The Washington times., 1906-12-27

4 delay that has already occurred
in the routine handling of the Mad
den bill, providing 75-cent, instead
of 81, gas for the District of Co.
lumbia. may result in the failure OF
those interested in the movement to
secure the necessary legislation for
the REFORM in this Congress.
Although the bill was introduced In
the House on December IS. two days
before Congress adjourned for its holi-
day recess, IL has not yet been for
warded 10 the Commissioners for their
report on It.
This delay is in peculiar contrast with
the procedure OF the House District
Committee in regard to another Dis
trict bill that was introduced in the
House on December Il and sent 10 the
District Commissioners on December Is.
The bin which received this prompt
treatment was q measure 10 amend the
District code in regard TO justices OF
the peace.
The Mode of Procedure
The Importance OF this state Of af-
fairs in regard 70 the gas bill can be
appreciated from relation of the fol-
lowing facts:
Before a bill is taken up by the Dis
tTict Committee. it is referred 10 the
Commissioners for their report
If the bill deals with d matter OF DOpu-
lar interest. such as the gas question
the Commissioners announce that they
VIII give public hearing, or several
pubic hearings on II, and they set Il
date Tor such hearings.
The Commissioners then generally con
sumo some time, varying from two to
ten days, in making their report.
The report is then sent to Congress.
and, at the next meeting OF the COM
mittee. is taken up for consideration
unless other business crowds IL out un-
I'll a later date.
If It is found that the people want to
be heard on the bill. the committee. ia
its turn, announces that at some future
date It Will give a hearing or. several
hearings on it.
The committee then takes up ono
meeting, or several meetings. deciding
whether 10 report the measure favoT-
ably.
Finally, it is put on the House caisn-
dar and must be delayed from several
days to two weeks before the House
votes on II, this being due 10 the fact
that District business is transacted i'm
the House only twice a month under
the most favorable circumstances
The bill, having passed the House. is
sent TO the Senate, where Il NAV again
be held up until public hearings have
/ been had on il and the committee has
~
Slim Chance at This Session.
AS Congress viii have less than two
months to run for the remainder of this
session. the delay already has been of
the greatest consequence Should the
bill meet In each of its onward stages
delays corresponding TO the one at its
initial stage, II seems certain that its
chances for becoming a law at tba
hands OF this Congress would he slim,
Even if the bill should go from the
committee or the House to the District
commissioners tomorrow. the Commis-
SfOners would have TO allow some time
to elapse before they could expect the
people to be ready for a hearing on If
They would have to allow the time
nece 'ary for the citizens 10 find CUT
when the hearing would be held
Similar delays would occur, necessar-
/ jiy. all along the line.
May Be Total Failure.
Ard, unless the champions Of the
measure get very busy with il for the
remainder of this Congress. its fate will
bid fair TO be failure. IN speaking of
The situation today, a citizen interested
in the fight for cheaper. gas, said the
greatest thing now necessary is haste
to have the bill considered promptly
by all the parties who have to pass
on il.
in view of the fact that the accusation
has been made that on a previous occa-
sion Congressional delay resulted in the
District not securing cheaper gas.
Had this bill been sent to the Com
nissioners promptly the hearings on It
before the Commissioners could haye
been held this week. AS it Is. no one
can now predict when the hearings will
begin. No one can say when the Com
missioners Will receive the bin.