Evening star., 1946-07-25
Truman Signing
ToLaunch DC.
S|um Program
Senote Votes Measure
Amid OPA Debote;
Hospital Bill Pending
BY Don S. Worren

BY Don S. Worren
A broad and continuing drive
to wipe out or rebuild Washing
tons. slums was assured last
night when the Senate suddenly
completed legislative action on
the new $40, 100000 program that
had been hanging fire for two
years.
At the call of Senator McCarran,
Democrat, of Nevada, chief Senate
sponsor of the measure, the Senate
by unanimous consent gave its ap-
proval to the House version of the
bill and sent it to the White House.
There seemed every reason to be-
lieve President Truman would add
his signature promptly and permit
the program to be set in motion.
The last legislative hurdle was
crossed when the Senate accepted
the House definition of what shall
be the yardstick for public low
rent housing" This was done only
in the belief that to send the bill
to conference with the House over
this old controversy a few days be-
fore adjournment of Congress would
mean the death Of the bill.
May Perfect Wording.
Both Republican and Democratic
leaders in the Senate agreed the
relative merits of the House and
Senate definitions of this phase of
the program were insignificant at
this point compared with proba BILE
loss of the entire bill.
Assurances were voiced that Con-
gress next year would consider a
rewording of the controlling defini-
ton, If it did not work out salts
factorily. In fact, the House Ian
guage adopted contains provisions
that the District Commissioners
shall. at the end of one year, con-
slider this point at public hear
tngs and submit recommendations
deemed necessary.
This provision originally was pro-
posed by. Senator McCarran, but
bowling to the requests of labor, civic
and planning groups, he agreed to a
compromise clause. This, however
was sidetracked in the House at the
instance of Chairman McGehee of
the Judiciary Subcommittee of the
House. District Committee. backed by
spokesmen for private builders.
Bilbo Presses Hospital Plan.
Meanwhile, Chairman Bilbo of the
Senate District Committee, was
rounding out his plans for conclud-
ing action on the Federal-aid hospi-
tai center bill, passed by both
houses in different forms. He Is the
co-author with Senator Tydings,
Democrat, of Maryland, of this
measure, and has placed it as one
OF his prime objectives as chairman
OF the District Committee,
This and all other pending bills
on the Committee calendar are to
be considered at a special meeting
of the District Committee scheduled
for 10 am. tomorrow.
High on this list is the OMa-
honey -Overton bill proposing new
basic legislation to adjust annually
the size of the Federal share of
District costs by use of formula
based generally on the extent of the
tax-free land holdings of the Fed
eral Government here. Under pres
ent circumstances, this would boost
the old $6,000,000 lump sum Federal
aayment, raised this year to s8 .00O,-
900, to a sum well above s1l 900 900
Another major objective for which
Chairman Bilbo and other commit
tee members have pledged their
support is the House-passed bill
granting long delayed liberaliza-
ton Of teacher retirement restric-
tions.
ODaniel Yields for Action.
Senate adoption of the House
version Of the slum bill had been
predicted, but action came last night
with dramatic suddenness. Unex-
pectedly. Senator McCarran won the
approval Of Senator ODaniel, Dem
ocrat, OF Texas to bring the question
up during the Texans fight over
continuation Of price control legis-
lation.
But at that time, the move was
sidetracked as Senator Knowland
Republican, Of California, not versed
in the meaning of the bill, carried
out the Republican plan to insist
on a quorum call on any uncharted
legislative move. Later, however
Senator McCarran tried again. with
the approval of Senator ODaniel
who still held the floor, and this
time won Senate approval within 2
minutes.
He had explained the situation to
Senators Wagner, Democrat, of
New York and Taft, Republican of
Ohio, co-authorS of a national hous-
ing bill. and Senator La Toilette.
Progressive, of Wisconsin, winning
their approval of his planned ac-
tion.
Back OF this, it was learned
spokesmen for labor and some civic
groups had been informed that il
they insisted on trying to win ap-
proval Of the simpler Senate defini-
arr ~