Evening star., 1923-01-31
4D. c. BILLS GIVEN
FAVORABLE ACTION
BY C0MM|TTEEV VOTE
Auto Reciprocity, 0ptometry
LaW,Shriners' Camp Privi-
Iege Are Approved.
EARLY ACTION PLANNED
ON RAILWAY SITUATION
Committee Will Make Traffic
Problem Special Order
for Friday.

The House District committee to-
day ordered favorable report TO the
| House on the following bills:
The Commissioners two-cent gasoline
, tax. which requires reciprocity on
automobile licenses between Mary
land and the District.
The regulation of practice of
optometry in the District which has
already passed the Senate.
The resolution granting the Shrin-
ers who are coming here next June
the use of the parks in which to
pitch tents and camp during the
Shrine gathering.
The bill. which has already passed
the Senate. changing the name OF
Keokuk street to Military road from
21th street to Wisconsin avenue.
To Examine Mothers Bill.
The House committee arranged for
a special meeting on Friday to con-
slider the bill which would authorize
Howard University to acquire the
home of the National Association for
Relief of Destitute Colored Women
and Children located at the corner of
Sth and Euclid streets
Consideration of measures designed
! to relieve the street railway situation
in the District are to be the special
order of business following the How
| ard University bill on Friday.
Arrangements were made for a
hearing. probably on Monday next.
on the bill introduced by Representa- =
tive Smith of Idaho to regulate and
control incorporated. co-opera tive
contract loan. savings and investment
institutions operating under declara- =
| tfonS of trust in the District.
; A subcommittee OF five. consisting z
OF Representatives Sproul of Illinois s,
Lampert of Wisconsin. Walters of
Pennsylvania. Blanton of Texas and
Gilbert of Kentucky, was authorized
TO investigate the Free BILL which
proposes to define the legal status of
all children under eighteen years of
age in the District of Columbia, Gre
atlng parental court and providing
for child-relief allowance for the
assistance of certain mothers. This
was described as "the mothers bill"
The so-called reciprocity gasoline
tax bill was the last matter acted
! upon by the committee. 1t had pre-
vlously been made the order of spe-
cial business for Friday, but when
1t was apparent that the members
present were unanimously in favor
/ it was ordered reported and Represen-
! tative Zihlman of Maryland Instruct :
ed to draft the report. He ex-
planned that this measure is expected
to clear away forever the question
of automobile reciprocity between
Maryland and the District 1t sub
stitutes for the present license and
personal property tax two-cent
gasoline tax. but is dependent entire
ly upon reciprocity granted by Mary
land. Representative Zihlman said
that the Maryland Legislature has al
ready passed a similar law. He point
ed out that the passage of this la
for the District will increase the
revenues S125.OeO
Representative Blanton Of Texas,
made a motion to reconsider the vote
by which the Reed District delegate
bill was tabled at the last meeting
of the committee. and that his mo-
tion should be considered as pending.
Urges Optometry Inv.
Chairman Focht told Mr. Blanton
that under the rules of the House
settled and cannot be brought up
again at this session of Congress.
Representative Blanton disagreed
with Chairman Focht and said his
motion was to reserve all rights. The
committee was told that Representa-
tives Reed of West Virginia and
Sproul OF illinois intend to offer
amendments when the District dele
gate bill again comes up for consid-
Grafton. Representative Sproul is op-
posed to this legislation unless an
amendment is included giving the
people of the District the right TO
elect the District commissioners
NJ A. Leese, chairman of the optical
section of the Merchants and Manu-
facturers' Association, accompanied
by Charles J. Columbus. secretary of
of the bill, which has already passed
the Senate, to regulate the practice
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