Evening star., 1947-07-11
Welfare, Deeds
And Park Police
Bi||sApproved.
Seven Other District
Measures Also Sent
To House Floor

Measures Also Sent
To House Floor
The House District COMMITTEES, In
. race against approaching ad-
journment, today approved and sent
TO the House 10 municipal meas
ures dealing with wide variety OF
city operations.
High lighting the list are bills
reorganizing the control Of the
Districts welfare services, operation
Of the Recorder of Deeds Once and
requiring the Interior Department
to reimburse the District for the cost
OF the park police here.
The welfare bill, though amended
in several respects from its original
form, converts the Board of Public
Welfare into an advisory agency,
transferring final authority to the
District Commissioners. 1t sets up
Department Of Welfare to operate
under the direct control of the
Commissioners.
Would Define Authority.
The main purpose of this legisla-
ton is to remove conflicts of
authority and responsibility now
existing between the Commissioners
and the Welfare Board. In con-
verting the Welfare Board into an
advisory agency, it authorizes SIC, 900
year for salaries Of limited staff
to serve the agency. Members said
this would aid the board in serving
as sort Of watchdog on the well
fare program of the Commissioners.
The bill changing the status of
the recorders Office was consider
ably modified from its original form
and leaves the appointment of the
recorder with the President. In this
and certain other respects the draft
of the bill now sent to the House
for action is victory for Recorder
Marshall L. Shepard.
However, it gives the Commission
ers general authority to establish
general procedures in the handling
Of deeds and to fix fees. In addi-
ton, it requires the recorder to per-
NIT his accounts to be audited by
the District auditor and authorizes
the use Of photostatic equipment in
the copying of recorded deeds The
latter Is an economy measure rec
commended by DR.. Shepard as we'll
as by the Commissioners.
The park police cost bill is sub
stitute for an earlier proposal for
merger of the park police with the
Metropolitan Police. Congres
passed merger bill in the Seventy
ninth Congress, but it. was vetoed by
President Truman at the insistance
of former Interior Secretary Harold
l.. Ickes.
Other Bills Sent to House,
The District Committee today, In
probably its last regular pession of
this session, also sent to the House
bills designed to:
Establish in the insurance depart
ment asystem of regulation OF cas-
ualty insurarice TO bring the District
into compliance with the, 1914 Su-
preme Court ruling that insurance
business was commerce and there
fore subject to the antitrust laws.
Set up protection for residential
areas and schools in connection
with radio and television towers. AS
amended yesterday by subcommit-
tee, this bill stipulates that no radio
or television transmitting antenna
or mast shall be erected in residen-
tial A restricted area district, resi-
Dental A semirestricted area district
or residential A district as defined
in the zoning regulations and shown
in the omcial aliases of the Zoning
Commission If any home, playground
or recreational facility or school, or
any part thereof is.within the area
encircling the antenna, or mast,
bounded by circle drawn from the
base of the antenna or mast and
having a radius equal to the height
OF the antenna or mast ITSELF"
Credit police and firemen with
the time they spent in the armed
services In the last World War in
the calculation of their retirement
benefits.
Teacher Retirement Act Revised.
Authorize a change in the method
Of the election of vestrymen of
Episcopal churches IN the District.
permitting parishes to make their
own rules.
Revise the Teacher Retirement
Act to lengthen the time allowed
the District government to COM
plete its contributions to the re-
tirement fund. granting so years
instead OF 20. The net effect would
be to reduce the size of the annual
District payments, although not af-
fecting teacher retirement pay
ments.
Authorize captains pay for sew
eral lieutenants of the Police De-
partment so long as they are as
signed to supervisors of special in
vestigation squads.
Authorize official reporters In
Municipal Court to charge fees for
making transcripts OF court pro-
ceedings for private parties involved
in cases.
Bills Tabled.
The subcommittee of the District
Committee, headed by Representa-
tive O'Hara. Republican, of Mime
sofa yesterday tabled the following
bills:
The O'Hara bill for compulsory
examinations and analysis in cases
OF persons arrested for alleged
drunken driving or on charges of
negligent homicide in operation of
motor vehicles. The Senate District
Committee recently pigeonholed
similar proposal.
A bill prohibiting renewal or
transfer of alcoholic beverage Ii
censes. after next, January 81, to
establishments within 400 feet of the
property lines Of churches, schools
and public institutions. The present
law bans licensing within 400 feet
OF entrances to such institutions.
A bill conflning strike pickets to
the outer one-f1fth of sidewalks in
front of buildings, banning them
within 20 feet of building entrances
and limiting the number of pickets.
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