Evening star., 1949-10-20
New Sales Tax, Strengthening Of Courts
Lead Congress Work on District Affairs
BY Harold B. Rogers

~ -"
BY Harold B. Rogers
The new District revenue act,
including a 2 per cent sales tax,
and substantial strengthening of
the courts here, were among out
standing accomplishments of the
first session of the 81st Congress.
The Washington Sesquicenten-
nial next year was spurred by a
100000 Federal appropriation,
after a long and bitter f1ght.
Officials expect to repay this
money out of receipts from the
Freedom Fair.
Some progress was made to-
ward votes for Washington. A
home rule bill for an elected and
|reorganized city government got
only half Through Congress. 1t
passed the Senate but has been
shelved in the House District
Committee. A move is on foot
to force it to the House floor next
year.
Backlog of Measures.
National Representation for
Washington, to give residents
here the right to vote for Presi-
dent. Vice President, and men,
bers of Congress from this city,
is proposed in a pending Senate
resolution.
Many bills were enacted for i'm.
provement of conditions in the
District. but backlog of city
measures is still pending, and
will remain alive, ready for action
at the next session of Congress
in January. "
The city's new sales tax paved
the way for the biggest annual
appropriation ever provided for
the city. and made possible a $3.50
pay raise for about $4,000 District
workers. Revenues expected to
flow from the new revenue bill,
raising taxes also on real estate,
cigarettes and liquor already have
made possible long-needed i'm
provementS in the city.
Bench Strengthened.
Legislation strengthening the
judiciary here has been hailed as
a great help toward relieving con-
ditions in courts long criticized
for shortage of judges, overcrowd-
ed dockets, delays in trials, and
cramped quarters.
Four different courts here were
strengthened by addition of 10
judges.
More ample facilities for opera
ton OF the courts are under way
through construction of the new
Federal Courthouse here, for
which additional funds were made
available this year. The new
building, authorized by the 8Oth
Congress, is being constructed at
Third street and Constitution ave-
nue. NV.
Congress added three more
judges each to the Court of Ap-
peals, District Court and NUM-
clpal Court, and raised the SAL
aries of Municipal Court judges.
Nominations for the six newly
created judgeships on the Court
OF Appeals and District Court
have been sent to the Senate by
President Truman. The Senate
has fixed January 3 for a hear
ing on these and other judgeship
nominations from other parts of
the country.
Recess Appointments Seen.
Meanwhile, however, the Pres
ident may put some of these nom
inees on the bench by recess ap-
pointments. But he is expected
to send all the nominations again
to the Senate at the opening. OF
the second session of this Con-
gress, because the current NOM
nations will expire in the mean
time.
The President has not disclosed
what he will do about nomina-
tions for the three new judge
ships in Municipal Court.
Congress approved legislation
which enabled the President tc
name a new Juvenile Court Judge
Miss Edith Cockrill, to take the
place Of Judge Fay L. Bentley
who is a voluntary patient in St
Elizabeths Hospital. The Senate
also passed another bill to estab-
lish two permanent judges for
Juvenile Court, but the measure
still is before the House District
Committee. This bill could be
taken up in the next session.
The Washington Sesquicenten-
nial, for celebration next year of
the 150th anniversary of the
Federal City, finally was backed
by a Congressional appropriation
of 100000. Three times fund.-
for the celebration were rejected
by the House, but they finally
were approved by a narrow mar
gin in an appropriation bill, and
are now available.
Crime Probe Awaited.
A congressional investigation OF
crime and its punishment here
authorized recently. is expected to
result in long probe by a special
House District subcommittee
headed by Representative Davis
Democrat, of Georgia. Investi-
gators are to work through the
congressional vacation and have
material ready for hearings when