Evening star., 1950-07-18
Civilian Defense
For D. C.Faces
Final Hurdle
Stronger Measure
Whipped Into Shape
, For Senute Action
By Harold B. Rogers

lere today faced its last congress
ional hurdle, on the Senate floor.
Approved by unanimous vote Of
he Senate District Committee yes
erday, the House-paSsed bill was
'eported Immediately to the Sem
ate for action and went on the
calendar.
Senator Hunt, Democrat, of Wy
oming, in filing the report, said he
hoped the Senate would take it up
soon. Unless the calendar is
reached in a few days, he will
try to call up the measure by
consent for speedy ac-
ton.
An even stronger civil defense
measure Is being whipped into
shape by District officials for use
in case of declared war. the Sem
ate committee was told. It would
be more effective than the World
War II blackout law, which is not
operative now, city officials said.
Explained by Gen. Young.
Progress in framing this new
legislation, in cooperation with
the National Security Resources
Board, was explained by Brig.
Gen. Gordon r. Young, District
Engineer Commissioner, and by
his assistant, 1t. Col. Thomas J.
Hayes. and Assistant Corporation
Counsel Irving Bryan.
In a House speech today, Rep
resentative Edith Nourse Rogers,
Republican, Of Massachusetts, said
the country needs a much strong
er national civilian defense pro-
gram.
She said she is preparing a bin
to set up a new organization for
this purpose.
She commended the move to
establish a new ONCE of Civil De.
fenSe for the District.
The Senate District Commit
tee yesterday approved six mi-
nor District bills but held over
three for future consideration.
Among the three postponed was
one to permit hotels and restau-
rants to sell liquor on credit. This
was blocked yesterday by a 8 to 3
vote in the committee. Chairman
Nicely said 1t would come up again
later.
To finance the new civil defense
agency. a House Appropriations
subcommittee yesterday held ex-
ecutive hearings on $3.50, 900 re-
quested by President Truman. The
unit, headed by Representative
Bates, Democrat, Of Kentucky, I'm
ished its hearings on all supple
mental requests Of the District
Government, running to nearly
So million.
Group To Meet Today.
Ihls group was scheduled ten
tatively to meet today to write up
its bill. Its recommendation
would go to the House Appropri.
atoms Committee for inclusion in
a forthcoming supplemental sup
ply bill.
In executive sessions yesterday.
the subcommittee listened to tes-
timony. asking for about 5000 900
for a five-day work week for DO
lice. 100000 for child day-care
centers and about $4,000 for out.
patient clinics at Gallinger Hos
pital.
The Senate District Committee.
at the request of Senator O'Conor.
Democrat, of Maryland, re-opened
consideration of a bill to limit the
number of taxicabs in Washing
ton but reserved its decision.
Senator O'Conor contended
Washington has too many taxi
cabs. He said he does not want
to deprive present drivers Of their
licenses. nor disturb the present
ratio between individually owned
cabs and fleet cab operations. The
bill previously had been tabled by
the Senate District Committee.
Stadium Bill Held Over.
Another bill held over was the
House-passed measure to complete
the stadium at Eastern High
School and install night lighting.
Reports on this will be asked from
the District Commissioners and
the Board of Education.
The six other measures an.
proved by the committee would.
Double the cost of automobile
dealers tags and provide for
revocation and suspension of
registration and identification
tags for cause.
Permit banks to postpone for
"a hours the posting of checks.
Establish an area known as
old Georgetown" to preserve the
architectural character of this
Colonial settlement.
Provide for appointment of
trustees to conserve assets of
persons of advanced age, mental
weakness not amounting to un-
soundnesS of mind or physical
incapacity.
Make treSpaSsing on public
property, such as schools and va
cant land, subject to the same
penalties as those now imposed
for trespaSs on private property.
Remove certain inequities re-
sulting from the 1877 Teachers
Salary Act. This would restore to
their previous grade and pay.
about 260 denoted teachers who.
before 1947, had been certified by
the school board for teaching Jobs
usually held by those with mas
ters' degrees. The bill would not
open such positions to future
candidates, however, unless they
held such degrees.