Evening star., 1953-08-04
By Harold B. ROGERS


gave the District a brand-new
anti-crime law, a record-break-
ing budget for this year and a
promise to look into the city's
proposed eight-year public works
program.
Disposed of for good was the
annual wrangle over daylight
saving time. The District Com
miSSioners were given authority
to order the clocks changed every
summer, without bothering Con-
gresS about it.
Rent control ended Friday
with only a bare hint that Con-
gress might consider standby leg
iSlation if landlords lay too heavy
increases on tenants.
Public transportation in Wash
ington, the subject of several
bills and many public hearings,
finally comes under investiga-
tion by a Senate District sub
committee, probably beginning
soon.
Back Again in January.
These were highlights of Dis
trict legislative action by the Re-
publican Congress, which comes
back again for it's second ses-
sion on January 6 to take up
where it left off. All bills that
failed of action-and there were
many-are still pending, sub
jects to consideration again next
year.
Considered the outstanding
achievement of the session for
the District was the so-called
omnibus crime bill. This was the
outgrowth of study, investigation
and action over several years.
Lengthy hearings had been con-
Quoted by both House and Senate
District subcommittee.
AS a result, legislation was en-
acted to make a sweeping over
haul of several local acts to plug
loopholes in law enforcement. It
gives police and prosecutors more
tools to get at gamblers, rapists
and housebreakers and even
made betting unlawful.
It attacks breeding places Of
crime controlling after-hours
clubs and making it a crime even
to be a patrcn or employe of an
illegal establishment.
AS a watchdog on crime, the
law sets up a permanent Council
on Law Enforcement.
The law fixes mandatory sem
tences for certain second Offend
ers and increases some maxi
mum penalties for crimes
among them assault on police
officers and abortion.
FOlIOwup Launched.
In addition to the new act,
which was supported by The
Star, it was learned tnat a fol-
lowup procedure has been
launched by the House District
Crime Subcommittee.
On orders of the subcommittee
the staff already has collected
certain complaints from various
citizens in particular sections
of the city. A mass Of data
has been obtained on many
cases, and the committee in
tends to keep a close watch, not
only on police action, but on
the results of prosecution and
the sentences imposed by the
courts.
Pay raises granted to police
by Congress, averaging about IL
per cent, are expected to result
in better morale in the force,
less designations for higher-pay
jobs and increased recruitment
of men for the force. Firemen
got a similar raise.
Public school teachers and
officials, except the superintend-
ent, also were given increased
pay, on a graduated scale,
ranging from 10 per cent for
the first $4,000 of any salary to
6 per cent for that part above
$4,000. In addition, the COM
missioners and Board of Educa-
ton were directed to submit
results of a new study of school
pay to the next session, with a
view to reclassification Of sal
aries.
Record Appropriations.
The city's annual 'appropria-
ton for this fiscal year, ended
June 80, broke all records for
size.
With it's total of $147,740,693
for expenditures and the full
size $12 million Federal pay
ment, the District, however.
finds it must lay off about SO
employees, mostly in the per-
sonnel, management and inter-
nal audit offices. Some of these
may be given jobs in other parts
of the municipal government.
But the money will take care
of raises for police, f1remen and
teachers and most mandatory
raises required by law.
Of Importance to the city's
struggle for replacement OF long
delayed public improvements is
the $29,551, 900 earmarked for
capital outlay. This money Will
be used for many projects.
Among the Improvements will
be those for schools and public
welfare, such as construction OF
the Children'S Center at Laurel,
Md. This center can be COM
pleted with the $3,700,000 now
made available. Other projects
to be carried forward will be
the new fire house at Forty
ninth and East Capitol street,
highways and bridges, including
the East Capitol Street Bridge,
sewer and water facilities.
Higher Payment Backed.