Evening star., 1947-02-23
Dirksen Seeks
7oSpeedAction
On Dc. Tax Bill
Score of Other
Measures to Be
Taken Up This Week
By Don S, Warren

BY Don ). warren
Chairman Dirksen of the House
District Committee yesterday sought
to speed the Budget Bureau action
on the Capitals big new tax bill as
more than a score of other measures
were headed for congressional at
tention this week.
Noting the growing length of mu-
nicipal measures coming up for con-
sideration, Mr.. Dirksen said he
wanted to expedite action now on
the most important. He listed first
in this category the revenue bill and
added the insurance code and
teacher pay bills.
Representative Bates, Republican,
Of Massachusetts,, who heads the
Fiscal Subcommittee, in charge of
tax matters, already is deep in a
study of the Districts revenue prob
lens. Without waiting for trans
mission of the tax bills, he began a
personal study of the city's finance
problems, but hearings are to be
delayed until the Commissioners
proposals arrive on Capitol Hill.
Sales Tax Proposed
These were sent to the Federal
Budget Bureau several weeks ago.
They call for a general sales tax
and other general fund bills to
raise an additional $11 100000 now,
and more later, in addition to an in
crease in the gasoline tax rate to
bring in an additional $1,500,0O0 a
year to the highway fund.
While Congressional leaders ex-
pressed no desire to take "hasty''
action, they stressed importance of
beginning formal study quickly of
the tax bills since the pending 1948
District budget is unbalanced by
about $11,0OO,000. Appropriation
committees cannot intelligently pass
on this budget, officials said, until
Congress has indicated what it may
do with the new revenue measures.
This is slated to be an active week
on municipal affairs. The first Dis
trict bill of this session may cross
the hurdle tomorrow in the House,
when the Klein bill for summertime
daylight saving for Washington
comes up for decision.
Mr.. Dirksen declared yesterday he
was convinced, from various polls
and other tests of sentiment that
the people of Washington were
overwhelmingly" in favor OF the
change.
Senate Unit May Act Tuesday.
House spokesmen for Virginia
farmers are expected to make
contest over the proposal to put
Washington on daylight saving from
the last Sunday in April to the
last Sunday in September each
year. They are said to have killed
the plan when it was advanced a
year ago.
A subcommittee Of the Senate
District Committee may act on the
McGrath bill for daylight saving
Tuesday afternoon. This is the Sen
ate version of the bill awaiting
House action. Maryland and Vir-
ginia farm spokesmen are said to
be asking to be heard.
National representation for the
District once again is to come be-
fore the Senate judiciary Com
mittee at its meeting tomorrow.
Postponed several times, the pro-
posal. of Senator Capper, Republi-
can, of Kansas, to pave the way for
District representation in Congress
and a vote in National elections, is
to be taken up. The committee,
however, still has before it the is
sue over payment of portal-to-por-
tai pay to labor.
The full membership of the Sen
ate District Committee will meet at
2 pm. Tuesday to consider nomina-
tions to the Land Redevelopment
Agency, an important cog in the
Districts $20,000,000 slum rebuild
ing plan. Those named were: Mark
Lansburgh, George A. Garrett, Ed
ward A. Dent, James E. Collif1oWer,
and Richard Atkinson.
Liquor Tax Hearings to Open.
Open hearings on the Hebert bill
proposals for tax on the liquor in
dustry here to finance well stated
alcoholic clinic will open at 10 am.
tomorrow before the Miller subcom-
mittee of the House District Com
mittee. These hearings are to be
resumed at 10 am. Wednesday. con-
tinue at 10 am. Friday, and again
on March 4 and 10.
Miller Committee witnesses sched-
uled to appear tomorrow include
Donald Clemmer, director of the
District Department of Corrections;
Police Inspector Walter H. Thomas,
assistant superintendent of Metro
politan Police. substituting for Po-
lice Chief Harvey G. Callahan;
Capt. Rhoda Milliken. head of the
Women's Bureau, and Police Pvt.
H. w. Estes.
Hearings will be held at 1890
am. Tuesday before the Public
Service Subcommittee of the House
District Committee on the proposed
merger Of the United States Park
Police-so far as District operations
are concerned-with the Metropoli-
tan police. The group, headed by
Representative Beall, Republican. of
Maryland, also will consider the Nc
Cormack bill to assure seniority
rights to police and f1remen who
missed promotions while in the
armed services.
The House District Judiciary Sub
committee, headed by Representa-
tive OHara, Republican, of Mime
Cx,oo1honv pIrn