Evening star., 1922-01-01
DISTRICT IN CONGRESS.


relations between the District and
federal governments and OF voting
representation in both branches OF
Congress for residents of the Ma
tional Capital are the two most I'M
portant issues affecting the District
of Columbia on which Congress mas
taken no conclusive action with the
closing of the year 1921. although giving
both matters much attention.
Many other matters OF grave IN
terest are also pending. including
the proposal by Congress to force
consolidation of the two street rail-
way spstems in Washington, and also
the question of mapping out and MAX
ing appropriations for an adequate
school building program.
With the new Congress. both House
and Senate District committees started
work under new chairmen, respec-
lively. Representative BENJAMIN n.
Focht of Pennsylvania and Senator L..
Heisler Ball of Delaware. Several
new members also were appointed to
the District committees. so that now.
besides the chairmen. they are made
up as follows:
senate-Dillingha Vt0. Jones
CWash.), Capper (kanso, Elkins (W.
Va). Gooding Gdaho), Comeron
(ohio). King Utah). Sheppard (Tex3,
Glass (vaD and Stanley tky.
House-Wheeler Ull.), Reed CIV.
Va). Zihlman (Md). Lampert (Wis),
Walters (Pa), Keller (Minn.). Wood
ruff eMch2: sprSul S m Hllo' Fitzeerald uaeeanl,
ohio). Milspaugh (MoD: Brown
(TennD. Woods (va-). Sullivan IN.
W, Blanton (Tex.l. Gilbert (kyo.
Hammer CN. C.). O'Brien IN. J3. and
Kunz Gll). .
The matter of fixing the proportion
~f hn rft u
each by the District and the federal
governments was debated at some
length in the Senate. The bill Of Sena-
tor Jones of Washington liking a per-
manent half and half ratio was amend
ed by wiping out all provision Tor a
ratio system and putting all the Dis
trict revenues in the Treasury general
fund, from which all appropriations
will be made by Congress without re-
gard as to the amount raised here in
taxes. The measure, as 1t passed the
Senate. also fixed a permanent tax rate
on tangible personal and real prop
erty at S1.75 hundred, and provided
that the reserve fund Of nearly $5,0o0.-
900 to the Districts credit in the
Treasury should be met by an equal
amount by the federal government.
The measure now is pending before
the House District committee.
In the District appropriation bill
for the current fiscal year the pro-
portion that should be paid out of the
District funds was placed at so per
cent and that out of the federal Treas
ury at 40 per cent. thus changing for
proportion which had existed for
many years. The new sxty-forty
proportion was agreed to in con-
ference after bitter and long-con-
tested disagreement between the Sem
ate and House. This same proportion.
iS in
get for the fiscal year 1928. which
now is being considered by the House
appropriations committee.
Bills Are Debated.
Bills providing for various forms
of franchise for the citizens Of the
District and representation in both
bodies of the National Congress have
been debated at great length before
the House judiciary committee and
the Senate District committee. Hear
ings on this subject are to be contin-
ued before the Senate committee.
Spokesman for the Chamber of Com
merce. Board Of Trade. the joint citi-
zens' committee on suffrage and all
of the prominent business. civic. pro-
fessional and patriotic organizations
have indorsed the resolution of Sena-
tor Jones and the bill of Representa-
tive Burroughs of New Hampshire,
providing for the submission to the
states of constitutional amendment
which would give the District of Co.
lumbia voting representatives in both
houses of Congress and the right to
vote for presidential electors.
Those in favor Of a delegate in the
House who would not have a vote
also were heard by the House and
Senate committees having charge of
the several District representation
bills.
Az an earnest of tic ;,+a,t;o,,.&.
provide adequate school accommo-
Gations for the children of the Ma
tional Capital just as fast as the
buildings can be put up. Congress. IA
the deficiency act passed last June,
made an appropriation of $1.544,O 900 to
start work on twelve new schools, in
Guiding nine grade schools, one
school for tubercular children and
two junior high schools
To insure that adequate provision
shall be made for the future and to
preclude any possibility Of the school
system getting behind as it has done
during the war, a Joint committee Of
the House and Senate was appointed
and now is going thoroughly into the
whole school situation. calling in
educators from all parts OF the coun-
try to develop the best ideas as to
what the District should have 20 make
it the ideal school system of the world.
street Railway Bill.
Following extensive hearings be-
fore the House District committee, a
bill designed to force a merger of the
two street railway systems in Wash
ington was considered in the House.
After heated debate the bill was de-
feated, on the ground that it made
very generous concessions to the
street car companies. but did not
guarantee their merger after enjoy