Evening star., 1942-01-25
Randolph Seeks
QuickActionlo on
Tire Theft Bill
A. D. A. and 'Boby
Broker Measures
Also to Come Up

dOuSS approval Oh leBlSldtlOu
making tire thefts In the District
punishable as felonies, step
deemed necessary because Of 80 such
o1enses here since January /, is
anticipated tomorrow by Chairman
Randolph Of the House District
Committee.
Although the price-control bill
will have the right of way, Repre-
sentative Randolph hopes to have
the tire bill called up for considera-
tion. Under it, the theft OF tires
and other automobile accessories,
made doubly dear by rationing,
would call for penalties up to 10
pears In prison.
Other d. C. Measures.
Three other District measures
Mr.. Randolph expects to present
for passage by unanimous consent
would:
I. Authorize the Alley Dwelling
Authority to borrow from both pri-
vate and public sources to carry
forward its $15,000,000 low-rent
housing program.
I. OUTLAW "baby broker concerns
by requiring licensing of all child
placement agencies and prohibit-
ing them from charging fees for
finding foster homes for youngsters.
8. Permit the vestry of Rock
Creek Parish to use now restricted
sites in Rock Creek Cemetery as
burial plots.
Mccormack to Cooperate.
House Leader Mccormack said he
feels sure that it will be possible to
call up and pass these non-contro-
versial measures after the price
control bill has been disposed OF.
He said it is his general policy to
allow District measures to be
brought up at any time under unan-
imous consent instead of waiting
for regular District days and that
he will cooperate with Mr.. Ran
dolph.
Action on the Schultz bill provid-
ing $500 annual salary increases for
District firemen and Metropolitan,
Park and White House police will be
sought later, Mr.. Randolph said, but
because Of its controversial nature,
this measure will not be permitted
to delay consideration OF other
legislation. ..-......
In urging favorable action on the
tire bill MIR. Randolph's report says:
Transportation at the seat of gov
eminent is a matter OF vital con-
Germ and Importance. This bill Is
designed to protect this transporta-
ton during war or other emergen-
cies. Its provisions become opera
tive whenever the sale or use OF any
of enumerated articles is restricted,
persuant to any law of the Upited
States" He emphasized that this
measure is intended primarily to
cover situations where thieves strip
tires or other accessories, or drain
gasoline, from cars parked on the
public highways of the District.
The legislation, he explained, is
sufficiently broad to cover thefts of
equipment from bicycles and other
vehicles.
At the present time, theft of tires
or other accessories with a value
of less than $50 is simply a misde-
meanor punishable by fine of not
more than 5000, Imprisonment for
not more than one year, or both.
DorL;-- min - NJ D,~h>S
voicing hope that the legislation
would be enacted without delay,
Traffic Director William A. Van
Duzer yesterday urged motorists to
keep record of the serial numbers
of their tires for their own pro-
lection. He pointed out that, in
the event a drivers tires are stolen,
he can aid police by giving them
the serial numbers.
District officials still are consid-
ering an amendment to the automo-
bile code which would provide that
no vehicle receive green inspec-
tion sticker unless tire serial num-
bers were visible. This was sug-
gested about a month ago, but Mr..
Van DuZer said action on the pro-
posal had been withheld pending a
check to see how much additional
work the plan would entail at the
inspection stations.
Mr.. Randolph said late yesterday
that he also will seek committee
action this week on the bill author
i1ipo fha nicfrict tCo,,,r,iee;ooar. -
operate municipal parking lots on
the fringe" of downtown areas,
and also for erection of temporary
auxiliary buildings at Gallinger
Hospital and Glenn Dale Sanitorium
to accommodate some 1000 addi-
tional patients. The fringe" park
ing measure passed the Senate last
week. but has been delayed in the
House Committee, after having been
fayorably reported by a scant ma
Jority by a subcommittee two
months ago.
Mr.. Randolph said that after the
tension in the House on the price
control legislation has been eased,
ne expects to have a District Com
mittee meeting on several meas
ures. Included are hospital facili-
ties legislation on which he expects
early advices from the District
Commissioners.
Transportation Hearing Due.
Another hearing during the COM
ing week Is also planned by Mr..
Randolph on the District trans
portation problem. He has invited
officials of the American Automo-
bile Association, Keystone Automo-
bile Club and other organizations
and citizens associations to attend.
Correspondence made public by
Mr.. Randolph yesterday discloses
that Congress has for years yio-
lated one of its own laws. It has
refused to make appropriations for
equipment to eliminate a smoke
and cinder nuisance at the Capitol
power plant. This was admitted In
a report by David Lynn, architect
OF the Capitol, replying to a letter
by Chairman Randolph which con-
tained a complaint by Representa-
tive Dewey, Republican, of Illinois.
Mr. I,yr1n recitad q seriac of ,,r