Evening star., 1952-06-22
Planning Board
Bill Ready for
House Action
Other Measures
On District Affairs
Are Nearing Vote
By Harold B. ROGERS

ACSAoAdtkOI1 W ACO1 Sdkl1ZC LLlC INd-
tional Capital Park and Planning
commission is slated for action by
the House tomorrow.
The measure Is one of several
District bills to be considered by
Congress this week. Among them
are the city's 1853 supply bill,
legislation to extend the Washing
ton Hospital Center Act and a
controversial measure on optom-
etriStS.
Backed by Committee.
The park and planning bill has
been approved by the House Dis
trict Committee. It will be called
up on District Day tomorrow by
Committee Chairman Mcmillan.
The measure has the unanimous
backing of all agencies in this
area concerned with better CO.
ordinated planning.
A new National Capital Region
al Planning Council of 10 members
would be set up by the measure,
to serve in an advisory and CO.
operative capacity with the COM
mission.
An identical bill on the other
side of Capitol Hill was delayed
at least temporarily. yesterday,
when blocked in the Senate.
When the measure was reached
on the calendar, Senator Hen
erickson, Republican, of New Jer-
sey, asked that it be held over for
further study" Later he said
his statement had been made at
the request Of some other Senator
whom he did not name.
The bill could come up for ac-
ton again when the Senator is
called before the Senate quits for
the political convention.
Other Bills Listed.
Listed for action also tomorrow
in the House are two other bills
One would reduce from 20 to IL
years the permissive period OF
service for retirement of judges
in Municipal Court, Municipal
Court of Appeals and Juvenile
Court. Another would remove the
present limitation on White
House police.
The Districts 1853 appropria-
tions bill is reaching final stage.
of Congressional action. It now
awaits action by House Senate
conference to compose differences
between versions passed by the
two bodies.
The House slashed budget esti-
mates and passed the bill at $131
million. The Senate restored this
figure to $135 million. The House
cut the $12 million Federal pay
ment for city costs by 20 per cent
The Senate restored the cut.
The House is expected to name
Its conferees early this week
Chairman Hill of the Senate
appropriations subcommittee ir
charge of the budget said last
night he is ready to meet with the
House conferees at any time.
The compromise bill in fina
form must be passed by both
House and Senate. If this is not
done before June 80, the end o1
the fiscal year, a continuing reso.
luton will be passed by Congress
to authorize the city to continue
spending into the new fiscal year
Hospital Center Law.
Legislation to extend for three
more years the time limit on thu
Washington Hospital Center au'
thorization law may 60 to tn,
White House this week.
Originally passed by the Hous'
with a 5-year extension from th'
end of this month. the bill wen
to the Senate. The 5-year ex.
tension was cut down to thre,
years by the Senate, and ths
measure went back to the house
From reliable sources, it wa
learned. the House may be asket
soon to concur in the Senate
amendment. Should the House ap.
prove, the bill would go to tn,
President for his signature.
The hospital center consists o1
Emergency, Garfield and Episco.
pal Hospitals. The original cen.
ter law has been amended to au.
thorize Federal grants to othel
hospitals here.
The controversial bill to regu'
late optometrists will be up TO,
another hearing at 10 am. tomor.
row by q House District subcom.
mittee.
The measure has been pending
in Congress for years in variou.
forms. The House District Com.
mittee has received requests from
all over the country for further
hearings on the bill, since it wa.
passed by the Senate.