Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-14
The District at the Extra Session.

When congress assembled In extra
session two years ago it was hoped by
the people of Washington that 1t would
regard itself seriously as the Districts
legislature on that occasion and pro-
coed. as opportunity offered. to the con-
sideration of local business as though
1t had met at the regular time. MI
merous important questions were then
pending and it was thought that an
excellent opportunity offered to clear
the District calendar of some stubborn
cases which during the regular session
would have to take their chances with
the rush of general business. The
leaders Of the House, however resolved
to confine it's activities to the enactment
of the tarif bill and such other general
legislation as was forced upon its at
tention. Thus the District lost the
chance of having its affairs thought
fully considered in circumstances con-
ducive TO wise and just decisions.
\ similar condition prevails now. with
even more urgent reasons for Congress
to proceed at the extra session with
the consideration of District business.
During the regular session. just closed.
practically nothing was accomplished
for the federal capital. With the eX-
ception of the appropriation bill Con-
gress virtually neglected its duty as the
constitutionally appointed legislature
for the seat Of government, and al
lowed numerous measures Of serious
Importance to the local community to
lapse for lack of attention. An effort
is now under way to bring members of
the House of Representatives to realize
the Importance of organizing the Dis
trict committee promptly and proceed
ing with the consideration of local
business, whatever may be the program
with relation TO general federal legis-
latfon.
Some of the bills neglected at the last
session of Congress are exceptionally
meritorious and urgent. One of those
cited in the argument for proceeding
with the local calendar at the extra ses-
sion is the teachers retirement bill, the
enactment Of which is demanded in the
interest of public education in the Dis
trict. Another is the bill creating a
fund for the retirement of disabled fire.
men and policemen. without which 1t
will be necessary to continue indef-
nitely the present unbusinesSlike, in
humane process of trusting to a fuctu-
ating and often failing fund to meet
the claims of the men and women to
whom the District has pledged living
income. Another bill. of the most far
reaching importance to the District, is
that which adjusts the financial stu
alton and provides properly for future
improvements without running the Dis
trict hopelessly into debt or curtai1ing
the funds for current maintenance be-
low the point of decent support and
equipment These are only three OF the
large number of bills that have been
utterly neglected without reference to
their merits or to the urgency Of the
reasons for their consideration. They
are the arrears of several years of in
adequate attention to District affairs
on the part of the House of Repre-
sentatives.
The Districts claims are so reason
able, founded upon such plain show
ing OF necessity and of past neglect,
that there will be no difficulty about
arranging for series of special ses-
sions Of the House for the considera-,
ton Of District business following the
bill. which, il is to be assumed, will be
the first order OF business after the
meeting. There will be a period of sew
eral weeks when the House can do
nothing. and 1t will be a wantOn waste
OF time for it to continue to allow Dis
trict matters to accumulate on the cal
endar For sooner or later these items
must be taken up for serious discussion
and action. The District cannot be neg