Evening star., 1948-05-21
District Sex Bill
by
SenateGroup
Amendments Redefine
Crimes; Annoy
Measure Indorsed
By Harold B. Rogers

The Senate District COMMITTEE
today approved with amendments
House-passed sex offenders bill anc
sent 1t to the Senate calendar.
The amendments would redef1ne
the sex crimes which could be dealt
with more severely and would direct
that any defendant be provided, al
his request, with bill Of particu-
lars as to the offense charged.
The measure, which had beer
considered at great length by House
committees, provides increased pen.
alties for sex crimes and hospitali-
zation and rehabilitation of sexua,
psychopaths who are considered tc
be Ill.
Armory Bill Approved.
The sex measure was among II
bills approved by the Senate Dis
trict Committee. Several bills were
tabled or postponed for further con-
sideration.
The long pending controversial bill
for control of the District Armory
was approved with an amendment
to change the composition Of the
three-man Armory board. In place
Of the architect of the Capitol, who
had declined to serve, the amend
ment provides that the third man
should be chosen by the chairmen
of the Senate and House District
Committees, and should not be an
employe of either the Federal OF
District governments. The other
two members will be Commissioner
j. Russell Young and Brig. Gen. Al
bert L. Cox, commanding general
of the National Guard here.
Tabled was long pending Senate
bill to raise teachers salaries. This
was laid aside on recommendation
of Senator Cain, Republican, OF
Washington. He told the commit
tee of the Districts financial pre-
dicament since the pending 1949
appropriation bill is about $780,
600 short of anticipated revenue.
Ball Backs Sales Tax.
Senator Cain. chairman Of the
Fiscal Subcommittee of the District
Committee, pointed out that unless
Congress enacts new revenue legls-
lation to increase the Districts in
come, present laws would force the
District Commissioners to meet any
deficit by an increase in the present
property tax rate.
When committee members raised
the question as to whether there
was any chance of increasing the
Federal payment toward District
expenses, Senator Cain expressed
doubt.
Senator Ball, Republican, OF Min
nesota, expressed the opinion that
"the sales tax makes more sense 10
me than anything else"
Senator Capper, Republican, OF
Kansas told the committee that
from reports reaching him mer-
chants In Washington were making
unusual profits He raised the
question as to whether I'VE should
put on the consumers the cost OF
Government, which might well be
paid by business"
To Postpone Report.
Senator Cain said he would post
.none any report to the District
Committee on possible new revenues
for the city until after meeting
tomorrow with Chairman Bates OF
the fiscal subcommittee of the
House District Committee.
The District Committee approved
three House joint resolutions giving
the District government authority
to provide order. grant permits and
quarter troops for the Inauguration
Of the next President in January.
A bill to authorize the District to
acquire property and lease it on a
long term basis for automobile park
ing garages to be erected by private
enterprise was amended to stipulate
that the leases must be granted
under competitive bidding. A pro-
vision that these leases could be
granted without competitive bidding
was stricken. The measure would
amend the Motor Vehicle Parking
Act of 1912.
Claims Bill Adopted.
The committee approved other
measures which would authorize
District or Federal Government Of
ficials to place lien on damages
collected by injured persons who
had been treated at city hospitals,
such as Gallinger or Freedmen's:
incorporate the Roman Catholic
Archbishop Of the District of Co.
lumbia to handle church business in
this new arch diocese: and increase
from IS to 80 the number of trustees
of the Protestant Episcopal Cathe-
dral Foundation of the District.
The District Committee adopted
revised bill presented by Senator
McGrath. Democrat. of Rhode
Island which would pay to II prop
ertv owners total of $29.527 for
alleged damage to their properties
due to the street improvement of
Eastern avenue. The substitute bill
in the nature of claims legislation
against the District government re-
placed long-pending Senate bill
which would have authorized the
claimants to reopen their cases in
court.
Also approved was bill to In
crease the fee for recording liens
on motor vehicles in the Office of
the recorder of deeds from so cents
to ST. This also would cover the
release of liens.
Quaker Measure Tabled.
Postponed for further considera-
ton were a bill to restrict erection
of radio and television towers, on
which another hearing was prom
ised; a Senate measure to author
ize police to destroy dangerous
weapons seized from those illegally
holding them; a Senate joint reso-
luton to set up a commission to
study Federal buildings in the
District to determine if they were
being put to the best use and a
measure for improvement of the
employment of disabled veterans
in the District government
Tohled definitely upre hjllc to