Evening star., 1948-03-17
Month Stopgap
Rent BiII0.k.'d
ByHouseGroup
D. c. Measure Due
On Floor Monday;
Keeps Present Curbs
By Don S. Worren

by Don ,. warren
A S0-day Stopgap extension OF the
District rent control law was recon-
mended today by the House District
Committee.
The measure is to be brought
before the House for action on
Monday, the next District Day"
The stopgap bill, extending con-
trolls here without change from
March 81 to April 80, was planned
because Of delay in settlement OF
the final terms of the national rent
control extension measure-now In
dispute between the House and
Senate
In other actions today, the Dis
trict Committee reported favorably
on q number Of measures, includ-
ing the compromise bill to settle
the contest between the National
Guard and the Commissioners over
concession receipts from nonmili-
tary use of the Armory.
Agree ON Highway Bill.
Under the Armory bill, the Dis
trict government would get the re-
ceipts from rental of the hall for
nonmilitary functions and an Ar
mory Board would determine
whether the Guard or the District
government would get the receipts
from the hat checking, food sales
and other concessions. The board .
would consist of the president of
ha p1nrJ ~
commanding general of the District
Militia and the architect of the
Capitol. The committee unani-
mously reported the bill.
General agreement was reached
on a bill providing for development
of q divided highway along the
line of Arizona avenue through the
Archbold-Glover Parkway. Formal
action was delayed to permit study
of substitute bill urged by Chair
man U. S. Grant III of the National
Park and Planning Commission.
District Committee Chairman
Dirksen announced to the COM
mittee he would press for action"
in day or two on report sent last
summer to the District Commits
sioners asking them bluntly why
they should continue Herbert A.
Friede on the District payroll.
Denoted From Superintendent.
Mr.. Friede was denoted from
superintendent of the District fire
alarm system following inquiries
over purchase of fire alarm equip
ment and now is an officer of the
District electrical department.
The House committee report last
year found no reason for prosecu
tion of Mr. Friede, but called on the
Commissioners for report on his
continued employment.
The District Committee accepted
and fileo report by Representative
Beall, Republican, of Maryland
recommending that the committee
take no action to retry the case of
Fire Chief Clement Murphy Chief
Murphy recently was acquitted by
a special trial board of charges that
he had oemoralized the department.
Textbook Report Accepted.
The committee also accepted for
its files a report by Representative
Miller, Republican, of Nebraska, of
the education subcommittee, on
studies of allegedly subversive ma
terialS in District history textbooks.
Mr. Miller said school officials had
admitted" there had been some
laxity in screening history texts. He
and other members of the commit
tee declared the committees actlV-
tties in no sense amounted to IAN
inquiSition" or attempted dlctatlon
to educators over school text Selec-
ton.
Chairman Dirksen was author
tzed by the committee to take steps
to have taken out of the jurls-
diction of the District Committee
legislation requested by Commerce
Secretary Hartman to put an end
to race segregation in restaurants
at the Washington National Airport.
He and Representative O'Hara,
Republican. of Minnesota agreed
that the bill should go to the House
judiciary Committee since the air
port is in Virginia.
Representative AuchincloSs, Re
publican, of New Jersey reported
that a revised bill calling for an
elected city government and re-
organizing District government de-
partments should be ready for full
committee action within two weeks.
Driver Training Bill OKd.
Among bills reported favorably
were those to:
Authorize a driver training course
In the Junior and senior high schools
under which students IS years old or
older may take driving instruction
In dual-controlled automobiles when
accompanied by licensed instructors.
Authorize Juvenile Court to COM
init girls now sent to the National
Training School for Girls to the
Board of Public Welfare for assign
ment by that board to the most ap-
propriate institution. This measure
also would authorize the use of the
training school property for the care
of children committed to the We'll
fare Board.
Permit the District to grant il
licenses on reciprocal basis to ply
sicians from other Jurisdictions who
have passed the tests of recognized
rlc