Evening star., 1951-09-09
Senate Is Urqed
To Give I Days
To District Bills
Case Seeking Action
On Must Legislation
Before Adjournment

Vii NlUSt 6SSlSiOAiOIt
Before Adjournment
Senator Case. Republican, of
South Dakota. last night urged
that the Senate stay in session for
an extra week this fall, if neces-
sary, to vote on crucial District
legislation.
Out of a maze of District bills
still pending at the Capitol. the
ranking minority member of the
Senate District Committee picked
out these three matters as "musts"
for Senate action before Congress
adjourns:
/. Home rule.
2. A Senate inquiry into crime
in the District.
3. Provision of adequate funds
for the city's civil defense pro-
gram.
Indicating a fear that Senate
leaders might not find time within
present ADJOURNMENT plans to
act on the three matters, Senator
Case said in a statement that
aldermen in other cities don't
adjourn for three months"
Backs Home Rule Bill.
"We have to-" he declared. But
we should make it up to Washing
ton by faithful and prompt con-
lsideration of its needs when we are
in session"
A co-sponsor of the new home
rule bill pending on the Senate
floor, the Senator said tie two
or three days that would be needed
to consider it certainly is the least
we owe the nearly ,nillion citi-
zens of the District On measure
so closely related to their welfare"
| Senate Majority Leader McFar-
land consistently has promised to
bring the bill to the floor when
ever time can be found between
leadership must" measures. Re-
Gently, in Senate speech, he said
in an answer TO a query by Chair
man Nicely of the Senate District
Comittee that I'VE must find a
time for it when we can go ahead
to its disposition without Interrupt
tion."
Foresees Long Wait.
Responding, amid laughter. to
this comforting assurance" Sem
ator Nicely said that he could now
boldly venture to predict that the
suffering, voiceless people of the
District will not have to wait
longer than Judgment Day for
their emancipation day."
The bill, a compromise with an
earlier Senate-approved measure.
provides for an elected, non-voting
delegate in the House, mayor
appointed by the President. an
elected city council of Is members,
and an elected school board.
Senator Case did not elaborate
lon civil defense needs except to
lsay that if President Truman
l'means business on civil rights
land civil defense, he should tell
Ibis leadership in the House and
Senate to stay in session until
these matters are acted upon"
I District officials have asked the
Senate Appropriations Committee
to restore the city's civil defense
fund to $4,000, in pending
supplemental appropriation bill.
Acting on the bill, the House cut
the figure to $234,000. Spokesman
for the Senate committee said last
night the increase request is under
consideration, but has not yet
been acted upon.
Pay Raise Bills Drawn.
Meanwhile, the House District
Committee has drawn up bills to
provide pay raises for District
policemen, firemen and teachers.
but there is no prospect of imme-
diate committee action.
Aides said Chairman Mcmillan
wants to wait until Congress acts
on Federal pay raises in order to
make the two conform. The three
classes of District workers were
included in the House Civil Service
Committees $400 Federal pay
boost measure, but were dropped
out on objections that the District
Committee should handle them.
The bill awaiting Senate action
calls for an 8.4 per cent Federal
pay increase.
In the event action on the Fed
eral pay raise is delayed much
longer, however, aides said, the
committee might decide to report
a bill which could be amended on
the House floor to conform with
the Federal bill decision.
No Action Planned.
Senator Neely said he had no
Senate District Committee action
planned on the District workers.
But he said he was sure, "if the
situation demands, steps will be
taken quickly to give them relief"
The Senate committee head said
he hoped to arrange a meeting
early this week to consider a
number of pending District meas
ures, but that he was not certain
he could get a quorum.
The House ends it's recess
Wednesday. but no sessions of it's
District Committee are scheduled.