Evening star., 1944-06-12
D.C.WeIfarebi Bill
lsAnong Seven
Given Approval
House Committee Also
Reports Out Measure
On Restaurant Control
BY DON s. WARREN.

WAtiiout uiScciltulB NOpc Tho
House District Committee today or
dered favorable reports on seven
District measures, including the one
sponsored by the Commissioners to
strip the Board of Public Welfare
OF its administrative powers and
convert 1t into an advisory agency.
Under another bill approved by
the committee all restaurants and
other eating places on Government
properties In the District would be
made subject to inspection and
regulation by the District Health
Department.
The other measures approved are
three bills providing for arrange.
ments for the inaugural ceremonies
next January; the bill sponsored by
the American Legion providing Dis
trict aid for the education Of
orphans of veterans of this and
the World War, and one modifying
requirements for licensing Of ply
sicians.
Prompt Action Promised.
At the request of Chairman RAN
dolph, Majority Leader Mccormack
today obtained the consent Of the
House to consider the seven bills
tomorrow. They will come up under
the unanimous consent rule.
There was only q brief discussion
Of the bills, although the session was
well attended, IL OF the II members
being present. Arguments In sup
port Of the Welfare Board reorgan-
ization were presented by Mr.. RAM
dolph, Representative D'Alesandro,
Democrat, of Maryland, who is
chairman of subcommittee which
held hearings on the measure, and
Representatives Mcmillan, Demo-
|crat, of South Carolina, McGehee,
Democrat. Of Mississippi and Rowe,
Republican, OF Ohio.
Commissioner j. Russell Young.
who attended the session, accom-
panied by Engineer Commissioner
Charles Kutz and Assistant Corpo-
ration Counsel Vernon West, said
that since District residents and
Congress Took to the Commission
ers" when things go wrong in the
welfare system, he felt they should
be given administrative and policy
control over it. He praised Welfare
Board members as Outstanding citi-
zens," but he said that did not mean
they had the necessary administra-
tive qualifications. Representative
Rowe interjected that the Welfare
Board now has control over municg
ipal operations costing more than
$S.000,o 900 year.
Unanimous Vote Cast.
Representative Harris, Democrat,
of Arkansas inquired If there had
been any opposition and Mr..
D'Alesandro said Welfare Board
members had objected. Answering
another question, Mr.. D,Alesandro
said his subcommittee found We'll
fare Board members had failed to
keep closely in touch with agencies
under their control"
The motion to report the bill
favorably came from MIR. McGehee
and was seconded by Mr.. Harris.
The vote was unanimous. Health
Omcer George G. Ruf1land urged
the committee to approve the bill
giving his department control over,
sanitary standards in restaurants
on Government properties here, but
he asserted an effective job could
not be done unless Congress also
provided his department with more
inspectors and higher pay so the
District could meet competition for
inspectors that comes from other
employers.
Bill Is Substitute.
This bill, sponsored by Mr.. D,Ales-
andre, is substitute for the more
detailed measure approved some
weeks ago by the Senate, which pro-
vided for a sanitary grading of res.
taurants as well as regulation OF
Government restaurants. In the
Senate bill also, to avoid any clash
between municipal officials and Fed
eral divisions, it was provided that
Government restaurants be in
spected by agents of the United
States Public Health Service and
any prosecutions be made by the
United States attorney. On this
point, DR.. Rutland advised the COM
mittee today there should be pro-
vision for licensing some one re-
sponsible for restaurants on Gov
ernment property. so the Health
Department would not be put in the
position of attempting to proceed.
in violation cases, against the head
OF some Federal department.
Mr.. Harris brought up the sub
ject OF slum redevelopment, now
being considered by the McGehee
subcommittee. saying interest in the
issue now had become national He
voiced hope the hearings would not
be concluded until after the con-
gressional recess for party conven-
tions. Mr. McGehee assured him
they would not be concluded before
| the cOnyentions