Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-19
The District in Congress.

When the special session Of Congress
began the District hoped that despite the
fact that the tariff was to be the particu-
lar subject under consideration 1t would
have a chance to secure some rnuch-need-
cd legislation Many bills had been left
over from the preceding Congress that
stood for urgent local requirements. The
District committee calendars were quick
" filed with these and other local meas
ures, and on some of them the commits
tees acted promptly. Owing. however. to
the lack of q Quorum for most of the time
In the House since that body completed It's
ASSIGNED work on the tariff program, there
has been virtually no reference there to
District affairs In the Senate committee
action has been had on q number OF bills
which might we'll by this time have been
passed SO AZ 10 facilitate final enactment
through House concurrence later. AS Is
well known. local legislation In the Sem
ate is largely had by unanimous consent.
Bills reported for the District committee
usually go to that section Of the calendar
where they may at any time DO brought
up for action in the morning hour without
objection. In this position they 1T least
stand the chance of consideration. al
though it becomes necessary for senators
who are opposed to them to be present
during the morning hour to enter OBJ
jections when the calendar is called.
Yesterdays proceedings IN the Senate
apparently deprived the District Of its
last chance TO obtain legislation at this
session Several bills were by specific re-
quest transferred from one class to an
other. so that they will no longer be
available for consideration without vote
and in the absence of objection during
the morning hour. It is understood that
the shift was made to relieve a certain
senator from the onerous duty Of sitting
in guardianship at every session Of the
Senate to prevent these bills from secur-
ing consideration. With these measures
enumerated under class Of the calendar
II Will no longer be necessary for those
definitely opposed to them and the re-
forms which 1t is sought to accomplish
through them to remain On watch every
morning.
Far be 1t from the District to add to
the toll of any senator. 1t would not for
and consideration make the senatorial
post burdensome by its actions or neces-
sites. 1t keenly sympathizes with all
senators who assume the control of az
fairs and who find their time and strength
SSE1Ousiy tdAto were IL not inc AoCI
that the Constitution has placed II under
the exclusive Jurisdiction Of Congress
and thereby made 1t dependent for its
welfare upon the members Of that body
1t would cheetfully see the vacation priv
ileges Of some Of them indefinitely ex-
tended But the District and Congress
are inseparably associated and united.
Regardless Of personalities, the District
must continue to look to the legislators
on the hill for relief from evil conditions.
for rescue from intolerable exactions. for
such legislation. for example, as a rem
edy OF law for the extortions Of the HUI
man bloodsuckers known as loan sharks,
who singularly seem to have definitely
avowed champions in both branches OF
Congress.
The District must continue to hope for
the best and to look to its jealous friends
In the House and Senate to take advan-
tage Of every opportunity to press It's
measures for consideration, and thus to
carry out the provision of the Constitu-
ton which !ntrusts the local interests
exclusively to the national legislature.