Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-07-09
70 District Bills
AreReportedby
Senate Group
JobIess Pay, Cob
Measures Top List;
Home Rule Pushed
By Don S. Warren

The Senate District Commit
tee, trying to clean up its docket
before adjournment of this Con-
gress. today reported to the
Senate 20 bills in an hour and
Is minutes.
It also authorized it's chair
man. Senator Case, Republican,
OF South Dakota. to ask the
Senate leadership to schedule for
action the long-delayed Wash
ington home rule bill providing
for an elected city council. mayor,
school board and voting
District delegate in the House.
In addition it directed its
Judiciary subcommittee to hold
hearing quickly on a bill to
ban picketing at the White
House.
JObless Pay Revision Asked.
Among the more important
bills sent to the Senate for &C
ton were those which would:
/. Liberalize the District un-
employment compensation in
surance law in keeping with a
compromise worked out at a
three-hour hearing yesterday
and a subsequent four-hour
round-table conference between
employers. labor groups and the
committee staff. Major elements
OF the compromise bill call fol-
an increase in the maximum
weekly payments from $40 to $40
extension of benefits from 20 tc
26 weeks, with tie-in with the
years base pay of the claimant
and with increased standards fol
qualification.
2. Authorize the District Pub.
lie Utilities Commission to regu.
late and limit the number Of
licensed taxicabs, prevent any
fleet monopoly and provide fol
a commission report after ont
year and q committee checkur
after two years.
3. Authorize q Federal gram
OF $3.50 900 toward the construc.
ton OF a grade separation struc.
ture on the line of New Yorl
avenue where it will cross tn,
tracks of the Pennsylvania Rail
road. as . connection with tn,
Washington Baltimore parkway
officials said this would requir,
the District to meet the costs O.
about $4,000.
4. Provide for primary cleo.
ton OF District delegates to the
national political party conven.
tons and in the selection of ma
tional committeeman and com.
mitteewoman for the District in
the political parties.
5. Require the Metropolitan
police to keep open to public
inspection records of arrests
making a legal requirement OF
a long-followed practice.
s. Abolish the old ban on hui
man occupancy of alley dwell
ings as no longer needed be-
cause of laws for slum clear
ance and because of private own
ers moves to modernize alley
homes.
Bridge Meeting Due.
Chairman Case also announce
there would be one additional
meeting Of the committee tt
consider the House-passed bill
authorizing the construction of {
bridge over the Potomac from
Jones Point. Alexandria, to 9
point in Maryland near the lowel
corner of the District.
Senator Case voiced the hop.
that he would get a report from
the National Capital Planning
Commission on a suggested com.
promise location for a downtown
span. on the line of New Hamp,
shire avenue, which would avoit
the Roosevelt Memorial Island
but use the small island imme
diately to the south. This com
promise idea therefore also ma,
be taken up at the ultimate com
mittee meeting.
AT that session also it is ex
pected the committee will TAX
up proposals for strengthenin,
the District law on the condem
nation, repair or razing of hous
ing condemned as insanitary-i
the House District Committee
meanwhile, has indicated an,
chance for action.
To the obvious delight of mem
bers of the Senate unit and iL
staff. unanimous approval wa
given, after only brief discussion
of liberalization Of the unem
Continued on Page AS, Col. 4.