Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-07-28
Mcmillan Holds Key
To Alley Homes Bill,
Predicts Passage
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from Representative Mcmillan or
anybody else.
It was understood that Mr..
Mcmillan held out for approval
of his filing station amendment,
which the rest Of the District
Committee members were pre-
pared to attack as germane to
the alley dwelling repeal bill.
Mr.. Mcmillan simply beat his
fellow committeeman to the draw
by raising the lack Of quorum is
sue before they could assail his
rider.
Approved by Senate.
Alley-dweller allies in the
House now are expected to be
concentrating on seeing that q
quorum Of Is Is present when the
measure next comes before the
District Committee In the next
few days. The Senate already
has approved the repeal proposal.
Representative Mcmillan to-
day even had an optimistic word
on the quorum question. He
pointed out that pending legis-
lation to establish machinery
for the District to send dele
gates to national political con-
ventions probably will be consid-
cred by thazcommittee at the
same time the alley dwelling re-
peal comes up for restudy.
Il have an idea that most
OF the committee members will
try to attend that session on the
delegates BILL" he said. That,
he added. should assure the pres
ence OF a quorum for the repeal
bill.
BY way of amplification, Mr..
Mcmillan said he introduced his
filling station amendment be-
cause Of a conviction that "this
property is actually q slum."
He added, however, that after
conversations with parliamentary
ians in the House, he is Just
about convinced that the filling
station "slum" question Is not
related to the alley dwelling re-
peal bill.
Plans Another Method.
II viii try to find some other
bill to attach it to. or perhaps
will have to submit it as Q sepa-
rate. BILL" he said.
While Mr.. Mcmillan and his
colleagues deliberate the ques-
ton. the District Commissioners
are fearful of the possibility of
no decision in this Congressional
session.
Declared Samuel Spencer,
president, Of the Commissioners
Board:
II am very disappointed at this
latest development. I would like
very much to see the repeal 60
through this year. The property
owners must know how they
stand. I certainly hope the
House Committee will meet again
soon and with q quorum"
Brig. Gen. Louis w. Prentiss.
Engineer Commissioner, empha-
sized the July !, 1855 deadline,
by which time. as the law now
stands, all alley dwellings
renovated or otherwise-rnust be
vacated
'It is only In fairness to the
alley dwelling owners that they
know at the earliest possible date
whether Congress will repeal the
Alley Dwelling Act" Gen. Prem
tiss declared. Until Congress
acts, the developers will not have
any assurance of getting build
ing loans, and the occupants will
not know what their. future Is.
including the status Of their
investment"
The Engineer Commissioners
statement echoes the fears voiced
consistently by the developers
and dwellers of rehabilitated
alley homes.
A Commissioners special COM
mittee reported last year that
all alley dwellings should be
abolished, in accordance with
long-standing but long-postponed
legislation, by the deadline next
July /. The Citizens Advisory
Council agreed. when the matter
was first placed before 1t last
February.
The council later reversed it