Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-03-23
House, Senate
Conferees Get
PoIicePayBi||
Last of Six Local
Measures Voted
On District Day
Ry JAMES E. CHM.

The Senate and House are ex-
pected to put final legislative
touches this week on a bill increas-
ing the wartime pay of District
police. flremen and public school
teachers $500 year.
Legislation providing for the
raise has been Endorsed by both the
Senate and House. But differences
between the Senate and House ver-
sions require an adjustment before
the bill is ultimately ready for the
signature of President Roosevelt.
The pay raise bill was the last OF
six local measures passed by the
House late yesterday which OBJ
served the first so-called District
Day. of the new Congress.
J0bless Pay Changes.
The most important of the other
six was one that would revamp the
unemployment compensation law
changes that would save employers
an estimated S5,000000 a year in
payroll taxes and at the same time
increase benefits to employees. All
but the one to alter the unemploy-
nent compensation law went
through with little debate.
The unemployment compensation
measure. not previously considered
by the Senate, will 60 there for &C
ton.
The bill providing for liberaliza-
ton of the compensation law, which
paves the way for reduction from
OF to one-tenth of per cent, in the
payroll tax of employers became en-
meshed in debate that lasted for
An hour.
Amendment Killed.
But discussion over the legisla-
ton to raise the pay of police, fire
men and teachers and other District
workers who did not benefit under
the Federal overtime pay act was
unexpectedly short.
Most of the time was taken up
over an amendment offered by Rep
resentative Russell, Democrat, of
lthdS, "lllSll Woulu lldNC hCPV Liz
trict employees whose pay exceeds
$4,000 a year from receiving the
$500 increase. The Russell amend
ment was killed and as the bill
finally passed it will give the pay
raise to employees whose salaries are
less than $1,000 a year.
The hours debate over revisions
In the unemployment compensation
law was precipitated by Representa-
tive Anderson, Republican. Of New
Mexico, who said he thought suci,
important legislation deserved thor
ough consideration.
When the debate ended. he COM
plimented members of the District
Committee who explained the bill.
These included Representatives Nc
Gehee, Democrat, of Mississippi,
who headed subcommittee which
spent more than TWO years consid-
ering the legislation, and Dirksen Of
Illinois, ranking minority member
Of the District Committee.
OF the other bills passed and sent
to the Senate one would allow
women engaged in activities in the
District essential to the war effort
to work more than 48 hours a week
but not more than 81 with extra pay
at time and one half for the addi-
tional six hours.
Assessments Authorized.
The other three bills approved
would:
l. Authorize the Commissioners
TO assess abutting property owners
one half of the total cost Of new
curbs and cutters.
2. Add to the tax exempt rolls
property of the American Tree AS
ISOLATION.
3. Permit the Federal Security
Agency to provide butter substitutes
for patients at ST. EliZabeth's Hos
pital during the war period.
A fight against approval of the
bill to extend the work week of
women in private industry beyond
the existing limit Of 48 hours was
led by Representative Sauthoff. Pro-
gressive. of Wisconsin, He argued
that the legislation would allow en-
ployers to work women so or 70
hours a week and fire them if they
didn't do it"
The House, however. passed the
bill after adopting an amendment
offered by Representative Robson.
Republican, of Kentucky, which
would definitely limit the work
week of the women to 81 hours.