Evening star., 1953-08-04
Anti-Crin1e Law and BUDGET
HighIight Action by Congress

Chairman Simpson Of the House
District Committee introduced
the Commissioners bill for the
1882 million eight-year program.
In connection with this proposal
went a Budget Bureau letter ap-
proving an increase in the an
nual payment to District govern
ment expenses from the present
$12 million to $40 million.
Senate District Committee
Chairman Case, who also re-
ceived the same documents,
promised to hold hearings this
fall on the whole fiscal problem
of the city government. This in
cludes a House-passed bill for
repeal of the District personal
property tax on household fur
nishings and jewelry.
The investigation by a Senate
District subcommittee of COM
mon carriers serving the District,
including the Capital Transit
Co., is the only real action to
come now out of several bills de-
signed to meet public COM
plants and solve area problems.
Still pending in the House
Commerce Committee is a COM
bination measure to set up two
different commissions. One would
be a three-member regulatory
body to control all common car
riers of passengers in the Met
ropolitan Area. The other would
be a nine-member group to
make an overall study of all
kinds of area problems, includ-
ing highways, bridges and pub
lie transportation.
Many Bills Fail.
Part of this bill passed the
House, the other part passed the
Senate. But the one-package
measure still is up for further
legislative study.
Many other measures were en-
acted by Congress for the Dis
trict, but many failed of final
action this session.
Outstanding of those still left
over was the home-rule bill to
give Washington a limited form
OF self-government. It is on the
Senate calendar. Approved by
the Senate District Committee,
it calls for an elected city coun-
Gil. elected school board and
elected mayor. Somewhat SINH
lar home-rule legislation has
passed the Senate in two Con-
crosses but has died in the
House District Committee.
Killed in the House District
Committee by a substantial ma
Jority were measures for an
elected non-voting delegate in
Congress from the District.
Also dormant for lack of even
public hearings in the House
District Committee were bills to
ban segregation in the District.
Rail Bridge Bill Fails.
Among the measures that
failed OF action during last
nights Senate session was one
to permit construction of a rail-
road bridge across Kenilworth
avenue NE. in the vicinity of
Foote street. It was pushed
jointly by the Potomac Electric
Power Co. and the Pennsylvania
Railroad which hoped to get a
rail link between their properties
by overpasSing Kenilworth ave-
nue.. 1t was not called up for a
vote, but still awaits action.
The long-pending bill for a
modernized corporation law in
the District was on the Senate
calendar last night, after having
been passed by the House. There
were early indications it might
be called up for passage, but also
was left over for next session.
One District measure drew a
veto from President Eisenhower.
1t would have permitted two fill
ing stations to reconstruct their
buildings, despite the fact they
did not conform to the city's
zoning law and had been denied
the right to rebuild.
Many Minor Bills Passed.
Congress sent to the President
for his signature many minor
bills. of little general interest,
but Of vital Importance to the
persons concerned.
Various bills to iron out in
equities in the school system be-
came law. Congress changed the
name of the Roosevelt Memorial
Association to the Theodore
Roosevelt Memorial Association.
It authorized amendments to the
charters of Columbus University,
American University and the
Girl Scouts of america.
A new law will bring the Dis
trict Credit Unions Act into line
with the Federal Credit Unions
Act. Another authorizes an in
crease in the maximum sum
allowable by the court out of
assets of a decedent's estate for
funeral purposes.