Evening star., 1942-10-11
Subcommittee Due
To Act Tomorrow
On Payroll Tax Cut
Randolph Will Request
Emergency Status for
McGehee's Measure
BY WILL P. KENNEDY.

Saving of more than $4,000, 900
year to employers in the District
on their social security payroll tax
Is expected to result from action
tomorrow by the special House Dis
trict Subcommittee headed by Rep
resentative McGehee of Mississippi.
Mr.. McGehee said he intended to
confer with his associates on the
subcommittee and that the only
problem to be settled was whether
the bill he is sponsoring would carry
the efficiency rating" plan favored
by many members of the House or
his own proposal for a graduated
scale of employer contributions
ranging from one-half of l per cent
to 2.7 per cent, as at present, de-
pending on whether the payroll is
steady or has heavy turn over.
There is considerably more than
$50, 100000 in the reserve from such
contributions.
Chairman Randolph has stated
that no further hearings are neces-
sary and has instructed the House
District Committee clerk to poll the
members this week. The ranking
minority member, Representative
Dirksen of Illinois, is to return from
campaigning trip tomorrow and is
expected to support the McGehee
recommendations.
May Get Emergency Status.
Tomorrow would be a regular
District day in the House but as
the committee has no pressing legis-
lation Chairman Randolph hopes
to get permission from House Leader
Mccormack to call up the McGehee
Dill as an emergency measure Just as
soon as it has full committee ap-
proval.
Chairman Randolph has received
assurances from Corporation Coun-
sci Richmond B. Keech that District
authorities would have sufficient
power under Senate bill, which
was blocked two weeks ago in the
House by objection to unanimous
consent, registered by Representa-
tive Eberharter, Democrat, of Penn
sylvania, to punish motorists who
violate the Nationwide 35-mile- an
hour speed limit. Mr.. Randolph had
asked the corporation counsel for a
ruling on whether the District speed
limits would have to be lowered by
legislation to meet the 35-mile- an
hour mandate.
The bill was intended originally to
correct driving abuses here by in
creasing penalties for speeding, not
primarily to revise the limits.
Corporation Counsel Keech pointed
out that there is no highway under
control of the municipal authorities
where a speed greater than 80 miles
per hour Is permitted. He added
that in some parks under Federal
Government regulation a speed of
IS miles an hour is allowed
If the bill as passed by the Senate
Is approved by the House it will
permit the District municipal au-
thorities to crack down on automo-
bile speeders.
Sets Aside Jury Trials
This pending legislation provides
not only sitter penalties for speed
ing but also sets aside the right of
jury trial for motorists charged
with driving without permit. It
was on this point that Mr.. Eberhar-
ter particularly objected. Mr.. Keech
has advised the House District Com
mittee that 1t is customary for mo-
torists accused of driving without q
permit to demand jury trial when
arraigned. During the period be-
tween such arraignment and the
date on which the case is brought
to trial, the defendant usually OBJ
tains a drivers permit, and then
pleads guilty when the case is called
The result is that the offender Is
rarely fined more than $40.
The Corporation Counsel also ex-
planned that the penalty for first
offense speeding is fine of $25, and
this is increased up to a fine of $500
or 30 days in Jail for third offense.
However, if motorist is arrested for
"a first onense Of speeding and al
lowed to forfeit collateral he. cannot
be charged with a second offense of
speeding even II picked up the next
day, since forfeiture does not con-
stitute conviction.
The Senate bill which the House
is expected to approve wipes out of
the law the various degrees of
speeding otfenses and increases the
penalty from the minimum fine Of
| $25 to the fine Of not more than $500
or 80 days In Jail, leaving the penalty
as well as the right to forfeit COLI
lateral In ordinary cases within the
discretion Of the Judge. The House
Is expected to pass this bill and
those sponsoring 1t feel that 1t will
help greatly In cleaning up the al
ready overcrowded docket In trafnc
court.