Evening star., 1942-04-12
House Members Face
Array Of D. {. Bills
As Vacation Closes
Recreation Measure
Heads List; Other
Legislation Pending

House members who returned last
night after a two-week vacation
found themselves confronted with
an array of District legislation on
which early action is to be sought.
Heading the list is long pending
bill to coordinate recreational ac-
tivities. Passed by the House last
year, it was returned for considera-
tion of Senate amendments. The
House may either accept the changes
which would send the measure to
President Roosevelt for signature,
or ask for a conference with the
Senate to adjust the differences. A
decision is to be reached in a few
days on the course of procedure.
Bills Facing Committee.
The. other legislation is pending
in the District Committee and
Chairman Randolph said it would
be acted on during the week. He
will fix a date tomorrow for meet
ing. The bills which Mr.. Randolph
plans to ask the committee to pass
| on would:
/. Remove all restrictions against
boarding and rooming houses during
the war in restricted residential
areas to provide additional accom-
modations for Government workers.
2. Lift the present S per cent tax
on net profits of out-of-town cor
porations doing business in Wash
ington.
3. Authorize the Commissioners to
set up facilities for making scien-
tific tests of motorists suspected of
driving while drunk.
Recreation Measure
The recreational coordination
bill provides for creation of a seven
member board which would have
complete jurisdiction over all public
play activities. 1t would consist of
one representative of the Board of
Commissioners, one representative
of the Board of Education, one rep
resentative of the Office of National
Parks and four District residents
selected by the Commissioners.
The board would appoint a super
intendent of recreation and, on his
recommendations, such other per-
sonnel as may be needed to direct
the co-ordinated program. All pres
ent employees of the community CEN
ter department of the public schools
and the municipal playground de-
partment whose services heretofore
have been rated satisfactory would
be retained under the co-ordinated
Setup.
The bill opening homes in re-
stricted areas to roomers and
boarders was introduced by Mr..
Randolph primarily to relieve the
housing shortage. 1t would supple
ment action taken by the zoning
commission in December which al
| lowed homeownerS in A-reStricted
and A-semi- Unrestricted areas to take
in not more than four roomers or
boarders during the emergency. No
limitation is placed on the number
of roomers or boarders in these
homes under the Randolph bill
providing there is compliance with
existing fire regulations.
Out Of Town Business Tax.
Legislation to cancel the per
cent tax on out-of-town corpora
tions doing business here was spon-
sored by Representative D'Alesan-
dro, Democrat, of Maryland follow
ing vigorous protests by representa-
| tives of some of these firms. His
bill would make the levy applicable
only to those corporations which
maintain an Office in the District.
Traffic authorities, dry leaders and
representatives of motor clubs have
indorsed the legislation providing
for scientific tests to determine the
degree of intoxication of motorists
arrested on driving while drunk
charges. 1t will come before the
full committee with the unanimous
Endorsement of the public health
subcommittee which held hearings
on the measure.
No specific form of test is set forth
in the bill. The tests would not be
mandatory. A driver who takes the
position he was not driving under
| the influence of liquor could ask for
the examination and have the right
to use the result as evidence in
court.