Evening star., 1922-02-16
District Business Sighted
Under Present House Rules


the House supposed to be al
located for consideration Of
legislation affecting the Dis
trict OF Columbia 10 frittered away
was again glaringiy illustrated this
week. Sincere friends Of the District
IN Congress are awakening to the
realisation that something must be
done about 1t. SO that really desirable
and necessary laws for the National
Capital can be enacted after careful
consideration. House Leader Mondell
has repeatedly stated that he is anx-
ious to see District egislation given
more careful and more regular atten-
tion.
A definite proposal as to how the
House can more expeditiously, more
sympathetically and more Justly con-
slider legislative proposals affecting
the National Capital. which is exclu-
sively under the jurisdiction Of Con-
gress. has been made by Representa-
tive r. Walton Moore Of Virginia. OF
course, Mr.. Moore being a democrat,
there is not much Likelihood that any
resolution fathered by him to change
the rules of procedure in the House
would be passed at this time while
but the suggestion Is sinking in and
there are signs that more serious
thought IL being given by leaders to
the duty of Congress toward the DIS.
trict.
A rule Of the House assigns the Sec
ond and fourth Mondays of each
month for consideration Of measures
recommended by the District commit
tee. But this rule may become in
operative II 1t Is suspended by a two
thirds vote. The District committee:
business may also be displaced ii the
House determines by unanimous con-
sent or by majority vote to take up
any privileged business. such AZ q
revenue or general appropriation
bill.
What may occur is best illustrated
BY what has occurred during the
present session. On the second Mon.
day in December ber.,Ssra CERTAIN and nsssed
- bill to amend an act to incor-
porate the Masonic Mutual Relief As
sociation (later vetoed by the Presi-
dent): a bill to regulate issuance OF
checks In the District and bill to
amend the act to incorporate the
Prospect Hill cemetery. Chairman
Focht then announced that he did not
desire to call UP any other bills.
On the fourth Monday in December.
which was the next District day. the
House was not in session. On the sec
ond Monday in January the chairman
yielded for q motion to adjourn out
NJ q.
gate from Hawaii. who had died. On
the fourth Monday in January the
chairman wished to take up District
matters, but House Leader Mondeii
asked that the appropriation bill for
independent ofices be taken up,
which was done. On the second Mon
day of February-last Monday
Chairman Focht called UP the bill
making Nncoln's birthday legal
holiday in the District. and. although
the epacting clause was stricken out.
killing the bill. there was great
deal Of discussion, including two long
prepared addresses in eulogy OF Lin
bill, the marine insurance bill was
called up, but when the House ad-
journed little progress had been made
upon 1t.
Inc SVuAAAAsSVS oSsAASS.ssA~.'
gets q chance when the standing com.
mittees get the call in turn on calendar
Wednesday. L. happened that this
week the District committee got this
second, a quite unusual, chance. Much
of the time was taken up with con-
test against allowing consideration of
the unfinished business on the marine
insurance bill. There are SO many
committees, in addition to the fact that
the regular business for calendar We'd
nesday is frequently dispensed with,
that the District committee very sell
dom gets an opportunity to bring up
District legislation in this way.
The third chance to get~Distrfct mat
ters before the House Is when the an
nual appropriation bill is considered.
There is then granted a liberal allow
ance of time for general debate. which
Is used for discussing any subject un-
der the sun that any member cares to
discuss who can get a part Of the time.
For example, when the District ap-
preparation bill was considered couple
of weeks ago, in the general debate
period. which was fixed at five hours,
a relatively small part of the time was
used in explaining the bill. but q very
considerable portion Of 1t was taken
up with speeches purporting to show
the increase in crime In the District,
on the action of a member of the
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