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

Emergency legislation to set up
a District Office of Civil Defense
here today faced its last congress
sional hurdle, on the Senate floor.
Approved by unanimous vote Of
the Senate District Committee yes
terday, the House-passed bill was
reported 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 would
try to call up the measure by
unanimous 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 SEN
ate committee was told. 1t 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.
Meanwhile, the Senate District
Committee also 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 it would come up again
later.
To finance the new civil defense
agency. a House Appropriations
subcommittee yesterday held ex-
ecutive hearings on 1920, 900 re.
by President Truman. The
unit, headed by Representative
Bates, Democrat, of Kentucky, fin-
lshed its hearings on all supple-
mental requests of the District
government, running to nearly
So million.
Group To Meet Today.
This group was scheduled ten
tatlVely to meet today to write un
lts bill. Its recommendation
would go to the House Appropri-
ations Committee for inclusion in
forthcoming supplemental .sup-
ply bill. - - a
In executive sessions Yesterday.
the subcommittee listened to tes-
timony. asking for about $900;000
Tor a f1ve-day work week for DO.
lice, 100000 for child day-cara
centers and about $4,000 for OUT
patient clinics at Gallinger Hos.
pital. 80 Ea
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 commended
washington has too many taxi
cabs. He said he does not want
70 deprive present drivers of their
licenses, nor disturb the present
ratio between individually owned
cabs and fleet cab operations. The
Dill previously had been tabled by
the Senate District Committee.
Stadium Bill Held Over.
Another bill held over was the
measure to complete
the stadium at Eastern High
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 nourS 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
Tor trespass on private property.
Remove certain inequities re-
sulting from the 1947 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.