Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-14
Rules Group Action
On D. {. Works Bill
Sought This Week
By Harold B. ROGERS

BY Harold B. Rogers
The Districts public works
revenue bill will face Its next
legislative hurdle before the
House Rules Committee probably
late this week.
Approved by the House District
Committee Friday by a 13-to-2
vote. the measure has been
scheduled definitely for action on
the House floor March %, the
next District day.
But the District group also
voted to request a rule for con-
sideration of the bill by the
House barring amendments Of
fered from the floor, except COM
mittee amendments.
Request in Writing.
Such a request has been made
in. writing to the Rules Commit
tee by District Committee Chair
man Simpson. His letter was
brought to the personal attention
of Rules Chairman Allen. Mr..
Allen is out Of town, however,
and will not return until We'd
nesday or Thursday.
No definite meeting Of the
Rules Committee has been called
yet. But there were indications
that such a session probably
would be held sometime before
the District bill comes up on the
House floor at noon a week from
tomorrow.
Representative Smith, Demo-
crat, Of Virginia, an influential
member of the Rules Committee,
and veteran of the District Com
mittee as well, said yesterday he
would support the request for
the So-called CLOSED rule" on
the bill.
Smith Votes For Bill.
Mr.. Smith. q member Of the
District fiscal subco mittee
which held joint hearings with
the companion Senate District
subcommittee on the measure.
voted for the bill Friday.
He said he would ask Mr..
Allen to convene the Rules Com
mittee as early as possible.
Under customary procedure,
Mr.. Smith pointed out, the rules
group approves closed rule for
House consideration of any rev.
enue measure. The District bill
is measure to raise funds to
pay for the $305 million 10-year
city public works program.
If Chairman Allen calls a
meeting of his rules group on
the District measure, witnesses
for the rule would include Mr..
Simpson, and Represen tative
O'Hara, Republican, Of Mime
sofa. Mr.. O'Hara was chairman
of the joint fiscal subcommittee
which wrote the measure after
public hearings.
Such a Rules Committee hear
ing confines it's testimony to
members of the House. It usually
acts Immediately after a brief
hearing at which the bill is ex-
planned.
Subject to Debate.
Should the rule be granted, 1t
would go to the House floor on
March % and be subject to de-
bate. It would be effective only
after approval by the House. If
the House should reject the rule,
the District Committee chairman
plans to call up the works
measure Immediately for House
consideration anyway.
District leaders will emphasize
that President Eisenhower and
the Budget Bureau have ap-
proved financing the city's long
delayed program of public con-
struction.
The bill calls for an increase
in the Federal payment by 50
million, bringing it up to $40
million. and Federal loans to the
District for its highway and
water funds. Higher water
charges would be imposed on
District users including the Fed
eral Government. and a new
sewer tax added. Miscellaneous
taxes on District residents would
be raised by about SIS million
annually.
Congress this week also will
consider several other matters
of interest to the District and
metropolitan area.
Hearing Set Tuesday.
The Senate District Committee
has scheduled a public hearing.
for HAS am. Tuesday on nomi-.
nations of Andrew Parker and
Francis F. Healy as members of
the District Redevelopment Land
Agency. This is change from an
earlier announcement for the
hearing Wednesday.
The Senate District subcom-
mittee on Business and Com
merce, headed by Senator Payne,
Republican, of Maine. will hold
a hearing at 10 am. Wednesday
on three bills. One would prevent
regulatory commission members
! frnYn taxing aYntalox,,ananf NTH