Evening star., 1949-09-27
Taxi Limitation Bill
Among Severa! Up for
Senate Units Action

Legislation to limit the number
of taxicabs in Washington prob
ably will come before the Senate
District Committee for action to-
morrow at its first formal session
under its new chairman. Senator
Neely, Democrat, of West Vir-
ginia..
Many other District bills will
be considered by the District
Committee, including one to add
three more judges to Municipal
Court here.
The taxicab report will be pre-
sented by Senator Frear, Demo-
crat, of Delaware, for his sub
committee, which he said has
agreed to submit the amended bill.
1t would set up a ratio between
the number of cabs owned by cor
porations and by individuals.
Previous Bills Failed.
Senator Frear said the measure
Is designed to allay previous fears
by opponents of such legislation
that such bill might permit a
monopoly. Taxicab limitation bills
have failed of enactment in prior
Congresses.
Legislation to add three more
judges to the Municipal Court
here. recently requested again by
the Justice Department, will be
brought up for action by Senator
Johnston. Democrat, of South
Carolina, chairman of the Judi
ciary Subcommittee.
A House bill to add a. similar
number of jurists to the court
has been on the House calendar
for months, but was objected to
recently when called up for a
vote by Chairman Mcmillan of the
House District Committee. It was
postponed. but still remains on
the calendar there.
Other measures to be considered
by the District Committee to-
morrow include those which
would:
Place under the Classification
Act two of the Public Utility Com
mlssioners, the Peoples Counsel.
superintendent of the National
Training School for Girls, and
superintendent of Gallinger Hos
pital.
Optometry Bill Up.
Regulate the practice of Oh.
tometry here.
Authorize the commissioners to
dispose of sludge.
Revise the District insurance
code regarding industrial insur-
ance and group life insurance.
Permit physician members of
the Districts Commission on
Mental Health to be appointed
from outside the District.
Grant a license to practice
chlropractic to Abraham Ehrlich.
Senator Margaret Chase Smith,
Republican, of Maine, plans to
submit formally to the full COM
mittee for action a report from
her special subcommittee oppos-
ing a bill to require the pound to
turn dogs over to hospitals and
institutions for medical research,
Senator Nicely introduced in
the Senate late yesterday two
pills requested by the Commits
sloners relating to health. They
nave been indorsed by District
Health Officer George c. Ruh-
land. ME #
Would Report Cancer.
AS explained by the Commits
sloners in a letter to Congress
one would make cancer and other
malignancies reportable diseases,
1t would require physicians to
report to the Health Department
all cases of cancer. sarcoma. lynn
phoma. Hodgkins disease and
leukemia.
The second bill would amend
an act governing commitments to
st. Elizabeths Hospital by adding
to those who can certify sanity or
insanity, commissioned surgeons
OF the Air Force and the Veterans
Administration. Army. Navy and
Public Health Service doctors now
may sign such papers.
The bill also would eliminate
from the present law the require
ment that licensed physician
must be a permanent resident"
OF the District before he can issue
such certificates of insanity.