Evening star., 1949-09-18
Committee Vote
Due on BackPay
ForD.C.Workers
Senators Expected to
Approve Retroactive
Roise This Week
By Harold B. Rogers

BY Harold B. Rogers
Funds to pay the $3.50 retro
active pay raise to about 1900
District government employees
probably will be approved by the
Senate Appropriations Committee
early this week and sent to the
Senate floor for action.
Totalling $4.205.850. the money
is carried in the first supplement
appropriation bill. and is not in
controversy between House and
Senate. Already approved by the
House, the item was not even sub
Ject to public hearings during the
past week, when other city funds
were requested by District officials.
The supply bill now carries $4,-
748,245 for various District activ-
tiles. and an additional $175,973
was requested by several witnesses
during recent hearings.
The measure is expected to be
reported to the Senate soon, but
when it will reach vote on the
Senate floor is problematical.
Many d. C. Bills Await Action,
Many District bills are awaiting
action by Congress with prospects
that several may be enacted be-
fore this session comes to an end.
The House returns Wednesday
from vacation, but is not expected
to take up any District legislation
until next week. Many House
members probably will not come
back until next week, according to
some officials. But in the opinion
voiced in both House and Senate
circles. Congress probably will re-
main in session long enough to
dispose of some of the most i'm
portant city bills. No definite date
has been set for adjournment.
Most advanced of any District
legislation on Capitol Hill is the
bill for paid sick leave for teach
ers, now in conference. A meeting
OF conferees will be called as soon
as convenient to iron out differ
ences between House and Senate
versions of the bill. This is likely
next week.
Pay Raise Bills On Calendars.
Affecting thousands of Federal
and District employees are reclas-
sif1cation and pay raise bills now
on the calendars of both cham
bers. Some action is expected on
these before adjournment.
The big military pay bill prob
ably will reach debate on the
Senate floor prior to the measures
for classified and postal workers,
according to predictions by Senate
leaders. There was some discus
sion that this far-reaching meas
ure, of concern to thousands in
the armed services here, might be
taken up on. the Senate floor after
disposition of the foreign military
aid program: But the big foreign
aid bill is expected to occupy
nearly all of this week despite
hopes of leaders to reach a vote
Thursday.
Among the District bills on the
Senate calendar are those to elm
mate certain inequities in the pay
OF public school teachers: to per-
NIT investment by insurance COM
panies in obligations of the Inter-
national Bank; and to increase
from 5000 to $1,000 the amount
allowable by courts. from a dece-
dents estate for funeral expenses.
President Truman is expected
to send to the Senate soon, NOM
nations to fill the newly created
posts of three judges each for
District Court and the Court of
Appeals here.
Candidates Still Under Discussion.
Much discussion continues to
revolve around likely candidates
for these six places on the bench.
The President expects to re-
ceive recommendations on the
qualifications of candidates from
Attorney General McGrath, for
mer chairman of the Senate Dis
trict Committee.
Three more judges would be
added also to Municipal Court
here. under a bill now on the
House calendar. 1t was blocked
recently, however, when called up
for action, when 1t was objected
to by Republican Representatives
Rich of Pennsylvania, and Gross
of Touyo