The Washington herald., 1922-11-20
House Senate Calendars Are
Loaded With Measures Of
Highest Importance to D. c.
NATIONAL ISSUES URGENT
Most Legislation for Washing
ton MayGo by Board Until
An Extra Session In Spring

Columbia met as that which con.
venes, today.
It may be called almost pre-
eminentiy assDistriet OF Columbia
Congress. II It, does even Q frac.
ton OF the work cut out for It. it
win revolutionize the whole COM
plexion Of things washingtonian.
The calendars Of both House and
Senate are loaded with District
bills. Most of them are Of the
highest. Importance: Not one of
/ them can be dismissed a. q rou-
tine matter.
ATTITUDE MORE FRIENDLY.
The best part Of It now ID that
Congress evinces q real disposition
to do business" for the District.
The Senate In the final weeks OF
the last sesston broke all known
records for the. prompt and effi-
cent dispatch Of the Districts
business. The vitality important
ttraction merger bill was passed. So
was the new tax law writing the
60-40 fiscal ratio permanently upon
the statute books. The rent law
also was extended for two years.
Among the matters which the
new Congress VII consider are the
following:
The auditors, report on the tar
relationship between the District
and Federal Treasures. upon which
depends the disposition Of the Dis
trict's &5.00o.o 900 accumulated sur
plus In the Federal Treasury.
Legislation following this report. IL
is expected. will give the District
credit for this amount In striking
its annual tax balance with the
Federal Government. This should
naturally result in lower tax rates
for the city. unless the sum is TO
be expended for projects Of perma-
nent Improvement in the city.
BROWN BILL FACES SNAG.
The Sterling -Lehlbach bill re-
classifying the Federal employees
and increasing their salaries.
The Walter r. Brown measure
for reorganixins the Federal depart.
ments. This bill already has struck
a snag. however. and Democratic
opposition probably will result in
it's defeat.
The District suffrage bills now
pending in both House and Senate,
In the Senate they have already
passed the gantlet Of the District
! committee and are now on the
calendar. The Capper bill provides
for a voteless District delegate to
sit in the House and the Jones
measure for a Constitutions
amendment virtually giving the
District all the powers and the
status OF statehood.
The Jones-Bali traction mergei
bill. already passed by the Senate
and upon which hearings will be
held by the House District com
mittee at IN early date. This
measure contains the excess profits
tax feature about which 30 much
controversy has arisen. and which
is designed TO force the Capital
Traction Company to abandon itl
objections to a consolidation with
the w. r. and E. and the Pepco
The two appointments to the
Rent Commission. which must b<
sent to the Senate and confirmed
by it before the reorganization OF
that tribunal. as provided for In
the legislation Of May % last, car
take place. Some doubt still ex
lists, however, as to whether the
President intends to make these ap
pointments at this time. He will
be sounded on this point by Sen
ator Ball, chairman of the Senate
District Committee and author oi
the law. this week.
TO CONSIDER SCHOOL SYSTEM
School reorganization legislation
i Thu nAnAoR- UalfA
local school situation can be ex
pected at an early date. Primarily
1t relates only 10 such matters a
a neV administrative system fol
the Board Of Education, particu
larly with reference to the manner
Of its appointment and its budget
Senator Capper believes the board
should be autonomous. The repo-,
will 60 into the matter Of a pro
gram of school construction, how
ever, and may result in the adop
ton Of such q program in connec
ton with the appropriations sub
COMMITTEES, of which Senator Phipps
Is chairman.
There are other matters Of i'm
portance to the District to be in
cluded In the Congressional grist
Among them are the teachers sal
ary bill. which has been delayed
outraSeously-the last time because
Senator Sterling thought It should
be held over until the question OF
reclassification had been disposed
Of. There is no certainty that re
classification. will pass the Senate
at the coming session. in view oil
the unreienting opposition Of the
cabal headed by Senator Smoot. but
its chances are better now thar
they ever have been. There arr
also the Pomerene and Curtis moth
ers' pensions measure pending In
the Dastrict committee. Both ol
these have powerful backing. ant
will be pushed.
Morgan Plans Visit;