Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-08-19
District House
Unit Approves
Subpoena Right
BY ALEX R. PRESTON

A0SO R6ooOA vi 04AhCAA
driving bill was made even
tougher by the House District
Committee this afternoon when
it cleared the measure for floor
action.
In what was probably its final
meeting of the current session
of Congress. the committee also
named the members Of a spe-
cial committee authorized to
make a three-wey Investigation
into District of Columbia af-
fairs.
The special committee, which
has been granted powers to
subpoena witnesses and sit
within or outside the District,
regardless of whether Congress
is in session, is headed by Rep
reSentative Davis, Democrat Of
Georgia. who is chairman Of
the Subcommittee on Police,
Firemen. Streets and Traffic.
Hospital Action Deferred :
In still another action the
committee put off until the next
session Of Congress, at least, ac-
ton on the Senate-approved
bill authorizing the construc-
ton of a new hospital in
Southeast Washington. The
measure was sent back to the
subcommittee. headed by Rep
resentative Smith, Democrat Of
Virginia, with no reasons
given.
The meeting of the Full Dis
trict Committee was in execu-
tive session. Only one other
bill was favorably acted upon.
That was the measure Of
Representative Forand, Demo-
crat of Rhode Island, to raise
the limit on the property that
may be held by st. Thomas
Literary Society.
The society, chartered in 1855
by Congress, holds title to st.
Dominick's Roman Catholic
Church and other parish prop
critics. The bill is designed to
take care Of planned church
expansion.
Stresses Voluntary Agreement
The drunken driving bill in
corporated language approved
by the Senate but had two
amendments added by the
District Committee.
The Senate already had
stricken out a so-called i'm
piled consent" section under
which anyone driving in WASH
ington would have been deemed
to have agreed to chemical
tests of his blood or urine if
accused of operating a vehicle
while intoxicated.
One of the amendments add
ed today makes absolutely
certain that the tests must be
completely voluntary by the
accused. New language speci-
fles an affirmative statement
that nothing in the law shall
be construed as recurring the
taking of body samples for the
test.
The additional strengthening
of the bill came from the Sec
ond amendment which says
that concentration of alcohol
above prescribed standards
shall be considered as prima
facie evidence, not only Of
drunken driving-as written in
the original bill-but also Of
negligent homicide, if the
driver is so charged.
Test Stipulations Listed
In general. the bill would
rkthis way: If the accused
agrees to a chemical test with
in a reasonable time of his
arrest. .05 per cent or less Of
alcohol by weight shall be q
presumption of innocence.
If the content ranges from
.05 to is per cent, the guilt
would have to be proved by eW-
dence. More than is per cent
would be a presumption Of
guilt.
Comparable standards would
be prescribed for urinalysis. II
the measure is approved by the
House it would be returned to
the Senate for concurrence in
the amendment.
The three-way Investigation
OF the special Davis committee
would be authorized to look
into these District problems:
Laws governing and operations
of the Public Works program,
fiscal affairs including revenues
from the tax increase of last
year and the activities of the
Health Department including
operation of District General
Hospital.
Serving with Mr.. Davis would
be all Of the members of his
District subcommittee plus Rep
resentative Mcmillan. Demo-
crat of South Carolina, CHAIR
man Of the full District COM
mittee. and Representative Mill
Ter. Republican of Nebraska.
Other members are Represent
atives Williams of Mississippi,
Smith of Virginia. Dowdy of
Texas, and Mathews Of Florida,
all Democrats: Kerns of Penn
sylvania, Auchincloss of New
Jersey. Patterson OF Connect
icut and Broyhill Of Virginia,
all Republicans.