Evening star., 1947-11-16
Special Session
MaYConsider
Legislation
Rent Curb Extension,
Less Controversial
: Bills Listed for Action
BYapon S. Worren

BY Don ). Worren
The door was opened yesterday
to- consideration at the special ses-
sion OF Congress, beginning tomor-
rows Of District legislation that is
not considered "too controversial -
Extension of District rent control,
already recommended by Senator
Buck, Republican, of Delaware, is
a possibility, especially if national
rent legislation is taken up. Senator
Taft, the Ohio Republican who
heads the COP Senate Policy
Committee, has listed rent control
among the problems involved in in
fiation issues likely to come up this
session.
Speaker Martin told reporters
that while the session was devoted
primarily to foreign aid and inf1a-
ton problems he thought time may
be found for House action on the
less controversial District bills.
To Confer With ID. C. officials.
The heavier portion of the new
District legislation program will be
reserved for the regular session In
January, but Chairman Dirksen OF
the House District Committee an
nounced yesterday he would confer
with city officials to learn thelr
wishes. Special attention, he said,
would be given to any items lnvolV-
ing any emergency as to time.
While leaders of the House and
Senate District Committees nave
planned to hold back most Dlstrlct
LEGISLATION until the regular ses-
sion. subcommittee studies on
number of issues are expected 10
get underway.
Notable among these is the local
suffrage = and reorganization plan
outlined generally by the ,Auchin-
Gloss Home Rule subcommittee OF
the House District Committee.
Friday Hearing Planned.
Chairman Auchincloss, Repupil-
can, of New Jersey, yesterday tenta-
tivelv scheduled a meeting OF his
unit for Friday to 60 over the plan
and set up program Tor 1urther
activities. Public hearings are to
be held after legislative experts COM
plete the drafting of lengthy ollls
to motivate the proposed new DIS
trlct charter. This work is not ex-
nected to be finished, however, be-
fore the opening of the January
session.
Senator Buck, who heads the rent
subcommittee of the Senate Banking
Committee as we'll as the Senate
District Committee, recently an
no,,nced he would recommend
.Iast" one-year extension OF both
the national and District rent con-
troll acts.
National rent controls now are
slated. to expire at the end OF next
February. District controls would be
lifted a month later.
Ball Backs Joint Hearings.
Prospects that join hearings on
the District reorganization plan
would be held by the Home Rule
Suhcommittees of the, House and
senate District Committees grew
Yesterday after a statement oy
senator Ball, Republican, OF Min
nesota.
He reiterated the thought that
Ioint hearings seem to be a very
sound idea" and added that when
the Auchincloss House unit mas
drafted its bills. companion meas
ures might be introduced in tpe
Senate. This step would be designed
to save time and to perfect the
basis for having joint House-Sen-
ate hearings.
Senator Ball, like Chairman DIRK
sen, has pledged his support to nome
rule for the National Capital. Both
are Withholding comment on de-
tails of the Auchincloss plan since
it still is in a preliminary status.
Bates Considers Studies.
District budget and tax problems
are being reserved for the regular
session but some preliminary steps
may be taken on Capitol Hill before
January. Some studies already are
being considered by Chairman Bates
of the Fiscal Subcommittee OF the
House District Committee and
Chairman Horan of the District
Subcommittee of the House Appro-
priations Committee.
In addition, Representative Miller,
Republican, of Nebraska, chairman
Of the Fealth, Welfare and Educa-
ton Subcommittee of the House
District Committee, has begun a
personal inspection of all the Dis
trict's institutions under his juris-
diction. He already has planned
some recommendations, especially
on relief of overcrowding at the
Children's Receiving Home, pending
construction of it's new home.
Congressional subcommittee con-
sideration also is expected to be
given, as soon as final bills are pre-
pared, on stronger control of sex
offenders in the District, control OF
the property and financial returns
of the National Guard Armory and
the proposal of the Commissioners
for repeal of the Districts much
denounced individual income tax
and the substitution of a general
sales tax.
Quite a number of minor bills
WHICH we're not acted on at the last
Congress session are pending before
subcommittee of the District Com
mittees. The general thought OF
committee leaders was to let these
develop at the regular session.
Loyalty Board Session