Evening star., 1922-05-21
PEOPLE OF NATION TAKING
KEEN INTEREST In CAPITAL
Members of Congress Learning They Can.
not Afford to Play Ducks and brakes
With District of Columbia.

: without any legislation turning the
hands of the clock When the propo-
| sition was before the House District
committee to pass a dsylight-saving
law Just for the District" there were
vigorous protests that I'VE dare not
do it," Members argued that the rep
| resentatives from the western states
who are now in the saddle" would
| promptly cry it down. as an invasion
upon the farmers. They contended
that 1t would be used as an opening
wedge for daylight saving all over
| the country.
| And they cited prohibition as hav-
ing been put through in just this way
imposed first upon the District and
| then nationally.
Like Nose Of Camel
Under the Tent.
, Again, when the bill to extend the
life Of the Rent Commission in the
District for two years was under con-
sideration, those opposing the meas
ure figured that they had scored an
important point when they forced
Representative Hammer of North
Carolina, who was leading the fight
for the bill, to admit that he would
not dare to champion such legislat tion
for his home state and got IL put en-
phatically into the Record that few,
II any member. would have the
| temerity. TO propose it for his own
community. With the rent Iegisla-
tion still pending. members from
every state arc being addressed in
| petitions. kilograms and letters from
| real estate boards, realtors and 9TH
ers protesting that this legisla tion
would be like getting the nose of the
camel under the tent-that IL would
! result in an invasion of property
rights all over this land.
Recently the Senate approved a
proposal by Senator Fernald of
| Maine. chairman of the committee ON
public buildings and grounds. for a
| survey of the banks of the Potomac
river from Washington to and be-
yond Great Falls, with a view to de-
Veloping an extension of the Capital
| city parkway. the establishment of a
/ great recreation park about the falls
| apo conservation of the water and
power resources, and preservation of
the beautiful scenic and historic
banks of the river against despoils-
ton. This measure is now pending
Deforc the House. fathered by Rep
resentattve j. Charles Linthicum of
Maryland. The point is that. Repre-
! sentative Lintticum and other meur.
bers OF Congress are receiving direct
1 messages from every state in the
Union urging that this project be
| carried through. This includes the
. support of several powerful national
organizations.
Watching Plan to Provide
Workmen's CompensatIon.
i Stiil another illustration. Repre-
sentative Roy G. Fitzgerald of Ohio
! is fathering a bill to establish a
workmen's compensation law for the
I District-or compulsory industrial in
. surance. This again has aroused in
I, terest all over the country. Prae-
| tically every Washington correspond-
( ent has been instructed by his papers
\ to watch this measure. Labor organ
! izations have taken a strong and per
] sistent interest in IL. Industrial con-
Germs have sent representatives to
| keep in touch with the Developments
I; Propagandist and .welfare workers
| have fiocked here to help sway the
! vote. Members OF Congress have had
| letters from all the states
Legislation is also afoot to set up
/ barriers against the herding here of
| sales organizations for worthless or
highly speculative stocks or securi-
] ties. Practically every state in the
Union has blue sky" legislation OF
J some sort, and they are all Interested
| that Washington should not become
headquarters for fake stock promo
, tion concerns.
Aside from the merits Of any of
! these questions, and scores OF Others
| that could be mentioned, the fact
| sticks out that the people all over
the country are personally interested
| in legislation that affects the District
of Columbia, and do not want TO have
anything put over" here that would
not be countenanced at home. and
they are stressing this upon their
representatives in both House and
! Senate.