Evening star., 1921-01-01
ZONZNC, OF WASHINGTON
ONE or YEARS BIGGEST
MUNICIPAL FUNCTIONS
Increases in Idx and Water Rates
and Utility Charges Affected
Pocketbooks of Citizens.

ing again between the Senate and the
House.
Legislation providing for the zoning
of Washington. limiting the character
OF buildings and businesses that may be
carried on in the various zones estab-
nshed. was put through. This measure
was modelled after plans adopted in a
number OF other American cities and
has been put into effect here.
Though the Ball act creating a rent
commission was passed in 1918 the
President did not name the commits
sion until January, 1920. The nominal
ttons were confirmed by the Senate and
the commission started operations. The
validity OF the law creating the COM
mission was attacked in the courts,
however. and is now before the Supreme
Court OF the United States for final de-
cision. Senator Ball of Delaware has
within the last few weeks introduced a
bill repeating the section of the Dis
trict code authorizing the issue to ten
ants of summary seven-day notices to
quit as means of delaying proceedings
against tenants who refuse to pay in
creased rents demanded of them, until
the Supreme Court can pass upon the
rent commission act, and the bill has
been reported fayorably to the Senate
I A select committee of the Senate
made an exhaustive investigation of the
public schools Of the District following
the adoption Of resolution offered by
Senator Pat Harrison OF Mississippi.
The committee recommended a change
in the method Of appointing the board
Of education. putting the appointive
power in the hands Of the President
a survey of the schools and several
other measures. These recommended
tionS were inserted in a deficiency ap-
preparation bill by the Senate, but were
lost in conference with the House.
Senator Harrison has introduced two
n rfrar
tons, which are now pending, but has
announced he will not press the leg
isiation at this time, but will give the
new school regime an opportunity to
work out improvements required in the
schools
Another inquiry carried on by the
Senate was that Of the price Of bread,
following the adoption Of the Capper
resolution. Senator Capper Of Kansas
charged that prof1teering in bread in
the District was going on.
Congress put through a bill increas-
ing the pay Of the members Of the Do
lice and fire departments Of the Dis
tricts, on the representation OF the Dis
tict Commissioners and the men them
selves that they were underpaid. The
string attached to the raise in pay was
that the members of these departments
should not form unions affiliated with
outside organizations, which coun-
tenanced the strike as a weapon. The
organizations SO affiliated voluntarily
gave up their connections
Legislation was initiated looking to
stricter enforcement of traffic regula-
tons in the District and the creation
Of special traffic court Hearings were
had on the subject in Senate and House.
and bills are now pending. In the House
bills have been introduced for a merger
of the two street car lines in the Dis
trict, and much sentiment in favor of
this plan has been expressed in the
Senate A bill further extending the
child labor laws of the District has
received attention from the Senate and
pending.