The Washington times., 1911-03-05
DISTRICT SNOBB[D
BY 6lST CONGRESS
Remarkable for Measures
Beaten Instead of fer
Those Passed.
BILL
ONLY BIGENACTMENT
Time That Should Have Been
Given to District Legislation
Otherwise Consumed.

While some excellent legislation for
the District of Columbia was enacted
during the session of Congress which
came to an end yesterday, for the
most part the record is>remarkable
( for the bills beaten instead of for the
| bills passed.
Practically all the legislation affect
| ing the District was contained in the
District appropriation bill, the general
deficiency bill, and the sundry civil
bill.
Theoretically, the second and fourth
Mondays in each month are District
days, upon which District Legislation
| is supposed to be considered. Every
| one of the District days of the last
| session but one were taken away from
| the District, and that one was devoted
| to a wrangle over House rules.
The District of Columbia was out
rageously snubbed by the House, de-
spite the fact that the Constitution
imposes upon Congress the obligation
to enact the Districts laws and de-
spite the fact that the need of many
of the yaws proposed is urgent.
Inc dlllluUe OI IIlt I1OuSt lO"dTu lnb
District in the session just ended is best
illustrated by the fate of the bill re-
quring the fathers of illegitimate chill
dren to support their offspring. Here
was measure that passed the Senate
last winter, and was faYorably reported
to the House last spring. 1t reposed on
the House calendar throughout the ses-
sion that closed yesterday. Several at
tempts were made to call IL UP, but
each time the effort failed.
Against the illegitmate child bill
there wasn't an ounce of opposition
Every interest in the District was for it.
Every member of Congress who ever
gave the bill a seconds thought was
for il. The Senate passed it, and the
House District Committee recommended
1t.
BUT THE HOUSE WOULDN'T
TAKE TIME TO CONSIDER IT!
Another bill that died with the expir-
ing Congress was the loan shark bill.
This had also passed the Senate and
was before me House with the unani-
nous Endorsement of the House District
Committee. And ii wasn't a drastic bill.
1t merely provided that loan agencies pay
a license that their books be open to
police inspection like the books of pawn
brokers. and that their charges for
loans be limited to per cent month.
Where Teachers Were Concerned.
The public school teachers retirement
bill was another measure that went by
the board. Originally it created a re-
tfrement fund to which the Govern
ment, the District, and the teachers
each contributed one-third. Despairing
Of ever inducing Congress to pass such
wholesome measure, the. teachers
asked to have the provision changed, 10
permit them to furnish the fund by de-
ductions from the salaries by the school
authorities Congress didn't even have
time to authorize the teachers TO pro-
vide their own pensions.
The policemen's, and firemens relief
bill went the way of the teachers re-
tirement bill and the loan shark bill.
I Two public park projects were defeat
ed after the Senate had taken enough
time to add them to the District appro-
priatiOn bill. one was the khngle Ford
Park and the other the Pennsylvania
Carpenter Park in Southeast Washing
ton The Straus milk laboratory bill,
putting the Straus milk depots under
| the Public Health and Marine Hospital
Service, was lost in the House after
passing the Senate. The provision for
a municipal asphalt plant. for which the
Commissioners asked $4,000, and which
is needed to enable the District to save
money on its paving, was lost in con-
ference.
Public Service Measures Held Up.
Four decidedly important measures re-
lating to public service corporations in
the District failed to reach a vote
through Indifference Of the Senate and
House to District needs, and as a result
another campaign in their behalf. will
have to be inaugurate6 and carried on
in the next Congress. These were the
measures:
Creating public utilities commission.
Requiring the street railway compan-
les to issue interchangeable transfers.
Fixing the maximum price of gas at
so cents.
Prohibiting the Gas Monopoly issuing
stocks, bonds, certificates of indebted
ness. or other evidences of debt without
authority of Congress.
The Great Falls power project was
another District item that failed to
gain the serious attention of Congress.
II got as far as the Appropriation Com
mittee of the House, and there met
death. The Senate Appropriation Com
mittee thought about it for an hour
one morning and then forgot it. The
sentiment aroused In its favor. how
ever, should make it possible for the
District to get an appropriation for 1t
a year hence.
Turning to the other side of the
ledger-where the records of bills passed
is kept, the citizen of the District finds
cause for self-congratulation. Two
public parks have been provided-Mon-
trose and Meridian Hill, to cost $4,000
and $4,000, respectively. An appro-
priation of $275.0O0 for the proposed Q
street bridge across Rock. Creek is
made One hundred thousand dollars Is
provided for reclamation of the Ana
costa flats. A new entrance to the Zoo
from Sixteenth street and Columbia
road is authorized at an expense of
SCI, 200. .-..t.. -. -..
Pages Give Doorkeeper
Cane and Resolutions