Evening star., 1950-10-01

Expansion Bill
To Be Revived
Mcmillan Announces
Intent to Bring Up
Measure in November
By Harold B. Rogers

W tt0tObu Us NO9SfS
Long-delayed legislation to en-
large the scope and membership of
the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission will be con-.
sidered by the House District Com
imittee when Congress reconvenes
November 81.
Committee Chairman Mcmillan
said last night he hopes for House
approval of the Senate-passed
measure.
Opposition Is known to exist in
the committee, however, with some
members determined on a stiff
fight to kill the legislation.
Mr.. Mcmillan said he recognized
there was opposition. but he feels
that the bill has been, amended
so as to gain majority vote of
the committee.
| Action Postponed.
Approved by the Senate more
than a year ago. the bill has been
the subject of hearings on the
House side and long consideration.
Attempts were made to get it
through the District Committee
before Congress went on a recess,
but action was postponed.
| AS one of several moves under
way to integrate the various
political Jurisdictions in the Wash
ington metropolitan area, the bill
has been supported by President
Truman and many others.
Objected to at first by Represen-
tative Smith, Democrat, of Vir-
ginia. the measure has been ten
tatively amended and is under
stood to be gaining the favor of
Maryland representatives.
One other District Committee
member, however, was reported
last night to oppose the bill so
vigorously that he is preparing to
amend it further in at least 100
different places if it is called up.
The commission would be en-
larged by members from Virginia,
Maryland and the District. It
would be charged by the bill with
extending its plans, guidance and
cooperation" into any county or
city in Maryland and Virginia
within distance Of SO miles from
the District. This extension of
the commissions scope would be
made whenever it becomes neces-
sary in the National interest to
locate any Federal development or
project" at any place in that
area.
Committee Record Praised.
\. Chairman Mcmillan in a state
ment last night praised accom-
plishmeTlts of the District Com
mittee during the second session
of the 81st Congress. Seventy
eight bills and resolutions were
referred to the committee, he
said. including A House and "a
Senate measures. A total of 20
became law, of which % were
House bills and six originated in
the Senate.
Mr.. Mcmillan took exception to
complaints that Congress had oc-
cupied too much time with Dis
trict affairs. He said a number
of false reports" had been issued
as to the amount of time devoted
to local affairs.
The committee chairman esti-
mated that the House during ac-
ton on the floor passing 20 Dis
trict bills had used only three
hours during the second session
Of tne 81st Congress.
Some observers expressed the
opinion that the House had oc-
cuped much more time than that.
But Mr.. Mcmillan contended that
the figure was his own estimate.
House action on District Days, he
pointed out, usually was by unan--
imous consent and legislation was
disposed of quickly.
1948 Report Mentioned.
Referring to the false reports" I"
about the entire time occupied by
Congress. MIR. Mcmillan mentioned
the figure of 5000 hours. This
apparently was in reference to a
figure used in a report of House
District Committee in 1948, men
tioning congressional man-hours
in group meetings by members of
the House on District legislation.
Mr.. McMillan's figure yesterday
did not attempt to include the
time used in Congress on appro-
priation bills or on other local
measures handled by other COM
mittees.
Pointing to the three hours, Mr..
Mcmillan declared:
ITO me this seems to be an ex-
cellent record considering the fact
that Congress has been in session
approximately nine months during
the second. session. It seems
that everyone should be happy to
devote at least three hours of his
time during nine-month ses-
sion in taking care of the affairs
of the Federal Government and
the District of Columbia where
the taxpayers of the United States
have invested approximately so
billion dollars"