Evening star., 1949-06-19
Congress toAcf
This Week on
DC. Pay Raises
Expected to Speed
Retroactive $3.50 for
1900 Workers


Congress is expected to speed
bills this week to provide long
delayed $3.50 retroactive pay raises
for all $4,000 District government
workers.
Facing the end of this fiscal
year June 80. legislators expect
even greater speed on vital money
bills, including the 1850 annual
District supply measure. and the
second deficiency bill with funds
for many postponed pay days.
The record-breaking $103,132,-
153 supply bill, reported to the
Senate Friday by the Senate APP
propriations Committee may be
called up for action tomorrow. II
approved, 1t would go to confer
ence with the House. '0
The second deficiency bill con-
ference report with funds for
many agencies also may be
called UP on the Senate floor to-
morrow after having been de-
layed for several days. 1t carries
money for several urgent needs Of
the District, including back pay
for the District rent administra-
tors Office, whose employees have
not been paid since April 26.
Other ID. C. Bills Pending.
Congressional consideration also
is expected this week on many
District matters. including appro-
priations proposed to clear slums.
additional judges for municipal
courts, pay increases for present
jurists on that court, and day care
centers for children of working
mothers.
The $3.50 retroactive pay raise
legislation may get action on both
the House and Senate sides Of the
Capitol soon.
First vote may be on the House
floor tomorrow when the bill for
5000 classified workers Of the
District is called up for action.
This measure was reported IA
vorably last week by the House
Civil Service Committee.
If passed, it will go to the SEN
ate, where Chairman Johnston
of the Civil Service Committee
has pledged quick action. This
committee may hold regular
meeting Tuesday. when the meas
ure might be considered.
No Hearings ON Bill.
The House passed bill for $3.50
retroactive pay raise for police
men, firemen, teachers and per
diem workers will be one of sew
eral measures to come before the
Senate District Committee at il
am. Tuesday. zssass''Ss I 8
Chairman McGrath of this
committee has indicated he sees
no need for public hearings on
this pay bill. so committee ap-
proval Tuesday is expected. A
clarifying amendment may be
added, however, purely technical
in nature.
The District Committee also
will consider two different bills
for increasing the pay of Munic-
ipal Court Judges. A House.
passed bill would raise salaries
for associate judges of both the
Municipal Court and the Munic-
ipal Court of Appeals to $12.500
and those of the chief judges OF
these two courts to $4,000. A
Senate bill would raise associate
judges of Municipal Court tc
$4,000, and its chief judge tc
$l3,500; but associate judges oi
the Appeals Court to $4,000 and
Its chief judge to $14.500.
Senator Margaret Chase Smith,
Republican, of Maine, may re-
port for a District subcommittee
on the measure to establish two
permanent judges for juvenile
court, with an amendment to pro-
vide for publication of statistics
of court cases. but not personal
identities or case details. The full
District Committee may take ac-
tion on this issue.
Marshall Heights Plan Up.
Other measures on the District
Committee docket would require
that stop payment orders on bank
checks be submitted in writing,
and that District Commissioners
may authorize contracting officers
to sign contracts up to 5000. in
stead Of the present limit of 81 900.
Meantime a House Appropria-
tions subcommittee holding execu-
tive hearings on items for the
final deficiency bill will hear testi-
mony tomorrow in support of
the request Of President Truman
for $4,000 to be used by the
District Redevelopment Land
Agency on the Marshall Heights
propect in Northeast Washington.
Action on this request, however.
probably will mot be disclosed un-
til the full House Appropriations
Committee reports the last de-
f1ciency bill of this session to the
House.
Several widely different pro-
pcsals for financing slum clear
ance already have been considered
by Congressional Committees-but
so far without any decision. Mai.
Gen. U. S. Grant, III, u. S. A. re-
tired. speaking for the National
Capitol Park and Planning COM
mission, recently urged Senate
subcommittee to appropriate $5.-
100000 for slum clearance in the
new fiscal year. together with So
100000 in contract authority for
1851.
$2o,000,0eo Grant Urged.
Senator McCarran, Democrat. Of
Nevada. author OF the 1916 Dis
trict RedeveIopment Act. has been
urging a full grant Of sac, 900 .000
for a revolving fund for rebuild
ing blighted areas.
A House District Subcommittee
will hold q meeting 10 am. Tues