Evening star., 1924-12-11
Commissioners Ask Delay
Until Next Session on
Disputed Measure.
WILL BE PRESSED LATER,
RUDOLPH DECLARES
Ridiculous for Congress to Waste
Time on Small Matters,
King Asserts.

The proposal TO transfer TO the Dis
trict Commissioners greater powers
over minor legislative matters, ad-
vanced at the last session of Congress
bv Senator King Of Utah, Senator
Jones of Washington and other mem
bers Of the Senate District commit
tee. appears TO have struck snae.
At the request Of Senator King, who
was appointed a member of sub
committee to draft legislation giving
the commissioners increased power,
tentative bill was drawn UP by the
District Commissioners The matter
was submitted to various civic and
trade organizations of the District Tor
their views
Senator King now has been in
formed by the Commissioners that y
does not appear wise at this time 70
press for such legislation. In the hrst
place. il is the final short session OF
the present Congress and a b'll' un-
less il was acted upon finally prior 70
March 4 would die. and the work
would have TO he begun over again IN
the next Congress. Also there ap-
pears to be wide difference OF opin-
ion on the part Of the citizens as 70
what should be done.
Senator Gives Views.
Senator King said today that ne pc
ieyed Congress should be relieved o.
the handling Of many minor matters
which now occupy its time ana at
tention with regard to the DlsTlct
and that the commissioners should
handle such things.
III is ridiculous" said Senator King.
through the work of passing bill
i'm both houses to change the name or
= street in the District Of Columb bia
or to bring about the opening or
minor street. Such matters should
be left to the CommiSs SsioneTS, VINO
are appointed by the President ana
confirmed by the Senate. There are
many other things which could Wen
be handled by the Commissioners. II
they were so handled Congress would
be able TO devote more time TO the
major problems of the District.
To study School Needs.
Senator King said that he intended
TO get in touch with the supeTintend-
ent of public schools and the Board
Of Education so as to learn just Wha.
buildings are needed TO brlng the
public schools of the District up to
the point of being able to handle all
the children of school age properly.
Il shall urge that Congress appro-
priate all the money for these build
ings that can be expended in the
next year" said Senator King. We
have diny dallied about this matter
of making adequate provision for the
schools too long.
Although the Commissioners have
decided 10 make no effort to obtain
permanently dropped the matter,
Commissioner Rudolph, chairman oil
the board. said today.
VIII Revive Proposal.
Commissioner Rudolph said the
proposed legislation would he revived
at the next session of Congress, when
there would be more time IN when
10 obtain consideration for It.
The suggestion that the city heads
be given more lceway in disposing of
many questions that now require the
time of Congress was made to the
commissioners early in the year by
members Of the Senate District COM
mittee.
The Commissioners then made
tentative draft of a bill designed to
give them authority to regulate
number of questions over which they
have no authority at present lheE
began this draft with a provision
transferring to them the power of
appointing judges of the Police, Mu-
ntcipal and Juvenile Courts and mem
bers of the Board of Education.
Considerable opposition was voiced
against the clause giving the Com
missioners new appointive power over
the school board
Most of the other sections of the
bill had to do with the making OF
regulati tions for licenses. for regulat-
ing traffic and similar functions of a
purely local nature.