Evening star., 1944-12-29
DrunkenD Driiviinq
Test Added 10
Legis|ationP|ans
Measure Allows
Defendant to Use
Own Doctor Also

sons accused of operating motol
vehicles under the influence o.
liquor or drugs.
The measure provides for blooc
tests, with the defendant having
the right to have his own doctor
test the alcoholic content of hi!
blood in addition to the test made
by the city doctors 1t has thu
backing of Traffic Director William
A. Van Duzer.
The city heads also decided te
sponsor legislation to recover the
value of property taken over by the
Federal Government without pay
The amount involved is not believed
large. The action followed pro-
tracted session yesterday in which
the major part of the Districts 194S
legislative program was mapped fol-
submission to Chairman Randolph
of the House District Committee.
The proposals included:
I. To transfer the administrative
powers of the Public Welfare Boarc
to the commissioners, leaving the
board as an advisory agency. ThI
bill. approved by the House District
Committee late in the Seventy.
eighth Congress. died after House
passage was blocked by an objection
Bridge Project.
2. Bill to authorize construction
of twin spans over the Potomac to
replace old Highway Bridge.
3. To call on the Federal Govern
ment to carry half the expense OF
maintenance of the National zoolog-
ical Park. This carries out proposals
voiced in the past year by members
of the House Appropriations Sub
committee in charge of the District
bill.
The controversial bill on the We'll
fare Board resulted earlier in the
year in the resignation of Frederick
w. McReynolds as chairman of the
board. Under the proposed legisla-
ton, the board would be left with
planning and advisory functions
only, with administrative powers
transferred to the city heads.
The bill to authorize two four
lane bridges to replace Highway
Bridge was introduced in November
but also died with the last session
of Congress. The Commissioners
are seeking two bridges with the
support of the Public Roads Ad-
ministration and the Fine Arts
Commission. while the National
Capital Park and Planning Com
mission and Secretary of Interior
Ickes favor one six-lane bridge.
Would Divide Expenses.
The legislation for the Zoo
which failed to clear the Budget
Bureau last year-would divide
costs equally between the Federal
and local governments. The Dis
trict now pays for improvements,
maintenance and operation, al
though the Zoo is under the direc-
ton of the Smithsonian Institution.
In its report on the 1945 District
appropriation bill, the District Sub
committee of the House Appropria-
tions Committee suggested that
the Commissioners review the en-
tire situation surrounding the op-
Grafton of the National Geological
Park and attempt whatever action
they deem appropriate to allocate
the costs of operation on both a
municipal and national basis"
In a report on park lands in the
District last October, Budget Officer
Walter L. Fowler said that since
the establishment of the Zoo ir
1889 to June 30, 1943, the District
had borne SO per cent of the ex-
penditures for the Zoo and the
United States, 81 per cent. He
claimed that the share of expendi.
lures paid by the city increased
from $6O,O47 during 1920 to s225 20;
during the fiscal year 1943, or ar
increase of 275 per cent.
Seek Fee System Change.
The Commissioners also have de
cided to reintroduce legislation Il
have all fees and charges collected
by District boards and commissions
such as the Boards OF Barber ant
Dental Examiners and CoSmetology
Board-paid to the collector of taxes
Now the boards and commissions de-
post their collections in private
banks and pay their bills by drawing
against money on deposit.
AS announced several weeks age
by Commissioner Guy Mason, bill
will be drafted to tighten control ol
the city over communicable diseases
The Justice Department objected tx
previous draft as being tot
stringent and exact details of the
new one have not been written.
Other legislation gaining the sup
port of the Commissioners follows:
Increase the number of District
midshipmen at Annapolis from S tt
Is and cadets at West Point from
6 to IL.
Permit the appointment of tempo
rary teachers for the duration of th'
war and six months thereafte
rather than for only 80 days as a
present.
Ask Police Band Funds.
Permit use of District funds t,
support the Metropolitan Polio
Band. The original bill was BLOCKED
on December IL in the House whel
an objection was raised from tn
floor on District day
Allow judges in criminal cases t
order a defendant sent to Gallinge
Hospital for a mental examination
rather than to the District Jail.
To modify wage laws to allo'
women executors or administrator
to work more than eight hours
day. Recommendation for tn
measure came from the Minimum
Wage and Industrial Safety Boare
SnIe of 'Fnke' Sfnmns