Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-14
FOR MORE PUBLICITY
Request That District Bills Be
Printed in Papers.
REASONS ARE SET FORTH
Federation of Citizens Associations
Makes Appeals.
RESIDENTS OFTEN IN DARK
Congressional Record, It Is Pointed
Out. Gives Only Brief Notices
of Measures.
REASONS ARE SET FORTH
RESIDENTS OFTEN IN DARK

Taking the ground that laws for the
people of the District of Columbia, some
times involving large property rights. are
enacted by Congress under the present
system without ascertaininE the wishes
OF the majority of the people affected.
the Federation Of Citizens Associations
has appealed to the District Commission
ers TO urge Congress to authorize it to
have all the bills affecting the District
published in full in the daily newspa-
pcrs. \ letter emb lying the arguments
of the federation in favor OF this plan
was sent yesterday TO the Commissioners
by William Nick Clayton, president of
tire federation.
1t is the belief Of members OF the fed
Grafton that such publicity would be OF
great value TO the citizens OF the Dis
trict. keeping them informed of legisia-
don which will affect their interests. and
giving them opportunities to ask for hear
ings. not only by the Commissioners, but
by the congressional committees
In his letter to the Commissioners Mr..
Clayton says:
"All legislation affecting the District has
its inception in Congress, and bills are
introduced:
"First-Upon the initiative of member
Of Congress:
"Second-Upon the request OF the Com
missioners of the District;
"Third-Upon the request of some citi.
zen or association Of citizens.
1.-THE only notice now given to the
general public of the subject matter
of the proposed legislation is the sim
pie noting of the number and title OF
the bill in the Congressional Record.
and sometimes a very casual notice in
the public press. when the subject ap-
pears to the editor to be of sufficient
Importance.
Purport of Bills in Doubt.
almost always the tenor and purport
OF the bill remains a closed book to
the great mass Of taxpayers and resi-
dents until II becomes law and it
IS sought to enforce the provisions of
the same. often to the great surprise
and CONSERVATION OF those whose per-
sonal anG property rights have been
seriously affected.
"The taxpayer has lost his day in
court through no fault Of his own.
"A few days ago Representative John
son. chairman of the House District COM
mittee. introduced in the House. at the
request Of the Commissioners, some forty
two bills How much information Is con-
veyed by the following notice:
By Mr.. Johnson of Kentucky (by re-
quest Of the Commissioners Of the Dis
trict of Columbia): a bill (H. r. S612)
TO amend an act to regulate plumbing
and gas fitting in the District Of Column
bis. approved June 49, 1898: to the COM
mittee on the District Of Columbia.
A bill Oh. r. S614) to authorize the
Commissioners of the District OF Column
bia to suspend and revoke certain licenses
and permits.
= "A bill III. r. SsoD to amend an act
approved July /, 1902, entitled IAN act to
amend an act entitled An act in relation
TO taxes and tax sales In the District
of Columbia, approved February d,
1saS"'
"A bill Oh r. $500 to amend the act
of Congress approved April 20. 1904. au-
thoriZing the laying of water mains and
service sewers in the District of Column
bia. the levying of assessments therefor
and for other purposes.
' a bill Oh. r. S632) to amend sections
$50 and 6s6 of the code of law for the
District OF Columbia
"A bill Oh. r. S64S) to regulate the
in the District of Columbia and for other
purposes.
No Additional Information.
THE foregoing are selected at random
ePem the bills introduced. No additional
information is afforded by the city pa
pers. other than that quoted from the
Congressional Record. yet some Of these
forty-two bills proposed to radically
change existing laws. and others vitality
affect millions of dollars worth Of prop