Evening star., 1921-04-26
PLAN LEGISLATION
FOR MERGER AND
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
House District Committee
men to Make Exhaustive
Study of Both Issues.
FUTURE EDUCATIONAL
NEEDS TO BE INCLUDED
Measure for Workmen's Compensa-
tion Also to Get Special
Attention.

Definite steps toward a sympathetic
study Of the big problems now con-
fronting the District regarding the
merger of the street car companies.
improvements of the school system. d
model marine insurance law for the
District and a workmen's compensa-
ton law were taken at the first meet
ing of the House District committee
today.
In opening the meeting. Chairman
Focht emphasized that the member
ship of the committee being made up
of men from all sections of the coun-
try should be helpful in solving the
problems of the District, over which
Congress. through the District COM
mittees, has exclusive jurisdiction.
On the motion of Representative
Millspaugh of Missouri the commit
tee authorized the chairman to ap-
point a ubcommittee of seven, which
would make a comprehensive survey
and prepare a plan fof the better
ment of the school system here, not
only to meet present needs, but with
full consideration of future require
ments
Merger Plans Also Taken Up.
Another subcommittee of seven is
to be named to consider legislation to
bring about a merger of the street
car companies. This subject was
brought Hp by Representative James
p. Woods of Virginia, democrat, ia
ther of the bill which received fav-
orable consideration by the House
District committee in the last session
of Congress- 1t is probable that
Representative Fred n. Zihlman of
Maryland will be chairman of this
subcommitte. and that other members
will be Representatives Walters of
Pennsylvania, Lampert Of Wisconsin,
and Kunz of Illinois, republicans;
and Representatives Woods of vir-
ginia and Hammer of North Carolina,
democrats.
Representative Woods gave the
history of efforts to solve the street
railway problem and explained the
bill which had been drafted by sub
committee in the last session of Con-
gresss, which proposes to force mer-
ger through the operation of an ex-
cess profits tax. He emphasized that
it is for Congress to make it possi-
BILE for the two companies to merge
through allowing the consolidation
of the Potomaoslsiectric Power Com
pany with the Washington Railway
; and Electric Company.
Based On Valuation.
Representative Blanton said that
before terms Of the merger were
be squeezed out of the w. r. & L. Co.
Representative Woods explained that
the course of procedure is not based
on stock outstanding. but on the val
uation of the property as determined
by the Public Utilities Commission
Representative Woods also empha-
sized that the committee must not
act on basis of taxing the corpora
tions as much as they will bear, be-
cause by doing 30 these taxes, which
are paid into the District treasury.
would necessitate raising an equal
amount from the people of the whole
country to match the District reve-
nues.
On the motion of Representative
Fitzgerald of Ohio a subcommittee of
three is to be named by the chairman
to consider a bill for workmen's COM
pensation In the District.
Anti-Picketing Bill Probe.
On motion of Representative Blan-
ton of Texas a committee of three
was appointed to make a preliminary
Investigation of the anti-picketing
bill and to report back to the COM
mittee.
Those named on this subcommittee
are Representative Zihlman of Mary
land. labor leader in the House:
Representative Blanton, who has been
an outspoken opponent of organized
labor, and Representative Sproul of
illinois
The members of the other subcom-.
mittees are to be named tomorrow by
Chairman Focht.
Representative Edmonds of Penn
sylvania. the active leader on the
merchant marine and fishery commit
tee. appeared before the committee
urging the earliest possible action on
the model marine insurance bill for
the District. which it is hoped will be
copied by other states
Representative Edmonds explained
that about so per cent of the marine
insurance of this country is handled
by foreign concerns, and this placed
in the hands of foreign governments
and of commercial competitors the
most intimate and detailed informa-
tion concerning American ships and
cargoes.
To Arrange Hearing.
Chairman Focht was instructed by
the committee to try to arrange
hearing or this bill a week from
Friday, and that If possible it should
be a joint hearing with the Senate
committee.
On the motion of Representative
Underhill of Massachusetts the COM
mittee decided to hold meetings
every Wednesday at 10 o'clock The
committee will meet again tomorrow
morning.