Evening star., 1946-02-25
Senate D. {. Unit
Alters 0ff-Street
Parking Bill
All U. S. Buildings
Here Would Provide
Space Where Feasible

The Senate District Committee
today voted to report favorably a
revision of the House bill which
would require off street parking ia
cilities in or near all Federal build
ings in the District wherever fea-
sible.
The committee voted after hear
ing an explanation of amendments
made by subcommittee headed by
Senator Huffman, Democrat, Of
OHIO. Amendments made amounted
virtually to rewriting the measure.
In its present form the bill calls
for:
l. Provision within or in the i'm
mediate vicinity of all new Federal
buildings in the District for off,
street parking for 10 per cent of the
anticipated number of employees
using the building. If the Federal
official responsible for construction
OF the building feels it would be i'm
practicable to provide such facili-
ties, he may, under the bill as now
written, report to Congress his rea-
sons for considering it Impractical.
He may proceed without providing
the facilities after 80 days, however,
unless Congress meanwhile has
adopted a concurrent resolution
that he must provide them.
Present Facilities Checked.
2. Federal officials in charge of ex-
istlng buildings in the District to re-
port to Congress within 80 days fol-
lowing enactment of the measure
what parking facilities are now
available. If parking space falls
short of the 10 per cent requirement,
the official shall recommend whether
existing space should be increased
and at what cost.
3. Fees to be charged for the
use OF parking space provided by
the Federal Government, but pro-
vldes that the fees shall not be such
as TO discourage the provision of
similar facilities by private enter
prise" Parking facilities for the
Capitol and grounds are exempted
by the bill from fee provisions.
Present at the committee meeting
today were w. E. Reynolds, Com
missioner of Public Buildings.
Thomas S. Settle, secretary of the
National Capital Park and Planning
commission, and Irving Bryan, as
s1stant corporation counsel. They
raised no objection to the bill as
now written.
Inc committee also voted to re-
port favorably two other bills. One
Is House measure, HR506O. which
makes retroactive until 1924 the
inclusion of extra compensation for
special duty performed by mem
oers OF the Metropolitan Police De-
partment and the District Fire De-
partment in the base used for com.
putting retirement pay.
District Held in Error.
According to recent decision of
the Controller General, the District
mas been in error since 1924 in in
Guiding extra pay for detective
motorcycle and bicycle duty in COM
putting retirement pay.
Ihe bill now carries an amend
ment asked for today by the Interior
department that its provisions shall
not apply retroactively to members
OF the United States Park Police.
Ihe Interior Department has not in
cluded extra pay for its detectives.
motorcycle men and bicycle men in
computing retirement pay. and, if
required to do so would have to cor
rect Its books back to 1924 to comply
with the provisions of the bill.
Would Amend Measures Law.
The third bill reported favorablv
was SlS41, which would amend ex-
lstlng weights and measures Ieeis-
latlon for the District to permit
gasoline to be sold by decimal frac-
lions OF gallons, as well as by half
gallons, quarts, pints, etc.
Mr.. Bryan pointed out that the
District is the. only Jurisdiction
which still requires gasoline pumns
to register in pints and quarts.
Retained in committee for further
action were S521, to regulate the
sale of poisons in the District: S1Oo8
to increase the authority of the
District health officer in isolatine
communicable diseases: S15Oe, to
amend District trust fund legisla-
ton; S1567, to strengthen District
laws regulating licensed business,
and S. j. Res. Sc, to replace the
fountain near the intersection of
Pennsylvania avenue and Seventh