Evening star., 1922-02-16

national regulation Of aviation
II the House procedure 10 not modi-
hed, more delay than ever will attach
to legislation necessary for the DIS
trict. due to the fact that . strict rule
is now being enforced against any
new items Of legislation on an ap-
preparation bill
The only definite suggestion OF
modification Of the procedure Is that
made by Representative Moore, which
was printed in full in The Star, Feoru-
ary 8. He proposes: (a) A joint com
mittee instead Of the present stanains a!
committees Of the House and Senate;
(b) more liberal allowance OF eme
for the consideration Of District mat
ters; {c) estimates to be prepared oy
the Commissioners and submatted 20
Congress direct, instead OF through the
budget bureau: (d) vestfng In the joint
committee authority TO report appro.
priations, instead OF continuing that
authority In the single appropriate ttons
, committee Of the House. and st the
same time permitting LEGISLATION on the
District appropriation bill. As Repre-
sentative Moore stated. the justihca-
tion for exceptional procedure with
reference to the District lies in the
Iact that the District situation is it
self altogether exceptional.
The present method of procedure is
as follows: If there is existing leg
islation which authorizes expendi-
lures to be provided. the commis-
bureau Of tho budget. which inde-
pendently complies the official esti-
mates that are submitted by tho
President to Congress. and which
may. and which this year did, differ
materially from the recommendations
estimates then 60 into the hands OF
q subcommittee OF ave members Of
the House appropriation committee,
which holds to strict rule not to in-
crease the bureau estimates. but de.
creases them at win. The report Of
House as the report Of the committee
on appropriations. the full committee
having had an opportunity to further
cut the Conclusions OF the Subcom-
mittee. In the consideration OF the
report by the House any legislative
ways. goes out on point of order.
II there is need for legislation. and
none exists, and q bill is offered in
the House. 1t is referred to the House
committee on the District OF Colum-
bia. There it generally IL wrangied
over tiresomely. with scattered hear
ings and little concentration Of
thought. If faYorably- reported by
the committee. and passed by the
House, it goes to the Senate commit
tee on the District, which. assuming
favorable action. reports it to the
tA ampndmAnS.
Should it pass unamended. 1t is then
referred to the President for his sig.
nature-or veto-and II passed with
an amendment it goes back to the
House for concurrent action or con-
alteration of the amendment in con-
the two branches Of Congress. But
the bill cannot contain an appropria-
ton, even though money may be
needed to execute Its purposes.
It is easy to see how how much 9Gad,,,an sra,
should attach to the procedure sug-
gested by Representative Moore,
which at the same time contains no
menace to the public interest Ex-
travagant estimates by the Commits
Joint committee would be able to give
quick consideration to all matters. In
GLIDING appropriations. ana would oe
able to save in5udtcioue oeiay IN hne
enactment OF leEislation by incorpor-
atine legislation in the District ap-
propriation bills. Every report made
| by the joint committee would. OF
course, be subject to the scrutiny ana
approval or disapproval OF either or
both houses q Congress. and would
be open to amendments. as are other
measures.
Unless there is some change, the
District is likely to 60 from bad to
worse, at the hands Of Congress-. ac-
cording to present indications and
changing conditions. 1t will neces-
sarily take considerable time to try
out the effort to secure q constitu-
tional amendment to give the Dis
trict a voting representation in both
branches Of Congress and in the cleo
toral college, and. In the meantime.
new processes Of legislation are
needed. Even though . representa- :
tive and senator from the District
will, in time, be able to demand on
the legislative floor that Justice be
done the needs of the capital. their
efforts in behalf OF the District would
be hobbled. without reform in the
procedure, such as Representative
| Moore has advocated. and which
| others are coming to consider Sc
riously.