Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-06-06
CONGRESS FAILS
T0PASS NEEDED
DISTRICT BILLS
Loses Interest in Washington
Measure After Break
ing Deadlock.

After breaking a deadlock between
the House and Senate on the largest
appropriation bill ever passed for the
National Capital. Congress lost in
terest in District legislation and
many important measures failed.
The passage of the appropriation
bills, which carry a total OF more
than $21 100000 for the District estab-
lishments. carried with 1t one-year
trial Of substitution of the sixty
forty proportion of paying the Dis
trict's bills for the time-honored half
and-half principle. 1t also increased
the real estate taxes and water rent
20 per cent each.
The District measure that was
nearest to becoming law and failed
Of action in the Senate was the bill
for reorganization of the weights and
measures bureau. This provided for
standard weights and measures for
necessities Of life, including fruits.
vegetables. ice and coal. 1t forbade
the sale Of coal except by long ton
weight, 2.240 pounds. and provided
of gasoline.
Railway Relief Fails.
Efforts to relieve by legislation the
street railway situation in the National
Capital failed in committee. After
extensive hearings a bill has been
drafted by Chairman Mapes which
will be taken up for consideration
early in the December session. One
of the first provisions in Mr.. Mapes'
plan for forcing a merger Of the
Capital Traction and Washington
creation of a public utilities commits
sion that will be distinct from the
District Commissioners and which will
have time and talent for studying
traction problems.
Extensive hearings were held also
on a proposed new traffic code for the
District, a feature of which would be
distinct Jurisdiction. Representative
Fred zihlman. father Of this measure.
intends to press 1t for passage
promptly upon the reconvening Of
Congress.
Milk Safeguard Held Over.
Legislation to safeguard the milk
supply of Washington Is also held over
until the December session. Hearings
covering several months were held on
this subject. with DR.. Harvey w.
Wiley. representing the Virginia
Fowler the District health officer, as
the principal witnesses.
The resolutions providing for ma
tional representation for the residents
of the District were not pressed for
a hearing by Representative Bur-
roughs of New Hampshire and Rep
resentative Richard Olney of Massa-
the authors, who did not
feel that the time was propitious
The so-called loan shark legisla-
ton. the Tinkham bill for esta blish-
ment of home for feeble minded and
a score of other bills were still await
ing committee action in both House
and Senate.
The resolutions offered in the House
by Representative Clyde Kelley. re-
publican, Of Pennsylvania. and in the
Senate by Senator David l. Walsh,
democrat. of Massachusetts. seeking a
$240 bonus for District school teach
ers. were not considered because the
legislative procedure was such that
it would be impossible to get them up
for d vote in either house. The real
reason for the teachers demonstra-
ton when they thronged the galleries
Friday night and yesterday was to
focus attention on their plea for q
bonus equivalent to that paid to other
government employees who had re-
ceived larger salaries during the war
and since. 1t is now proposed to urge
a resolution in the next session which
will be retroactive to January /,
1920. in regard to the provisions for
teachers pay as carried in the Dis
trict appropriation bill passed by both
houses Friday and signed by the
President yesterday afternoon.