Evening star., 1949-10-20
the second session opens in jan

uary.
OF great public interest here is
the renovation of the White House,
for which complete responsibility
has been given by Congress to a
special commission. consisting Of
members of both House and
Senate and others.
An additional $4,000 was
granted by Congress yesterday for
the commission to carry out its
responsibilities in making the his
toric mansion safe and modern
for the President and his family.
Another bill recently sent to the
President for signature will give
the commission full power to dis
pose of all material taken out of
the structure. to make sure there
will be mo commercial exploita-
ton" of any of its old bricks,
stone, mortar or nails.
d. C. Employees Benefit.
District employees, including
policemen, f1remen and teachers.
have benefited by legislation. The
$3.50 annual pay increase was
granted to all except per diem
employees who were ordered to be
raised in pay by District Com
missioners. Back pay for the
year 1948. long delayed. was dis
tributed this week.
A special bill authorized pay
ment of their portion of the pay
raise for 1948 to retired policemen
and ,f1remen. They are expected
to get their checks as soon as
records can be computed, after
the President signs the bill.
Pensions of widows and orphans
of policemen and f1remen were
increased during the past year.
Public school teachers were
granted paid sick leave for the
first time, cumulative up to so
days maximum.
During the year Congress re-
ceived the so-called Strayer re-
port, sharply criticizing facilities
in the public schools. Authorized
by the 80th Congress, the study
is the basis for serious considera-
ton for improvements in school
buildings throughout the city A
congressional report this year
recommended that the city set
aside funds from revenues for
school construction.
Slum Program Advanced.
City slums here occupied atten-
ton of Congress for months.
Senators visited several notorious
alleys here, which have given
Washington unfavorahle national
attention. Amendments to a ma
tional housing act authorized the
District to participate fully in
loans and grants for slum clear
ance and redevelopment. Already
a program for building many low
rent public housing units is being
advanced by the National Capital
Housing Authority. under provi-
sions of the act. =:
Progress in slum clearance here
will be surveyed by public hear
ings of a Senate Banking and
Currency subcommittee, headed
by Senator Sparkman, Democrat,
of Alabama when Congress comes
back.
Congress continued District rent
control to June 30, 1850. =
Leadership of the Senate District
Committee was changed during
the year, when former Senator
McGrath, Democrat, of Rhode
Island resigned to become Attor-
ney General. He was succeeded
by Senator Nicely, Democrat, OF
West Virginia.
Senator Nicely surveyed needs OF
the city by a series of so-called
citizens clinics, when he heard
from representatives of many
civic. patriotic and religious
groups. Following the clinics
Senator Nicely introduced a bill
for establishment in the District
government of a>Commission on
Human Rights. He held hearings
on the bill, but further action by
the District Committee awaits re-
turn of Congress.
A strong advocate of suffrage
for Washington, Senator Nicely
not only was a co-sponsor, with
Senator Kefauver, Democrat, OF
Tennessee, of the home rule bill
but he introduced a Senate joint
resolution looking towards ma
tional representation.
This resolution, similar to one
that was sidetracked in the 80tf1
-s 1>~1>g ,rs