Evening star., 1948-02-16
Six District Bills
Await Decision
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O'Huro Orders Session
Thursday on Dispute
Over Armoy Rentals
By Harold B. Rooers

By Harold B. Rogers
The House District Judiciary SUBJ
committee today took under advises
ment six Senate-approved District
bills after an extensive hearing.
Chairman O'Hara of the subcom-
mittee later scheduled an executive
session for 10 am. Thursday to taks
up the dispute over control of the
District Armory rental concession
and receipts.
The decision to take up the ARM
ory problem followed an off-the-
record conference after the close Of
the hearing on the Senate bills.
Concession Funds Still at Issue.
The only issue still in dispute on
Armory control is the money re-
ceived from concessions which, un.
der temporary agreement pre-
viously reached, were to be handled
by the District National Guard.
Mr.. OHara discussed the prob
lem with James r. Kirkland, coun-
sci to the Senate District Commit
tee; Vernon E. West, corporation
counsel, and Chester Gray, assist
ant corporation counsel.
No indication was given after this
conference as to how the conces-
sion money should be divided be-
tween the District government and
the National Guard.
The principal Senate bill among
the six considered by the subcom-
mittee was the 160-page measure to
revise the Districts archaic" cor
poration law.
Lawyers Indorse Bill.
The District Bar Association, re-
presented by Austin Garfield, former
president, and Milton E. Hartley,
chairman of the associations Com
mittee in Charge of Revision, asked
for approval of the bill.
Mr.. West asked for delay in COM
mittee action because, he said. the
District Commissioners had not yet
been able to give the bill full con-
sideration. Mr.. O'Hara announced
that about two weeks would be given
to enable the Commissioners to re-
port.
Eleanor G. Dague, representing
the Recorder of Deeds, opposed the
measure as adding to the expense Of
corporate filing because the new
measure would set up commission
in addition to the supervisory au-
thority of the Recorder of Deeds.
Seek to Lift Limit on Damages
She said the proposed bill would
force double filing" by corpora
tions.
Spokesman for the bar associa-
ton, including Mr.. Garfield and
william H. Collins. strongly urged
enactment of a bill to remove the
present District limitation of 1000
damages for death by wrongful
act" and to provide no limitation.
Mrs. Mary r. Day, attorney OBJ
Elected to removal of all limitation
and suggested instead a limit OF
$40, 1000.
Representative johnson, Republ-
can, of Indiana, testified for q bill
to increase the amount of property
which may be held by the Imperial
Palace. Dramatic Order, Knights OF
Khorassan, from 100000 to $5,0o0,-
900. This organization Is an order
of the Knights Of Pythias, he ex-
planned.
william G. Strickler, Of the Ma
tional Association Of Power Engi-
neers, Inc. strongly urged enact
ment of the bill to increase the
scope of inspection by the District
Government of certain classes OF
boilers and pressure vessels which
are not included in the original
boiler inspection act.
Hostile" Testimony Recalled.
Mr.. O'Hara, recalling that there
had been hostile" testimony against
this measure at a previous hearing,
held the bill for further considera-
ton.
Mr.. O'Hara also put over for flu
ture consideration two other meas
ures which were discussed at some
length by bar association and other
witnesses.
One of these would permit the
capable party to testify when one
of the original parties to con-
tract had become legally incapable
of testifying. The other would pro-
vide that on the death Of any per-
son "in whose favor or against
whom right Of action may have
accrued. the right of action shall
survive limited to damages
for injury, pain and suffering"
, There was no testimony on
measure previously announced for
public hearing which would author
ize official reporters of Municipal
Court to collect fees for tram
scriptS