Evening star., 1944-12-29
DC. Heads Map
Legislation for
New Congress
Welfare Board Bill,
Twin River Spans
included in List

A major part of the 1945 legis-
lative program of the District
Commissioners, agreed to at a
protracted meeting Of the city
heads yesterday, will be sub
mitted shortly to Chairman Ran
dolph of the House District Com
mittee for presentation to the
new Congress.
While the city heads were to meet
again today to complete their pro-
gram. these three proposals were
outstanding among those already
scheduled:
l. To transfer the administrative
powers of the Public Welfare Board
to the Commissioners, leaving the
board as an advisory agency. This
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
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 in |
1889 to June 30, 1943. the District |
had borne 50 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 s60,o47 during 1920 to s225 ,2O3
during the fiscal year 1943, or an
increase of 275 per cent.
Seek Fee System Change.
The Commissioners also have de-
cided to reintroduce legislation to
have all fees and charges collected
by District boards and commissions
such as the Boards of Barber and
Dental Examiners and Cosmetology
Board-paid to the collector of taxes.
Now the boards and commissions de-
posit their collections in private
banks and pay their bills by drawing
against money on deposit.
AS announced several weeks ago
by Commissioner Guy Mason. a bill
will be drafted to tighten control of
the city over communicable diseases
The Justice Department objected to
a previous draft as being too
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 to
IS and cadets at West Point from
s to H.
Permit the appointment of tempo
rary teachers for the duration OF the
war and six months thereafter
rather than for only 90 days as at
present.
Ask Police Band Funds.
Permit use of District funds to
support the Metropolitan Police
Band. The original bill was blocked
on December II in the House when
an objection was raised from the
floor on District day.
y Allow judges in criminal cases to
order defendant sent to Gallinger
Hospital for a mental examination
rather than to the District Jail
/ To modify wage laws to allow
women executors or administrators
to work more than eight hours a
day. Recommendation for the
measure came from the Minimum
Wage and Industrial Safety Board
Mrs. May Clarke, 68, Dies;
Kin Of Declaration Signer
ETre Nov Alleto, Tlorl>o co 1,;fo