Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-03-20
3 District Bills
Given Approval
BySenateUnit
Plan Strengthening
Weights and Measure.
Act Is Included
By DON s. WARREN.

OlSbIlCL COIIlIulItec tOUdy OTOeTtI
favorable reports on eight District
measures, including one to provide
additional protection for Washing
ton consumers. 1t held up half q
dozen others for further informa-
ton
One Of the more important meas
ures sent to the Senate for action
sets up specific penalties for charg-
ing a customer for articles not de-
livered to him, or for overcharging
1t also carries provisions striking al
sale of bootleg" coal at times
trucked into the District.
Questions asked by Senator Sal
tonstall, Republican. of Massachu-
sets brought declarations from
municipal officials and some COM
mittee members that the proposed
strengthening of the Districts
Weights and Measures Act was espe.
cially timely now because of short.
ages in many kinds of food.
Auditing Control Shifted.
Another bill reported by the COM
mittee gives the Commissioners SUI
peryisory authority and auditing
control over the revenues and eX-
penses of a long list of the Dis
trict's license and regulatory boards
ana Commissioners. These agencies
now operate under their own poll.
cies on fees collected from bust
nesses and professions. This meas.
ure was amended, however, to elm.
mate the District Boxing Commits.
sion since Congress at the past SEES
sion adopted special act governing
the financing of this commission.
During the meeting. examination
of the committee calendar disclosed
that Chairman Bilbo last Thurs
day had submitted to the Senate
without any public announcement
a favorable report of the bill to di-
rect the purchase of the 2-acre
tract at Sixteenth and Shepherd
STREETS NV. for park purposes. The
bill was presented as a means OF
stopping the projected construction
of an apartment house, bitterly
opposed by home owners of the
nearby CrestWood community. The
price to be paid for the site is s72,-
500, sum said to be 25 per cent
above the assessed value of the
property.
Senator Tydings, Democrat, OF
MARYLAND announced he would
open hearings tomorrow at 2 pm. or
the bill to direct the Commissioners
to buy Villa Rosa on Massachusetts,
avenue, to prevent use of that prop
erty as an apartment house site
and to permit the continued opera.
ton there of the Children's Museum
now threatened with eviction. This
bill, sponsored by Senator Capper
Republican, of Kansas is opposed
by the Commissioners, the District
Recrea ton Board and the Fedora
ton of Citizens Associations.
Other Bills Reported.
Also favorably reported by the
committee today were:
A bill to permit the employment
of temporary teachers in the public
schools for a whole school term, in
stead Of the present 90-day terms.
To permit assessment Of charges
for care of patients at the District
Training School for Predetermined
when it is found, after patient has
been placed under care there, that
he or his parents have come
into funds justifying maintenance
charges. Decisions would be vested
in the District Court.
To set up a system for the free
recording of the discharge papers Of
war veterans, to prevent difficulties
in case the original papers are lost
or stolen
The House-approved bill to con.
tinue the present modification o.
the District Minimum Wage Law
to allow women to be employed, I'M
der temporary permits, for longer
than eight hours a day or 48 hour!
a week, where war conditions de-
mand. This bill, however, was
amended to have the amendment
to the basic law expire June 30
1916.
Tag Bill Amended.
The House approved bill to outlaw
use of the special congressional au-
tomobile tags after 80 days after
the end of a Congress, intended tc
prevent illegal use of tags given to
members of Congress and some
other officials to facilitate their
business at Government Offices in
Washington. The Senate commit
tee made an amendment to the
House bill.
A bill to authorize judges of the
criminal branches of Municipal
Court to send an accused to Gallinger
Hospital for mental observation
prior to trial, where there are indi-
cations the defendant may be of
unsound mind. The accused could
not be detained at the hospital for
longer than 80 days.
Among bills on which action was
QeIeITeu we're.
The McCarran bill to substitute a
gas chamber for the electric chair
as a means of capital punishment.
Corporation Counsel Richmond B
Keech and Senator Tydings reported
that If Congress should pass the
the necessary equipment
could not be obtained during the
war.
The McCarran measure to pro-
hibit the advertisement of liquor
prices in the District and prevent
issuance of liquor permits to places
within 600 feet of schools, churches,
and Fairgrounds. Mr.. Keech said
the Commissioners opposed the bill
because it would not prevent adj
vertising of national brands, while
stopping such advertising by local
retailers. Also, the 6O0-foot rule,
he said. would prevent issuance of a
permit for most places in the Dis
trict.
Bridge Bill Deferred.
The bill to authorize the Commits
sioners to build twin bridges over
the Potomac to replace old Highway
Bridge. which was held up. Chair
man Bilbo announced, at the request
of the President.
The Capper bill to have the Gov