Evening star., 1946-05-08
3Distriicf Bills
Reported by
HouseGroup
Utility Fund, Wreco
Dissolution Approved;
Two Others Delayed
By Don S. Warren

By Don S. Warren
Driving to clear its calendar of
all important legislation before the
approaching congressional adjourn
ment, the House District Committee
today favorably reported three bills
but struck snag on two others and
promised action soon on other
measures.
Approved and scheduled for con-
sideration by the House at District
Day" next Monday were:
The Senate-passed bill to author
lie the Commissioners to spend
S250,000 for utility services for 900
or more temporary housing units to
be erected in and near Washington
for homeless" veterans.
A measure providing exemptions
from the La Toilette antimerger act
to permit the dissolution of the
Washington Railway 81 Electric Co.
if approved by the Securities and
Exchange Commission and the
Public Utilities Commission, and
The Beall bill to safeguard the
identity of illegitimate children on
adoption by foster parents.
Debate on Child Centers.
There was lively debate over the
Healy bill to make the child care
centers an integral part of the
school system and authorize neces-
sary costs, and on proposed legis-
lation for summertime daylight saw
ing time for Washington, but action
was deferred for further study.
Chairman Mcmillan announced
he would name a special subcom-
mittee to study the child care CEN
ter question at once so action could
be taken at the next meeting of
the full committee He plans to
call this later this week or early
next week.
While action also was deferred on
daylight saving time, Chairman Nc
MILAN announced he would intro
duce bill at once and would name
subcommittee to study it so that
this also would be ready for action
at the next full meeting.
Rent Control Deferred.
The question of extension of the
Districts residential rent control
through the next calendar year was
not reached because of other busi-
ness, but this is expected to be
called up at the next meeting. Rent
Administrator Robert F.. Cogswell,
who has declared the housing short
age here now is more critical than
at any time during the war, was pre-
pared to testify today, but was not
called.
Chances dimmed for House action
on the $20,000,000 1O-year slum re-
development program, provided in a
bill passed in the Senate months
ago. Following today's session,
Chairman McGehee of the Judici-
ary Subcommittee, in charge of the
bill, protested he had peen unable
to get his subcommittee members
in a session to conclude its action.
He said he would "try again. later
this week.
Committee officials announced a
hearing would be called within few
days by Representative Hebert, Dem
ocrat, of Louisiana on bills dealing
with the taxicab situation. These
have to do with questions of limit
ing the number of cabs and drivers
regulatory controls and rates and
zones.
Hearing on University Changes.
A public hearing also is sched-
uled for a week from Friday on a
DILL proposing a reorganization OF
the Board of Trustees controlling
Southeastern University. This is de-
signed to lessen the control of the
directors of the YMCA, in one pro-
posed move to permit certifcation
of the American Bar Association
OF the university's law school.
Liquidation of the Wreco, a hold
ing company, has been ordered
by the SEC. The company plan as
to how this should be done requires
legislation providing exemptions for
this purpose from the "antimerger''
act because it involves stock divi-
dends and capitalization of the
companys earned surplus.
Representative Bates, Republican
of Massachusetts,, demanded to
know why District funds should be
spent for sewer and water mains
and sidewalks for temporary vet
erans' housing units to be erected in
nearby Maryland and Virginia.
Clarifies Land Problem.
Corporation Counsel Vernon E
West replied that sufficient amount
OF suitable sites was not deemed
available within the District and
that the District, like the States
has been allocated certain amounts
OF such housing for which the local
jurisdictions must provide the utili-
ties.
He added that the veterans hous-
ing placed outside the District would
be on Government-owned land and
used only by District veterans.
) Representative Healy, Democrat
OF California, fighting for approva
OF the child-care bill, said the easiest
way to kill it would be to refer il
to a subcommittee for further hear.
ings. Other members denied thi.
would be the case. Opposition tt
the bill was voiced by Commissioner
Guy Mason and DR.. Hobart M
Corning, schools superintendent
said the Board of Education recog.
nized the need of the nurseries bu
that to make it a part of the school.
system would make it "repugnant'
to the free, public school philosophy
because fees would be charged fol
what would be a school service.
{, Action was deferred because tn.
committee felt it could not now de.
termine what municipal agenc,
other than the schools should b,
placed in control. Some agreed
with DR.. Corning it was primaril,
q public welfare matter,