Evening star., 1946-06-05
Delays Threaten Death
3Major D. {. Bills
In Present Session
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In Present Session
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did not want the bill to be called
up for action in the House in his
absence. For this reason, it was
said, he was prepared to oppose
final action by the full committee
tomorrow.
Mcmillan Hopeful.
Chairman Mcmillan said he still
hoped" for decisive action by the
full committee tomorrow. He sale
he would prefer not to have the bill
come up for House action in the
absence of the subcommittee chair
man, but that he would be guided
by what decision was reached by
the majority of his full committee
Two other senior members of the
District Committee took cognizance
of the situation. Representative
Dirksen, Republican, of Illinois
ranking minority member, said he
would drop other congressional busi-
ness if necessary and try to find
an acceptable compromise to what
appeared to be the remaining major
issue-the definition of public low
rent housing. This will determine
the extent to which the National
Capital Housing Authority car
engage in low rent housing con-
Struction.
Mr.. McGehee and private build
ing interests are insisting on adop.
ton of the definition once consid-
cred by the Senate but knocked out
there as too restrictive" This was
replaced by the Senate with one
now called too broad" by private
interests.
Representative Randolph, Demo.
crat, of West Virginia, former chair.
man and still member of the
District Committee, who last veal
spent considerable time on the slun
questions, commented: Il trust the
District Committee will complete its
action tomorrow so that the bill
can be brought to the House floor
in the near future"
Some thought the best way Out
OF the impasse would be for tht
District Committee to accept the
McGehee definition, if agreement
could not be reached to favor the
Senate bill without any change al
all, and to let the definition ques.
tlon be settled by conference be.
tween the House and Senate.
Definition Might Kill Bill.
Against this were reports thai
some contestants on either sidt
would prefer to see the bill die
than to be enacted with the wrong
definition.
The hospital center bill faces s
similar threat since Mr.. McGehee
as chairman of the District Judiciar,
Subcommittee, also has it in charge
He decided to let this rest for {
month until his return from Missis
sippi, because it was not possibl,
before Friday to complete study o
the most recent of the hospital sur
vey reports, the Munger report pub
lished Monday and the summary o
conditions submitted last week b,
Health Officer George C. Rutland
Mr.. McGehee told The Star h
was sure" the District Committe
could act on the hospital cente
before the end of the current session
We'll get action" he promised. H
added that he felt sure Congress
would not adjourn as soon as SOM
have expected somewhere between
July l and August 15). In fact, h,
said he believed it likely Congress
would not adjourn but would merel,
recess and come back for busines
in November after the congressional
elections.
Bridge Bill Delayed.
In way, the bridge bill is in !,
slightly better position, for Repre-
sentative Chapman, Democrat, O
Kentucky, chairman of the Bridg
Subcommittee of the House Inter
state Commerce Committee, has de
clared he wants to. see the authorit
for the new bridge written into lay
this Congress, regardless of whel
actual construction may be possible
"Other business" and absenc
from Washington of subcommitte
members have combined to della
action, however. In addition tn
Senate District Committee, whic
has the same bill, has given it n
study, preferring to let the Hous
act first. Therefore, skeptics say,
the House were to pass the Dill mex
week it might be a close shave
the Senate found time in the last
minute rush to get to this measure
The bridge legislation has bee
before Congress for nearly tw
years. All parties seem agreed tn
old Highway Bridge should be re
placed. but action has been delaye
since January of last year over dis
pute as to whether the replacement
should be of one or two spans. Thi
dispute has been carried to tn
White House, as well as Congress
by disputing Government agencies
The Chapman Subcommittee ma
discuss this question at a sessio
tentatively arrapoed for topoorrou