Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-04
D. Unit Hopes
To Free Bills
Stalled in House
Alley Dwelling Low
Is Top on List for
Committee Tomorrow

SssstANeSS StutSttOW
The House District Committee.
will meet at 10 am. tomorrow
in an effort to rescue Senate
ssed legislation recently
blocked on the House floor.
Committee Chairman Simp-
son. Republican, Of Illinois, said
he hoped the committee can
clear the measures for action on.
the House hoor Monday. District.
Day.
Outstanding among the meas
ures which were recently blocked,
is the Senate bill to repeal the
old alley dwelling law so per-
sons can occupy alley residences
which have been remodeled and
modernized. Under present law
such occupancy would be for
hidden after July / next year.
Objection by Mcmillan.
This bill and two others were
held UP on account of objection
by Representative Mcmillan,
Democrat of South Carolina,
when they were called up for
action on the floor recently. The
bills were returned to the Dis
trict Committee.
The District Committee faces
the problem Of handling a COM
plication in the alley bill When
reported to the House previously
the District Committee had
tackled on to it an amendment
by Mr.. Mcmillan, giving the
District Commissioners author
ity to permit reconstruction of
a gasoline station at Massachu-
sets and Wisconsin avenues
NV. 80
Mr.. Mcmillan told the press he
had no objection to the alley
dwelling bill itself, but he still
hoped in some way to get that
gasoline station rebuilt. He said
he would attend the meeting to-
morrow. but did not disclose
what action he may take.
Two other bills blocked by Mr..
Mcmillan recently. and sched-
uled to be handled tomorrow by
the District Committee a second
time. would require police to
keep arrest books open to the
public and make several changes
in the District tfafic laws.
Quorum Question Raised.
The three bills were stalled on
the House floor recently by the
South Carolinian when he made
a point Of order that the House
District Committee had no QUO
rum present when it approved
the measures and sent them to
the floor.
Chairman Simpson, in calling
his committee into session to-
morrow, expressed confidence he
would have quorum. The for
NAL notice Of the meeting indi-
Gated that the committee would
take up in addition to the three
blocked bills any other measures
recommended by the subcom-
mittee chairman.
Among these may be Senate
passed bills to liberalize the
District unemployment compen-
sation law and require election
of delegates to the Democratic
and Republican National Con-
ventions from the District of
Columbia by primary elections.
This measure, sponsored by Re-
publican Chairman Case Of the
Senate District Committee and
former Democratic Chairman
Nicely Of that committee would
set up the machinery for such
elections in the District.
Chairman Simpson pointed out
that under the rules Of the House
Monday is scheduled to be Dis
trict Day on the House floor. for
consideration of local legislation.
If for any reason the House
might adjourn over the weekend
to meet Tuesday next week in
stead of Monday, Mr.. Simpson
explained that any bills reported
by the District Committee could
be called up for House action
either by unanimous consent or
by suspension Of rules,
# the measure should be. called
up under suspension procedure
they would require q vote by
two thirds Of those present for
passage.