Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-07
Proposal Gains
For State Law in
u. ). Holdings

i IlG w 1IlOC 11OuoC Itdo 1llaOl DCO
Ia Government committees rec
ommendation that United States
owned properties be brought
under State and local laws so
far as possible without interior
Ience with Federal interests and
responsibilities"
President Eisenhower has SUD-
ported recommendations designed
TO lessen serious confusion" as
to what laws apply, the White
House said yesterday in making
public the recommendations OF
an interdepartmental commit
tee.
officials said the report does
not apply to the District of Co.
lumbia directly. They pointed
out in some areas where the
Federal Government has ex-
elusive jurisdiction residents are
not as well off as those of the
District, inasmuch as they lack
courts, a system of government
traffic legislation and other or
ganization.
The committee suggested that
as far as possible State and local
laws should be made to apply
to such things as post offices,
veterans hospitals, national
parks. military reservations and
similar property now under ex-
elusive Federal jurisdiction.
Legislation
The White House said the COM
mittee's proposals would be car
ried out as rapidly as legislation
can be enacted by Congress and
State legislatures.
But it added an immediate re-
suit of the new policy will be
that in most future land ac-
QUESTIONS by the Federal Gov
eminent the authority of State
and local governments will not be
disturbed. This will not require
new laws.
Attorney General Brownell pre-
Sented the report to the Presi-
dent. Mr.. Eisenhower wrote Mr.
Brownell he was impressed with
the study and asked that it be
brought to the attention of Fed
eral administrators of real prop
critics for guidance and to con-
gressional leaders for legislative
consideration.
Policy Examples Cited
The committee cited five ex-
amples of what the new policy
would accomplish when carried
out:
Several hundred thousand
civilian employees of the Gov
eminent and members of their
families living on federal in
stallations will be able to qualify
as residents of the States fol
voting. service on jurieS, public
schooling access to courts in pro.
bate. divorce and similar mat
tiers.
Estate laws and law enforce
ment authority will be ap-
plicable. permitting State OF
local prosecution of crimes COM
mitted in the areas. The report
SAID jurisdiction confusion in al
least one case enabled a person
to escape punishment for MUIR
der after being convicted and
sentenced in a Montana court. -
State fishing and hunting
laws generally will be enforce
able by State authorities. elm
mating difficulties over hunting
.on Federal property such as
have arisen recently in New
Mexico. Texas and elsewhere.
4-Inability of States to en-
force traffic and other laws on
Federal highways such as the
Baltimore Washington parkway
in Maryland, the parkway
AUDITING Fort Leavenworth in
Kansas, and many others will
be eliminated.
State laws covering such
things as minimum prices for
milk, alcoholic beverage con-
trolls. and private property taxes
Will be applicable on civilian
residents on Federal property
and Government suppliers, con-
tractors and concessionaires
These laws would not be appli-
cable directly on the Federal
Government. however.
The committee, headed by
Perry w. Morton, Assistant At
torney General in charge of
the Justice Departments Lands
Division, had assistance in the
study from 80 Federal agencies,
nraI 81