Evening star., 1949-07-17
Hearing 1uesda\
On Bill 10 Limit
District Taxis
Measure Prevents
PUG From Issuing
New Licenses
By Harold B. Rogers

by Horoi0 o. Rogers
A bill to authorize the Public
Utilities Commission to limit the
number of taxicabs in Washington
will come up for public hearing at
2:3o pm. Tuesday before a Senate
District subcommittee.
The measure would empower the
commission to Ak the number OF
cabs at the figure lit finds to be
adequate to serve the public ne
cessity and convenience" Further
more the commission, in its dis
cretion. could change the number
from time to time.
To reduce the number of cabs,
however. the bill provides that no
outstanding licenses shall be re-
voked on rescinded, nor shall their
renewal be denied.
But as license holders volun-
tarily surrender their licenses. fail
to renew. or forfeit them through
violations, the PUG would not be
permitted to issue requirements
This would reduce the total num-
ber.
Similar Bill Opposed.
A somewhat similar bill in the
last Congress met much opposi-
ton and. never became law.
Before the taXicab hearing. the
same subcommittee headed by
Senator Frear, Democrat. of Della
ware, will hold a hearing at 2
pm. on minor bill to authorize
the District commissioners to con-
tract for removal of sludge from
the sewage treatment plant at
Lorton.
A bill to permit air flight train
ing for seniors in public high
schools will be the subject of a
public hearing at 1890 am. Wed
nesday by a Senate District Sub
committee headed by Senator
Margaret Chase Smith, Repub-
lican, of Maine.
On the House side Of the Capt.
tol. the Harris judiciary subcom-
mittee of the District Committee
will resume hearings on home rule
legislation at 10 am. Wednesday
as previously announced.
Brief Session Sought.
Both Chairman. Mcmillan ol
the House District Committee anC
Representative Harris, Democrat
of Arkansas, subcommittee chair
man, hope to conclude the series
of hearings on that day.
Witnesses will be expected to be
brief, Mr.. Mcmillan announced
Each will be limited to five min
utes at the most.
Among the witnesses scheduled
are: James William Bryan of the
Democratic Central Committee of
the District; DR.. Marshall Shep-
ard. District Recorder of Deeds:
Jack Dolton. American Casualty
Insurance Co.; Vincent Browne
National Association for Advance
ment of Colored People: Morton
Liftin, District Industrial Union
Council tCIO) Maynard B. De-
Witt, American Veterans Com
mittee, and Elmer Batzell, Mac
Arthur Boulevard Citizens Asso.
ciation.
Salary increases for jurists ot
municipal trial and appellate
courts may receive final con.
gressional approval tomorrow.
Action Planned.
Mr.. Mcmillan plans to call uI
the measure and move that the
House concur in Senate amend.
ments which changed the salary
scale from that previously ap.
proved by the House. If the House
agrees, the measure will go to the
President.
House and Senate conferee!
plan to meet early this week tt
iron out differences in their yer.
sions of two bills-to give sicl
leave with pay to public schoo
teachers, and increase pension!
for widows and orphans of police.
men and fremen.
Meantime, the measure to ado
three new judges each to Distric
Court and the Court of Appeal
here still Is stymied because HOUSE
conferees have refused to sign {
conference report.
The report, already signed by
Senate conferees after a secone
session last week, carries a pro-
vision providing District judges
throughout the country could dis.
qualify themselves in cases in.
volving Federal departments ir
which the jurists had been EN-.
ployed during the 10 years imme-
diately prior to the trial.
~ New Judgeships.
The bill would create q new
judgeships in Federal, District anc
Circuit courts throughout the
country, including the six here.
Many District bills, already ap-
proved by the Senate District
Committee, are on the Senate cal
endar awaiting action. But the
leadership does not expect to call
the calendar until after disposIng
of the Atlantic Pact. With vote
on ratification slated for Thurs
day, it seems likely that the cal
endar may not be called until
Friday at least, and maybe not
until next week.
Italy Hopes to Boost Exports
Italy'S hopes of hoostinp its for.