Evening star., 1952-06-22
Child Actor Age
Limit Reduced
BY Senators
Bill One of 9 Passed
By Senate Affecting
District Matters

SSuSsS NssSSNbu
District Matters
Legislation to permit outstand-
ing stage shows with child actors
here was approved yesterday by
Congress and sent to the Presi-
dent.
Sponsors of the bill hailed it as
lifting the ban on many top pro-
auctions which have been unable
to play here because of children
in the casts.
The House-passed measure was
approved without debate yester-
day by the Senate. 1t is expected
to reach the White House early
this week.
1t lowers the age of permitted
child actors from IA to Z. It
restricts the minors to not more
than two performances in any one
day. nor more than eight perform
ances in one week. 1t requires
that they must not appear after
1880 pm.
The measure was one Of nine
District bills passed by the Senate.
New Powers for Courts.
The Senate passed and sent to
the House a bill to give judges
OF municipal court and juvenile
court the right to suspend SEN
tences in certain cases.
The measure would restore to
Municipal Court the power they
lost about two years ago by a de-
cision Of the Municipal Court of
Appeals.
Backed by the judges, District
Commissioners, the District Bar
Association, and others, the meas
ure is designed to furnish jurists
in both courts authority they
want. The bill provides a means
Of coping adequately with what
might be termed run of the mine
petty oftenses not meriting either
a sentence or the placing of the
defendant on probation"
Passed by the Senate and sent
to the President was a House bill
to turn over Federal interests in
Columbia Hospital to the institu-
ton itself. This would permit it
to operate as a private institution.
and apply for Federal aid to help
finance improvements.
Pass Other Measures.
Other measures passed by the
Senate would:
Authorize school officials to pay
substitutes for teachers who are
on leave without pay.
Increase fees paid by registered
nurses; provide days of in lieu Of
previous regular off time taken
from policemen and firemen.
Exempt from the District real
estate tax property of AMVETS
here; bring the District Credit
Union Act more nearly in line with
the Federal Credit Union Act: and
fix the seniority rights of Fire De-
partment Sergt. Albert O. Rae
der.
Several District bills were called
up, but were objected to and re-
manned on the calendar.
|
Rent Control Deferred.
Among them was one to extend
rent control here for one year to
June 80, 1858. Senator Johnston.
Democrat. of South Carolina. act
ing chairman of the Senate Dis
trict Committee. asked the meas
ure remain on the calendar until
Congress had determined how far
to extend rent control.
An identical bill is awaiting
House action. But it is being held
up for the same reason. so District
curbs can be made to conform to
the termination date Of national
controls.
) - Another delayed bill would give
the District Boxing Commission
the right to spend $25, 900 of in
vested funds for current expenses.
Postal Bill Opposed.
Opposition was expressed
strongly from the Senate floor
to a bill for enlargement and
modernization of the postal mail
equipment shops here. The House.
passed bill would authorize pur-
chase Of some land. expansion of
the shops and modernization Of
some equipment.
Among those speaking against
the bill was Chairman McKellar
of the Senate Appropriations
Committee. The Tennessee Dem
ocrat told the Senate a firm in
his State could make mail bags
"at least 81 cheaper each" than
the Government could.
The Senator later identified the
firm as Camel Manufacturing Co..
of Knoxville. In 1948 and 1949,
he said, the Camel company made
more than 3 million mail pouches
| for as lOw as 80 IN each