Evening star., 1942-02-15
Congress Plans
Study Of District
Hospital Needs
Senute Unit Votes
Bill to Coordinate
Recreation Facilities
BY J. A. O'LEARY.

Fearing crowded conditions IN
Washington hospitals may become
worse before the war ends, the
Senate District Committee yester-
day took steps for joint congress
sional study of means to relieve
the situation after favorably report
ing II local bills.
The long pending plan to co-ordi-
nate recreation facilities now scat
tered among three agencies and an
engineering survey of the advis-
ability of building subways here we're
among measures approved.
Chairman McCarran last night
named Senators Overton, Democrat.
of louisiana: Burton, Republican, of
Ohio, and himself as subcommittee
to confer with Chairman Randolph
of the House District Committee
with view to seeking enlargement
Of the city's hospital capacity.
In urging that move, Senator Nc
Carran said: To-day the hospitals
are congested beyond description.
Thank God, we have had no epi-
denies, but If one should set in, I
am wondering what the Capital
would do"
He said the study should be made.
not only as a precaution in case
of epidemic, but to relieve the
crowded situation.
OvertOn Submits Motion.
Senator Overton asked if the Fed
eral Government had provided
funds here, as it has in other de-
tense areas, for hospital facilities.
Corporation Counsel Richmond B.
Keech pointed out that the $50
100000 Lanham housing bill. passed
by the House and due for considera-
tion by the Senate Education and
Labor Committee Tuesday morning,
would be partly available for neces-
sary public works, including hos
pitals. He told Senator Overton the
$4,000, 900 could be made available
by the Federal Works Agency as a
grant, loan or a combination of
the two. The committee then
adopted motion by Senator Over
ton for the joint conference.
The recreation bill, which passed
the House last year, had been de-
layed in the Senate committee over
the question of whether the super
intendent of recreation and his
staff should be appointed by the
new seven-member recreation board
or by the Commissioners.
Senator McCarran, who has con-
tended since becoming District
chairman that all local agencies
should be under the control of the
Commissioners, announced yester-
day that. in order to get the recrea-
tion bill passed, he would no longer
press the point in this case.
Board Given Power.
The committee promptly reported
the bill, with the appointing power
in the Recreation Board The board
will consist of one District Com
missioner, one representative of the
Board of Education, one repreSen-
tative of the National Parks Office
of the Interior Department and
four District residents, to be chosen
by the Commissioners. Senator
. McCarran said he had concluded the
presence of one Commissioner and
four citizens on the board gives the
municipal government sufficient
voice.
Other bills, previously passed by
the House and reported favorably
to the Senate yesterday, are:
Fixing a three-year Jail penalty
for theft of tires or any other auto
mobile accessories that may be
placed under priority restrictions.
To change the name of Conduit
road to Macarthur boulevard to
honor the American commander in
the Philippines.
To authorize enlargement of Rock
Greek Cemetery by use of land
belonging to Rock Creek Parish
To regulate solicitation of charity
funds to keep out rackets. Regis
tration requirements would not ap-
ply to solicitation by an organiza-
ton among it's own members.
To amend the zoning law to au-
thorize the Zoning Commission to
make regulations requiring the in
clusion of automobile parking space
in or near buildings erected here
after.
Concession Proposed.
To amend the Public Welfare Act
to bring the home care for depend
ent children provisions into line
with the requirements for social
security benefits.
To authorize the Commissioners
to establish a canteen concession
at the Glenn Dale Sanatorium.
The Senate committee also re-
ported favorably these bills, which
have not passed the House:
To permit forfeiture of collateral
in automobile speed cases and to
change the penalties for driving
without a permit in order to elimi-
nate the need for jury trials. Both
changes are \ designed to relieve
court congestion and to reduce the
time policemen must spend in court
To require all persons hereafter
licensed to practice the healing arts
to be American citizens.
To license and regulate embalmers
in the District
The House had designated the
Public Utilities Commission to make
the proposed subway survey, but the
Senate committee decided it was
more properly a function for the
engineer of highways and amended
the resolution accordingly Senator
Burton pointed out the resolution
does not commit Congress in favor
of subways, but leaves the Highway
Department free to make an i'm
partial report, which is to be SUBJ
mitted within four months.