Evening star., 1942-05-31

commercial interests, e. u. DetWllel
law and legislation: E. Barrett
Prettyman. finance: Theodore W..
Noyes, national representation; John
p. Mcdonald, parks and recreation;
Harvey L. Jones, public and private
buildings: DR.. Roy Lyman Sexton,
public health: B. NJ McKelway,
public library: Oden Smith, public
order; George E. Keneipp, public
schools; Henry j. Saunders, public
utilities and transportation; John
A. Remon, river and harbor: Frank
Van SAINT, sanitation: P. Y. K.
Howat, traffic: Harry Blake, zoning;
John j. Hasley, AFRAID protection;
Mr.. McGarraghy, war adjustments;
Edgar Morris, Greater National Cap
ital Committee, and William G..
Jones, American ideals.
In announcing the new chairmen,
Mr.. McLachlen reviewed some of the
work of the committees during the
past year.
Although the matter is not finally
settled, its Aviation Committee con-
sistently recommended placing OF
the National Airport within the
District of Columbia McLachlen
added that this same committee
was the original sponsor OF the
movement to place the airport on
its present site at Gravelly Point"
Another bill received the support
of q committee Of the trade body,
the Employment and Security Com
mittee, Is the McGehee bill providing
principally for reduction in the un-
employment compensation tax rate
from 81 per cent to 0.5 per cent and
for increases in the maximum
amount and duration of weekly pay
ments and making provisions for
those called into the military serv-
ice. This committee contends adop-
ton of this bill will save local en-
ployers more than S5,000,O00 an
nually.
Although not a legislative action,
the support OF the boards Com
mittee on Industrial and CONNER
cial Interests was instrumental in
the adoption of a plan for the stag
gering of Government paydays.
The Law and Legislation Com
mittee was most active on the fol-
lowing bills: A bill to create an in
dustrial accident prevention board;
q bill to regulate installment con-
tracts here; a bill to consolidate
the Police and Municipal Courts
of the District of Columbia, and the
Rent Control Act. The committee
opposed a proposed amendment to
the act regulating hours OF en-
ployment of women which would
require posting Of the working hours
of all women in all commercial es-
tablishments in the District.
The board, through its Municipal
Finance Committee, testified before
the House Subcommittee on District
Appropriations, urging that the
budget be limited to an amou/
which can be met from present
taxes at present rates. 1t strongly
urged that public improvements ex-
cept those vital to the war EFFORT
be curtailed and that existing public
facilities be maintained in flrSt-
class condition.
The Parks and Recreation Com
mitted assisted materially in OBJ
tanning language in the National
Capital Parks Appropriation Act
whereby that agency is now author
lied to cooperate more fully on
local civic efforts. Thee committee
also saw a successful conclusion
brought to its efforts to have es-
tablished in the District a Recrea-
ton Board
The Public Health Committee ad-
vocated the passage of bill Great
ing a board of funeral directors and
embalmers for the District. The
bell is now before Congress.
The Public Order Committee at
present is studying legislation to
provide medical treatment. hospital
care and compensation for civilian
defense workers injured in line OF
duty.
Among matters studied by the
Public Schools Committee have been
Lanham Act provisions for greater
school facilities for the increasing
population; priority ratings Tor
school buildings under construction; !;
evacuation of school children in the
event of air raids; improved lighting
facilities in District schools: stag
gering of school hours to a $50 a m.
to $3.50 pm. schedule.
Creation of the Interstate Com
mission on the Potomac River Basin
was originated by the boards River
and Harbor Committee in 1888. This
commission will maintain perma-
nent control over Potomac River
pollution.
The Trafiic Committee backed the
off-street parking bill. 1t also
studied the question of parking in
the Mall area and regulation OF
commercial parking facilities. Be
sides its legislative efforts it was
active in the plan for staggering OF
working hours; the ride-sharine
plans now coming into operation;
the question of parking in the busi-
ness areas: as well as the question
of all-night parking throughout the
District, In addition, the committee
conducted q survey Of hours of en-
ployment in business houses In the
downtown section In an ef1ort to
determine the overloaded opening
and closing hours.
Zoning problems included the
question Of a change in zoning areas,
the relaxation of zoning for board
ing and rooming houses, have all
been studied by the boards zoning
Committee.
One of the first actions by the
Special Committee on War Adjust
ments was the support given to the
proposal to adjust retail store hours
in the downtown area so that Gov
ernment workers and others who
were unable to find time to do their
shopping during the business day
would be able to have additional
time in which this could be done.
The committee sponsored the Thurs
day night opening for stores. This
special committee also made con-
tributions to the entire staggered
hour program. In addition, it has
made progress with the plan to
secure necessary speeding up of
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