Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-04
FOR DISTRICTS AID
Chairman Smith Goes Over
House Measures on Calendar.
TO PUSH IMPORTANT ONES
Bill Providing Teachers Retirement
Fund Will Come Up Early.
RECLAMATION TO BE URGED
Clothing of Commissioners With
Powers Of Public Service Board
Also Regarded as Important.
TO PUSH IMPORTANT ONES
RECLAMATION TO BE URGED

Representative Samuel W. Smith OF
Michigan, chairman Of the House COM
mittee on the District Of Columbia, re-
turned to Washington yesterday and
spent the afternoon at the committee
headquarters in the House office build
ing looking over the calendar for the
coming session and endeavoring to decide
on those measures which he will press
for action.
AS chairman Of the House District COM
mittee Mr.. Smith realizes, as does sena-
tor Gallinger. the District chairman at
the other end of the Capitol, that owing
to the shortness Of the session the oppor-
tunities for the enactment of local leg1s-
lation will be limited Consequently 1t is
his desire to have the more important
measures now ON the calendar left over
from last session considered at the earli-
est possible moment, leaving desirable
but less imperative matters Tor con-
sideration in the future.
The reclamation of the Anacostia flats
the recession of portion of the neigh
boring territory of Virginia formerly
comprised in the original limits of the
nations capital to the control or the
Commissioners, and the clothing OF tnat
board with the powers OF public service
as three all-important subjects with
which Congress should deal during the
coming short session.
In specifying these propositions Mr..
Smith does not by any means overlook
the merits of the measure introduced by
him at the last session. and favorably
reported by the committee OF which he Is
chairman. providing for the creation of a
retirement fund so as to permit the pen
sioning of superannuated school teachers
in the educational system of the District
Of Columbia.
First District Day December IL.
Indeed, unless all signs Tail. this will
be one of the first bills called up by
Chairman Smith. The first opportunity
for consideration by the House of local
legislation. under the rule which sets
aside the second and fourth Mondays in
each month as District days. will be De-
cember IL. 1t would not be at all sur
prising if Mr.. Smith should call UP the
school teachers retirement fund measure
as the first piece Of legislation for con-
sideration at that time.
1t does not provide for an absolute PEN
sioning of local school teachers at the
shared expense of the federal and District
governments but enlbodies the features
of the best contributory savings schemes
that have been brought to the attention
of the District committee. Consequently.
it is not expected that obstinate opposi-
ton to the measure will be developed,
particularly as many states which are
famous for the excellence of their educa-
tionaI systems now have q similar retire.
ment plan-contributory or absolute-in
successful operation.
But. leaving this measure out of the
question. Mr.. Smith is of the opinion that
the projects for the reclamation of the
Anacostia flats. the recession Of old ter-
ritory to the District and the clothing Of
the Commissioners with the powers Of a
public service board afford unexcelled OPP
portunities for Congress to enact legisla-
ton which will be of the greatest good
to the greatest number in the District.