The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-03-04
SEEKS
INCREASED
POWER.
Measure Submitted to COM
missioners Gives Them Far.
reaching Authority.

Far-reaching powers for the
District Commissioners are pro-
vided in a bill drawn up by
committee of District officials and
submitted to the Commissioners
today. The measure was framed
at the request of the Senate Dis
trict Committee.
The Commissioners discussed the
bill at meeting today. Approval
of major portions of it probably
will be given and forwarded to
the Senate in a few days.
The bill was drawn up by Frank
H. Stephens, District corporation
counsel; Daniel J. Donovan, Dis
trict auditor, and Daniel E.
Garges, secretary of the Board Of
District Commissioners.
Provisions of Measure.
Provisions of the message are:
That the Commissioners shall
have the power to:
Appoint the recorder of deeds.
judges of the police, municipal,
and juvenile courts, members of
the Board of Education, Board of
Charities and all other officers
and boards exercising municipal
functions merely.
Set amount and character OF
fees governing automobiles.
Name and rename streets, ex-
cept those lettered and numbered,
and avenues.
Fix rates Of assessments for
water mains, sewerage, and side
walks.
Widen or narrow roadways or
sidewalks.
Could Close Streets.
Close streets and roads which
do not conform with the gen.
eral highway plan, provided the
Commissioners get the concur.
renee of owners of abutting
properties.
Remit penalties and interest
on overdue taxes and to cancel
taxes when deemed necessary in
Regulate vendors in the Dis.
trict of Columbia.
Make special rules and regula-
lions for inaugurations and
other celebrations in tbs Dis.
trict.
Purchase supplies in the open
market
Compromise all claims against
the District or arbitrate them in
the courts.
Control all public places ex-
cept those owned by the Fed.
eral Government.
Sell and lease personal property
Of the District Of Columbia.
Make necessary electrical regu-
lations.
Compel public service to dis.
connect current to house and 9th
ers places where wiring or other
apparatus is defective or dan
gerous.
Remove electric or other poles
within the fire limits.
Construct public works by day
labor up to a cost Of $1,000. Above
$4,000 the work must be adver-
tised In the newspaper and bids.
received.
Give police power to civil EN-.
ployes Of the District who protect
the city's properties.
Power Over License Law.
The Commissioners also seek
power to amend the license law
when they deem IT necessary. At
present this law cannot be amended
without authority Of Congress.
The final clause in the measure
gives the District Commissioners
power to ;'make all regulations and
ordinances that they deem necessary
and proper for effective administra.
ton Of the municipality or proper
for protection of lives, health. com.
fort and quiet and to enforce all
regulations by imposing a fine or
imprisonment as they may deem
proper after one weeks notice In
the newspapers"
The bill also gives the Commits.
sioners definite powers in the re.
voking OF automobile operators ner.
/ mits. 1t gives them power to take
away permits Of persons arrested
and convicted in other Jurisdictions,
This clause is aimed largely at the
person who has been convicted ~
reckless driving or driving whiIa
under the influence of liu,or