The Washington times., 1913-02-20
THE IMPROVED DISTRICT BILL.

The District of Columbia appropriation bill as
has passed the Senate stands for an intelligent ur
derstandng of District needs, and a sincere purpos
to supply them. So far in its power lies, the Ser
ate has attempted to overrule the do-nothing polio
of the House committee in matters which it ha
persistenty neglected and to correct the do-the
wrong thing policy which it has pursued as to som
other things.
TIE Senate has taken the bull by the horns i
the matter of the public utilities legislation. 1t ha
hitched the utilities commission measure and the
Toilette anti-merger measure on the appropriate
measure, thus placing it beyond the power of an
hostile faction in the House to deny vote on then
When the bill comes up in the House, the usua
| formal motion to non-concur with the amendment
will be made and to this amendments will be offered
directing the conferees to accept various of the Sen
ate amendments. On these exceptions there will b
discussion and in the end votes.
All the tests of House sentiment on the publi
Utility issue have led to the conclusion that ther
will be little opposition to having the Gallinger bill
accepted. That measure is on the whole an excelen
one. 1t would afford the substance of real protection
to tine public interests, which they have never ha'
in their relations with the public utilities Nor
than that-and this is just as important-it woul'
undoubtedly bring a repetition here of the expert
ence of Wisconsin, New Jersey, New York, an
other States which have thoroughly tested this kim
of regulation it would put the public utilities them
selves frmer basis of public confidence ant
earning capacity. The elements of speculation ar
largely eliminated from securities of this class unde
proper public supervision. The serious-minded in
vestng public, which buys to hold, will be able t.
judge the values back Of the securities, and vii
buy in the expectation of getting substance, no
wind and a pauh1iOp chance
There has never been a time, since this legisla
ton was forced upon the understanding of Congress
when there has not been an overwhelming 'majorit
of the House in favor of it. Only the chance O
some parliamentary trick can prevent the measur,
becoming now part of our body of statutes. 1
passed at once, it would serve either to prevent al
undesirable merger of local corporations or else Il
remove the elements of undesirability and force
consolidation of street car interests that would actu
ally benefit both the public and the stockholders Tn,
La Toilette anti-merger measure would specifcall,
prevent alien holding company, irresponsible Il
any local authority, seizing and initiating the loca
properties.
A long step forward for Washington will be taker
on the day wnen this legislation reaches the books
The fight has been difficult and at times mos
discouraging one, since it was inaugurated, year
ago. by The Times In the beginnings there wa
intense opposition in some quarters, and utter indif
ference in others. The achievement of the victor,
will prove that public sentiment mas effective fore.
even in this disfranchised community.
There will be bitter fight before the Jones
Works excise measure is accepted BY the House
The measure as it stands is imperfect, needing som,
very obvious amendments But they are in the di
rection of making a more reasonable and workable
law Moderate, sane, enforceable revision of the ex
else statutes is greatly needed, and the pendin,
measure readily be licked into shape to provide
just this.
By vote of SO to Is, the Senate sustained thu
Iongestablished plan of amortisng tine District deb
by equal contributions from Federal and local reve
nues The effort of the House measure had beer
to impose this entire obligation on the District Tht
emphatic vote, almost three to one, indicates tina
there is small danger of vicious and nconsideratt
fiscal revolution being imposed upon the Capita
City.
Whatever may be thought of the merits of tht
criticisms against presentday high school education
it fortunate that the Senate voted to build the
Central High School and the new high school fo
coIored pupils. An appropriation bill hardly presents
the proper medium for developing scientific con
sideration of modern educational methods.
Senator NeWlands secured the adoption of al
amendment which, in years to come, will be recog
nized of great service to the District 1t is tn.
direction that the fine arts commission and the en-
gineerng authorities of tine District shall prepare
general plan for park development, indicating wha
property is needed estimating its COST and shown,
exactly what the perfect park system would represen
to the city This is the practical fashion of going abou
park development; the substantial results of sys
tematc Improvement which will one day be accom-
plished will more than compensate for any delay.
in making particular purchases of land for parks