Evening star., 1953-03-08
Donohue Testimony
To Open Hearing On
Curbing Bottle Clubs
commissioner p Josenb Dono,

Commissioner F.. Joseph Dono-
hue will be the first witness at
a public hearing tomorrow by a
House District subcommittee on
q bill to place bottle clubs under
control of the Alcoholic Beverage
Control Board.
Others to testify include Police
Chief Robert v. Murray. Deputy
Chief Clarence Lutz, Corporation
Counsel Vernon E. West and
United States Attorney Charles
M. Irelan.
The bill is sponsored by Rep
resentative Kearns, Republican,
Of Pennsylvania, chairman Of
the District subcommittee on
Public Service Streets and Traf-
f1c, who will preside. The hear
ing will begin at $50 am. in
Room AS of the Old House
Office Building.
One Of Several Bills,
The bill is one of several Dis
trict measures to be considered
this week in both branches Of
Congress.
Mr.. Kearns plans to get &C
ton by his subcommittee this
week on his measure to increase
pay of police and flremen. The
measure was widely favored by
witnesses at a public hearing
last week.
Commissioner Donohue testi-
fed he was strongly in favor of
increases. But on account of a
shortage of District funds. he
said Commissioners have recon-
mended to the Budget Bureau
their own bill for a 10 per cent
increase across the board. It
would cost less than the Kearns
bill.
Civil Defense Studied.
Civil defense of Washington
will be considered on both sides
Of the Capitol.
The present civil defense sys-
tenn would expire June 80 unless
continued. A bill to authorize ap-
pointment Of a police or fire de-
partment officer as director will
get a hearing at 10 am. Wednes-
day.
The hearing will be conducted
by the House District subcom-
mittee on Health, Education and
Recreation. of which Represen-
tative Miller, Republican, of
Nebraska is chairman.
Meanwhile, Senator Payne, Re-
publican, of Maine, has asked
District Committee Counsel j. D.
Coon to prepare a bill authorizing
a civil defense compact between
metropolitan area jurisdictions.
The measure. suggested by
Samuel H. Sabin, general counsel
of the Federal Civil Defense
agency would provide for CO.
operation among District, Mary
land and Virginia forces in case
of enemy attack. It would give
the District Commissioners power
they do not have now to ratify
such an interstate compact.
A bill to regulate optometry in
the District is ready for action
oy the Miller subcommittee of the
House District Committee.
Representative O'Hara, Re-
publican, Of Minnesota, said he
hopes to call a meeting this
week Of his District judiciary
subcommittee within a few days
to go over the docket.
Two Bills Advance.
Two bills already are before
the full House District Commit
tee for action. They would re-
quire disqualification of narcotic
addicts. and set up a new law
here for organization of private
corporations.
Three bills affecting the Dis
trict have been reported by the
Senate District Committee and
are ready for early Senate ac-
ton. They provide for an elected
non-voting delegate from the
District in the House, modern
ization of the District Credit
Union Act, and $4,000 to pay
salaries to the Office of District
tRent Control until expiration OF
such controls April 80.