The Washington times., 1910-06-14
Legislation Crowding Calen-
dar Elbowed Out IN
tremendously.
HOPE is DWINDLING
FOR CONSIDERATION
Gas Bills, Affecting Pockets OF All
Citizens, Appear Doomed to
Leftover Pile"

Members Of the House interested in
legislation for the District have almost
abandoned hope OF obtaining another
District Day during this session. al
though it IS generally admitted that
there has never been more important
legislation on the District calendar at
the end Of a session.
The futility Of an attempt 10 have a
day set aside for the consideration Of
District bills. however. was shown by
the vote yesterday when Chairman
Smith. of the District Committee, had
his entire calendar sidetracked by a
vote Of 2J7 TO 81. The majority Of those
voting to observe the regular District
day were members Of the District Com
mittee.
4 resume of he work done by the
house during the session. so far as the
District is concerned. shows lit-Ie legis-
lation Of general character.
Routine Legislation Only.
The bills have concerned. mainly minor
street improvements and the legislation
has been Of a routine character. on the
whole.
There are left on the District caIen-
dar. however. without a chance Of pas
sage. considering the present temper OF
Congress, a large number Of most i'm
portant bills that are general In their
nature ana In which the entire District.
and not one single section. is more or
less in -ested.
Rene ed hearings were held on the
sevela gas bills before the District
Committee. That committee finally re-
ported out amid a chorus OF public
approval. measures reducing the price
of gas 10 50 cents and prohibiting the
gas companies from lscrlminately IS
suing bonds and certificates Of Indebted
ness. These two bills. affecting the
pocket Of every consumer In the Dis
trict. are now 10 be on the District leg
!slation leftover pile
Loan Shark Bill.
The House committee went into an
exhaustive investigation Of the So
called loan shark" evil in the Dis
trict. finding instances where as high
as 12O per cent per annUm is being
charged salaried employees for small
loans
The committee reported a bill to
prohibit the charging OF more than
per cent a month interest. This bill
too, cannot be brought 20 the atten-
ton Of the House because the Dis
trict has been hoodwinked out Of two
District DAYS. This bill has passed
the Senate in almost the same shape
I as IL might pass the House and mi Ent
/ become a law within a week. IL II
were sent to conference.
Seventeen hundred teachers. and
Z thousands Of their frienis. have been
I urging the passage Of the teachers
retirement fund BILL for the relief of
superannUated teachers. some OF
1 whom have been years In the public
schools OF the Capital Similar pres
sure has been behind. along the same
lines, FOR the retirement Of policemen
and firemen.
Thirty-three on Calendar.
Both these bills received favorable
reports from the District Committee
and must go over until next year, &C
cording TO present prospects.
In all, thirty three bills on all the
District calendar await the pleasure
Of the House. Some Of them have
] been there for weeks. This condi-
tiOn is partly brought about by the
fact that certain members Of thu
House have shown a disposition t.
| talk 10 death" District day durin
the present session. An entire Nf,n-
day has been devoted sOmetimes 10
the passage Of a single bill. which
the chairman Of the committee
thought should have been passed
within a half hour. owing 10 it's
minor character.
This, together with the fact that
the House considers II not at all i'm
proper TO dispense with District davs
toward the end Of the session is re-
spOnsible for the crowded condition
OF the calendar.