Evening star., 1942-02-08
House Groups
To Take Up DC.
Bills Tomorrow
Fund for Housing, \
Control Of Parking
Fees Among Measures

Legislation designed to alleviate
several of Washington's wartime
problems, ranging from the acute
housing shortage to alleged profit
eering by some automobile parking
lots and public garages, Is scheduled
for consideration tomorrow by the
House and two of It's committees.
Briefly, the program is:
l. The Rules Committee will meet
at 10 am. to consider the applica-
ton of Chairman Lanham of the
Buildings and Grounds COMMITTEES
for a privileged status on the House
for a bill authorizing a
$50 ,000, 900 appropriation for con-
struction of homes in the District
and its Metropolitan Area for Gov
eminent workers and the accompa-
nying necessary public works.
2. The District Committee at the
same time will begin hearings on a
bill to give the Public Utilities Com
mission control over rates charged
in commercial garages and on park
ing lots.
In the House, later in the day,
action will be sought on two District
bills. One would raise the maxi
mum pay of police and firemen, up
to and including the rank of cap
tain, $500 a year. The other is de-
signed to curtail the working hours
Of BARRIERS and to force barbershops
to close one day a week.
Commissioners to Testify.
Approval by the Rules Committee
Of Mr.. Lanham's request would vir-
tually assure House consideration
Tuesday Of the $50 100000 bill which
he Is trying to expedite because of
the lack of housing for the steadily
rising influx of Government en-
ployes. Under present plans $40
900 900 would be used for building
10000 housing units and $4,000 900
for extending such public services
as schools. hospitals. water and
highways and police and fire protec-
ton.
Principal witnesses called before
the District Committee to outline
their views on the parking fee con-
troll bill include the Commissioners,
Chairman Gregory Hankin of the
Public Utilities Commission and
Traffic Director William A. Van
Duzer. Representative Dirksen,
Republican, of Illinois. sponsor of
the measure, has charged that
parking rates are excessive" and
border on "profiteering."
Mr.. Dirksen is ranking minority
member of the District Committee.
His charge has recently been sup
ported by two House members who
are not on the committee-Repre
sentatives Ford, Democrat. of Cali
fornia and Plumley, Republican, of
Vermont.
Previous Bill Defeated.
House action on the barber shop
closing and police and firemen pay
bills will be asked by Representative
Schultz, Democrat, of Indiana, who
introduced both measures and
piloted them through the District
Committee.
Mr.. Schulte's original bill to in
crease the pay of police and fire.
men, calling for $500 a year rises
Tor all members from the police and
fire chiefs down to privates, was re-
Jected by the House about thres
weeks ago. He is confident. how
ever, the House will approve the
compromise" plan.
The barber bill-result of COM
plants that BARRIERS are impairinr
their health working from so to 80
hours week-would allow the bar
bers themselves. by a majority vote
IN a referendum, to decide the daily
opening and closing hours of the
shops in which they work as well
as the one day in seven which the
shops would close. One of the pur-
poses of the legislation. it is said,
Is to force all barber shops to close
on Sunday.
The House tomorrow also Is ex-
pected to take final action on a de-
fciency appropriation bill which
carries 1898 .803 to meet anticipated
shortages in the municipal budget
for the current fiscal year ending
June 30. A major portion of the
additional money is needed to
finance Improvements and increase
the staff at the Home for the Aged
pay the salaries and provide equip.
ment for 95 new members of the
metropolitan police force and six
men added to the park police force.
and 1nflrm at Blue Plains and to