1t was explained that per-
sonal problems now make IL difficult
TO And drivers with that back
ground,
Arlington Scout Troop