The Washington times., 1919-12-02
CONGRESS To
GIVE TIME TO
DC. BUSINESS
$3.50 Plan of Taxation and
Other Bills Scheduled for
Hearings.

District of Columbia business, which
ordinarily consumes one-thirteenth of
the time Of Congress, will be given
more attention than usual at the ses-
sion Just started.
Not the least in Importance among
District measures to be considered is
the Mapes bill to abolish the present
fiscal relation existing between the
District and Federal governments
the so-called half-and-half plan
Chairman Carl E. Mapes of the
House District Committee has ar
ranged for hearings on the bill to be-
gin December 10. A group OF citizens
OF the District will appear before the
committee to oppose repeal OF the
hslf-and half
had in 1915 at a cost of more than
$4,000. Three volumes of proceed
ings were the outcome.
Pledged to Action
Both majority and minority MEM
bsrs of the House are pledged to pass
legislation disposing of the manner in
which District appropriations are
made before the next District appro-
priation bill is considered In the
past the provision for the half-and-
half has been carried as rider on the
District appropriation bill.
Before the end of this month an
effort will be made to dispose of the
pay-increase bill of the District fire.
men The measure has already passed
the House
The police pay increase bill. which
has passed both houses, was signee
~ Speaker Giilett yesterday. 1t will
n to Vice President Marshall today
,nA veil hxs san
direct to President Wilson.
Both the policemen and iremen in
class one. two, and three, will receive
equal pay. which, under the provis
lens of the pending bills, will b
retroactive as OF August /, 1919.
The measure Of Congressman James
p. Woods, of Virginia, member of th'
House District Committee, to increas'
the Intangible property tax in th'
District from the present rate o.
three-tenths of a cent to 1 per cent
will be taken up for consideration By
the District committee shortly aftei
the holidays
Hearing on the Woods bill are ex
pected to result in long bitter hghi
between members OF the District Com
mittee and those persons in the Dis
! trict who own large sums in stocks
bonds and securities. At the pres
ent time. intangible property amount
ing to s293. 900 900 is listed to tax
alton here. The District gets $500,
k 600 in taxes from it
When the House District Committee
holds it's first meeting of the new
) session Thursday, Chairman Mape!
! expects to get action on the bill b.
Congressman A 7. Treadway to re.
lieve hotel keepers in the District o.
= responsibility for valuables of guest!
stolen on their premises. The bill
would require the guests to place theil
I valuables In the keeping of the hote
management and a nominal Insurance.
fee against theft or fire would bt
1 collected.
New Weight Statute.
Mr., Mapes will seek to get favor
! able action by the House next Mon
day on the bill establishing a stand
District The bill has already beer
unanimously indorsed by the District
Committee. 1t is also backed by the
District Commissioners, the Depart
ment OF Agriculture. and the Bureau
Of Efficiency
Congressman Ben Johnson of Ken
! lucky will press before the House
his bill-reported favorsbly by the
!, District Committee-to repeal the
lease OF the washington Market Com
pany and place the Center Market un-
der the Jurisdiction OF the Depart
ment of Agriculture.
Congressman Frederick y. Zihlmar
stated today that he had assurance
that his bill creating a commission
to investigate available sources OF
water supply for the District would
be considered shortly by the Senate
District Committee. The measure has
already passed the House.
Another measure Mr. Zihlnan will
attempt TO drive through Is his reso-
luton authorizing an investigation OF
charges Of alleged monopoly on the
part of the larger taxi companies do
ing business at the Terminal Station
IT Is claimed by the Chauffeurs' Asso-
citation that individual hackers are
prevented from plying their trade b.
the more powerful taxi corporations
The resolution, originally referred
TO the District Committee. was later
re-referred to the House Rules Com.
nittee. Mr.. Zihlman will ask that n
be sent back to the District Commit.
tee, OF which he is a member.