Evening star., 1947-05-04
House Vote Expected
This Week on Bill
For New Courthouse

The House may act this week on
a bill to plan the proposed new Fed
eral courthouse for the National
Capital.
The measure, sponsored by Repre-
sentative Dondero. Republican, of
Michigan, is similar to an almost
identical bill awaiting action by the
Senate Public Works Committee,
which meets Tuesday.
This is one of number of legis-
lative affairs of particular interest
to Washington on which congress
sional action may be taken this week.
The list includes proposals for
home rule" revision of the Dis
trict's insurance code and requested
continuation of the child day care
center program.
The Dondero bin for new court
house, now on the House calendar,
authorizes appropriation Of $400 900
to prepare plans and specifications.
No construction is provided.
Two Other Projects Pending.
Two other proposed building prof.
ects for this city are pending in
the House Subcommittee on Public
buildings, which meets tomorrow
morning. The group has asked the
Public Buildings Administration of
the Federal Works Agency to furnish
an estimate on the cost Of construc-
ton now of new home for the
General Accounting Office, author
lied by another Dondero bill, before
the unit. The committee will also
continue consideration of a bill to
permit the District chapter of the
American Red Cross to build a new
building on Federal land on the
north side of E street between Twen-
tieth and Twenty-f1rst streets NV.
The Auchincloss subcommittee of
the House District Committee to-
morrow will resume its study of the
organization of the city government
as prelude to early public hearings
on the whole question Of how much
home rule should be granted the
District.
In executive session, Clarence
Pierce, of the staff of the Legislative
Reference Service of the Library of
Congress, has been giving lectures
to the subcommittee on the peculiar
tiles and division of authority pre-
vailing in the anomalous District
government setup. DR.. Ernest S.
Griffith, director of the Reference
Service, has been attending these
sessions.
Auchincloss Praises Charts.
Representative Auchincloss, Re-
publican of New Jersey, subcom-
mittee head, praised the charts and
reports of the Library of Congress as
most able and comprehensive"
New members of the subcommittee
have expressed considerable amaze
ment over the fact that while the
Commissioners appoint members OF
the Board of Public Welfare they
have no direct control over the
operations of the Welfare Board;
that while the District pays the cost
of maintenance and development
of the Zoo, this is under the control
of the Smithsonian Institution,
with the Commissioners having no
Jurisdiction except recommendations
on the Zoos budget; that the Office
of Recorder of Deeds is an independ-
ent agency, not even subject to audit
control by the District.
There are bills pending before
Congress to convert the Welfare
Board into an advisory agency,
transferring its administrative func-
tions to the Commissioners, and to
make the Deeds Office an integral
part of the District government.
Members of the, Auchincloss sub
committee also have commented
that the Library of Congress reports
pointedly reveal there is no uniform
system of appointing personnel in
the various major divisions of the
District government.
McCarran Bill Awaits Action.
Awaiting action by the Senate is
the revised McCarran bill, favorably
reported by the Senate District
Committee, proposing creation of a
citizens committee of II to draft
and submit to Congress q proposed
home rule charter for the District
government.
The Senate District COMMITTEES Is
to meet at 10:30 am. Tuesday.
Catholic, Protestant and Jewish
|clergymen are > present scriptures
for the use c. = committee when
ever witnesse to be sworn. Ar
Irangements this ceremony have
been made bv James r. Kirla1d,
committee counsel