Evening star., 1921-03-04
D. c. B|LLSPASSED
IN 66TH CONGRESS
Measures of Vast Impor-
tance to Department En-
ployes and Citizens.

Legislation of vast importance to
the District of Columbia and employees
OF the government residing here was
enacted during the Sixty-sixth Con-
eress which went out of existence to-
day.
In the first place. the Congress
adopted a new ratio in making It's
appropriations for the National Capt.
tai, so per cent out OF the revenues OF
the District and 80 per cent out OK the
federal Treasury. in place OF the nail-
and d-half plan which existed since tne
enactment of the organic act in le.s.
While the Congress changeo tne
ratio. it still retained the principle
of. having the federal Treasury pay
f,xed proportion of the expendi-
lures of the National Capital.
provision was made for beginning
work on an increased water supply
for the District. in accordance WIN
ed states Engineer Corps. For this
Congress inserted an item or SIoo:ooo
In the Army appropriation bill. just
passcd. The entire project contem- :
plates an expenditure OF s9'ooo,o9o.
The appropriation was mace on the
60-40 plan.
Provide for Retirement.
Legislation was endcteu 'o'' =
for the retirement Of superannuated
government employees and providing
them with annuities.
The law providing for the retire
ment of public school teachers IN the
District also was enacted.
The Congress undertook to deal
with the housing situation IN the
District. passing the Ball rent COM
mission act. under which the fresi-
dent appointed the rent commission
with authority TO pass upon con'ro-
yorsi.s over rents. This aot has
brcn assailed in the courts ana its
~onstitutionaIity is still in DOUBT.
Cther laws enacted include the ioi-
lowing:
,.hlisbes districts within which GER
tain classes OF buildings may be
erected and certain businesses car
ried on.
An act extending Nhe federal work
mems compensation act 10 inciuoe
cuployes of the District government
An act revising salaries OF EN-
ployes OF the District of Columbia
roIice and fire departments.
An act prohibiting the sale OF
game birds in the District.
act extending me 1uFlsuiCtlOi
NJ tbe Municipal Court so as to in
,Iudc cases involving sums up 10
81 900.
An act reorganiZing tho bureau o'
u.c;.,bts and measures and establish
iu., standards of weights and meas
urcS.
hill. Failed Of Enactment.
Several important bills were passed
bv ono or the other house without
bniu., finally enacted int0lau.
The France bill. authorizing merg'
or of the Washington Railway and
Electric Company with the Potomac
Electric Power Company, amended Sc
as to permit also the merger OF al
the street car companies operating il
the District. was reported favorabl,
to tho senate by the Senate Distr!c
committee but failed OF further ac
ton Tn. House District Committe,
also r. ported favordbly the Gould bill
-,IIuTIZInR ti;e merger ot the Wash
iugton Railway and Electric compan,
.,ud the Potomac Electric Power Com
many. The House committee also b.
:, vote of II TO /, against the chair
Iuau. ordered a bill to be draftet
which would force "A merger of th'
Two street railway systems. but tn,
chairman did not call a meeting I,
receive this report.
In the extra session of the new
Congress efforts to complete THU