The Washington times., 1901-12-23
FRAMING OF
DISTRICT LAWS.
Many Important Measures
Are Now Pending.
CONGRESS THE ClMMON COUNCIL.
All Bills Referred ID District Com
nittees Un ess of a Character
to Require Other Disposition
Commissioners Consulted APP
preparation Bin Difficulties.

Proposed Legislation affecting the Dis
trict Of Columbia has appeared in consid-
e-able volume in Congress, though the
chambers were in session less than a
month before adiourning for the holidays.
a number of bills have already been re-
fcrred TO the Commissioners for eyamina-
tion and report These will be consid-
cred during the recess and returned to
the committees about the time Congress
ccnvenes in January.
At that time also the measures advo-
Gated by the different citizens associa-
tiors will be presented and the two Dis
trict committees viii be busy with hear
ings and in shaping the bills which will
lie reported to the two houses. II is ex-
pected that the session will be prolific in
measures relating TO the District. The
railroad terminals. the park improve
meut plan, the memorial bridge. and the
filtration plant are some of the big prof.
ects awaiting action. Special bills re-
latmg 10 the District finances are ex-
pected to appear soon after Congress con-
venes, and to these will be added many
special bills providing for street open
ings, sewC- extensions, and other i'm
proremenis while the appropriation bill
will follow with its items for the munich
pal expenses.
Where the Bills Originate.
Any member of either house of Con-
gress may ofTer bill affecting the Dis
trict Of Columbia. Unless such bill in
wolves some judicial question or naturally
falls 10 the category of some other COM
mittee it is referred to the Committee on
the District of Columbia. There 1t passes
under scrutiny. is compared with other
similar measures, is perhaps amended
and, at the proper time, is reported back
10 the house for action.
While in committee all bills of this kind
are referred to the District Commission
ers for consideration and report. Suppose
q bill originates III The House Of Repre-
sentatives and is referred to the District
Committee. 1t is Immediately sent to the
Commissioners. They. in turn, refer it
to the municipal department which it
particularly affects. Here a report is
framed which advises the Commissioners
relative to the merits OF the bill ard the
wisdom OF It's enactment II amendments
are thought to be desirable they are
added.
Upon receipt OF this report the Secre-
tary to the Commissioners drafts formal
statement relative to the bill. approving.
disapproving, or amending the same. as
the case MAJ be. This, together with the
bill, is referred TO the Attorney fer the
District for examination as to its legal
form or possible confict with other stat
utes. II the Attorney offers any sugges-
tions or amendment. these are embodied
in the final report sent with the bill back
to the committee
Reported TO the House.
After fun consideration the bill as
amended is reported to the house to which
the committee belongs. If passed it is sent
to the other house where ii is referred TO
the corresponding committee, going over
the same track as before.
In this way the District Commissioners
sad municipal departments have oppor-
tunity TO examine twice carefully every
piece Of legislation enacted OF a special
character. This practice tends to elm
mate ill-considered and injudicious acts
which would embarrass the local govern
ment. 1t also affords o;;:.s5:tiriity 10 cut
of or to modify considerably legislation
prompted by selfish or mercenary pur-
poses. Granting the wisdom OF using the
Congress OF the United States as the
common council OF a municipal corpora
tion, the practice OF disposing OF legisla-
tion now in vogue has decided advantages
The Appropriation Dill.
Following The requirements OF the Con-
stltution, the District appropriation bin
originates in the House OF Representa-
tives. IN practice the measure is framed
by a subcommittee of the House Com
mictee on Appropriations. is formally
adopted by the full committee aud report
ed TO tbe House.
The annual estimates prepared by the
District Commissioners form the bAsis of
the bill. During its consideration by the
subcommittee the Commissioners. and
freqrcntly the heads OF departments. ap-
pear in person 10 offer advice. give in
formation. and discuss the several items
OF expense with the committee. The bin
is built up gradually until IL Is as per
feet as the ingenuity OF the committee
and party policy viii allow Almost in
rariably the bin as IL passes the House
is nero fragment Of tue Law as IL comes
FROM tho Senate, and is finally decided ia
conference.
before the senate Committee.
AS soon as the District bill reaches The
Senate it goes before the Committee on
appropriations of that body II is here
that the hardest work on the bill is done
For political purposes the House of Rep-
rgseniatfves generally reduces the aggre-
gate Of the District bill 10 the lowest
amount practicable This year under the
suggestion OF OF the Secretary of the
Treasury. the amount may be expected TO
iall helaa 8 sne 600.
Before tie Senate committee however
the items thrown out by the House com
mittee are generally restored and not a
few items are frequently added. As mat
iers stand. the Senate committee Is the
real friend OF the District. iis members
devote their tinin and talent to the work
~ supplying the funds needful for the
proper conduc- Of the municipality. They
must see good reason for the expendi-
lure. and then they give not grudgingly
After due consideration by the Senate
committee the District bill Is reported
and amendments arc sometimes made dur
ing its passage. Finally IN the closing
hours Of the session, after the House has
refused TO concur In the Senate amend
Iienis. the bin falls TO the tender mercy
q conference committee Of the two
houses Here during . few hours Of
eainest discussion. at times very earn
rst. when Uncle Joe Cannon Is on the
committee. thc bill tekea en- its final form
;nd is conaurrcd IN by both houses. The
appropriation bill as a whole Is not re
ierrcd TO the District Commissioners for
report, the work being accomplished by
conference in The committee rooms AT
ne Capitol.
This year the framing and complexion o!