Evening star., 1954-01-03
Bridges, Teacher Pay
And Home Rule Hot
Issues for Congress

issues tor congress
The controversy over new
bridges for the Potomac, and
measures to increase pay for
, teachers and give washington
home rule are expected TO figure
Importantly among District
measures getting Congressional
attention during the next session.
Heading the list Of pressing
District affairs is the budget for
the next fiscal year which goes
to Congress early in the session
along with the Federal Govern
ment'S budget. There was no in
dication when the House Appro-
priations subcommittee handling
the District supply bill win start
hearings.
Differ Over 2 Bridges.
The controversy. over proposed
new Potomac River bridges is ex-
pected to be handled by the
House District Committee. The
District Commissioners have
been proposing a crossing at e
street in Washington, but the
National Capital Planning Com
mission prefers one from the
vicinity Of Reaches Run in vir-
ginia to the District.
When an official request for
legislation goes to the House Dis
trio Committee, it was indicated
yesterday. a bill will be intro
duced and referred to a District
subcommittee for action.
Representative Broyhill, who
already has a bill pending for
q bridge from Jones Point, near
Alexandria to the District, has
been appealing in many public
speeches in the area for support
OF two hridgeS-not one. He has
indicated he also would introduce
. bill for crossing at E street.
Home Rule Bill Up in Senate.
Legislation to grant the Bis
trlct a measure of home rule is
pending on the Senate calendar,
ready for action by the Senate
itself, when and If it can be
called up. Approved by the SEN
ate District Committee, it calls
Tor an elected city council, elected
school board, elected mayor and
elected non-voting delegate in
the House. Two previous Sem
ate-passed home rule bills of
somewhat different provisions
were pidgeonholed by the House
District Committee.
Another Senate passed bill. for
an elected non-voting delegate
in the House, is before the House
District Committee, after having
been sent to it by a subcommit-
tee without recommendation"
Teacher Pay Bills Ready.
Legislation for the long-con-
sidered pay raise for teachers
an dother school officials is ex-
pected to reach both House and
Senate District Committees FRI
day. This was promised by Dis
trict Commissioner Samuel
Spencer in communications to
both committees.
He pointed out that in the last
session. legislation giving teach
ers a pay raise called for 81 re-
port to Congress as soon ais Il
convened. But the completely
Of the problem. and the need for
complete co-ordination and un.
derstanding" by all concerned,
has delayed the report and pro-
posed bill until Friday.
A House-pasSed bill to modern
ize the Districts old law re-
lating to the organization of
corporations here is on the
Senate calendar.
Senator Barrett, Republican,
Of Wyoming. chairman of the
District subcommittee which ap-
proved the measure, said last
night he would like to see it
passed by the Senate" But he
indicated there already has been
some objection to it from several
quarters. He pointed out the
antiquated District act on this
subject has not been amended
for about half-a-century.
Personal Property Tax Repealed.
Senator Barrett also said he
personally favored a House,
passed bill, now before the
Senate District committee, for
repeal Of the District personal
property tax on household be-
longings. This measure is being
held for consideration by a joint
House and Senate District sub
committee in connection with
the city's public works Program
and District financial &bility to
meet expenditures.
Pending also on the Senate
calendar is a bill to authorize the
Potomac Electric Co. to cross
Kenilworth avenue NE. with
railroad tracks. This was passed
by the Senate late in the last
session, but it was voided on OBJ
lection by one Senator, and the
measure went back on the cal
endar.
A House passed bill to author
lie Federal hospitals to care for
narcotics addicts from the Dis
trict is pending before the SEN
ate Committee on Labor and
Public Welfare.
Chairman Simpson Of the
House District Committee plans
to introduce in the House soon
after Congress convenes q bill to
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