The Washington times., 1924-12-25
DISTRICT
LEGISLATION
IS URGED
Congress Expected to Act on
Traffic, Welfare. Great
Falls and Fund Bills


Thursday. IL expected to witness
the passage by Congress Of several
vitality important pieces of legis'
lation for the District OF Columbia.
Despite the fact that the short
session of Congress 10 already one
third completed, members expect
to force action on several projects
which have long been needed in
Washington.
d. c. Legislation Hoped For.
It IL confidently expected that
Congress will pass a new traffi,,
code for the District during the
present session.
Passage Of a new welfare code
for WaehinRten. which has been
urged for many years, it Ia said
has a good chance for passage.
a strong fight win be waged to
secure passage by the House Of q
bill providing for construction oil
the proposed $4,000 900 hydro
electric power plant at Great Falls
Important steps toward securing
two of these pieces of legislation
already have been taken during
the one month the present Con
gress has been, in session. Plans
have been made to push work or
the Other Immediately following the
holidays.
In addition Congress Is expected
to pass the largest District appro
priat.on bill in the history OF the
National Capital. Attempts will be
made to secure passage by the
House of the bill giving to the
District a fund of more than ST..
10000 now lying in the Federal
Treasury. The bill already has
passed the Senate and has been
favorably reported by the House
District Committee. .
What is regarded as a highly
important step in behalf of the Dis
trict was taken when the Senate
and House District committees
reached a decision less than two
weeks ago to hold joint hearings
on District legislation. This step
is expected to cut the time neces.
aary for consideration Of such legis-
iation to half the length formerly
necessary and to tremendously i'm.
prove its chances for passage by
the Senate and House through iron
ing out Of the points Of difference
between the houses before they
have been made an issue on the
floor and before opinions become
hardened.
Under this agreement the Joint
committee has practically concluded
the framing of the new traffic
code, which 1t is proposed to press
to a vote at this session.
The points already agreed upon
by the committee include drastic
penalties for hit-and-run drivers.
drunken drivers and other deliber.
ate violators OF the traffic laws.
Traffic Court Pressed.
Provisions for two more police
judges. to be assigned to traffic
cases, Ia included in the measure.
The joint committee, in it's early
consideration Of the bill, voted
down a proposal to establish a new
traffic court. The fight for the
new court, however, is not yet over.
Congressman Henry r. Rathbone of
Illinois, chairman of the House
subcommittee on traffic, expects
to bring up the matter again after
the holidays in an effort to i'm.
press his colleagues with the vital
necessity OF establishing the new
court.
The Joint committee viii resume
IT'S considerations January S, and IL
Is hoped that the bill will be report.
90 In the Senate and House stimuli.
taneously by the middle OF january.
IL 1s the understanding Of members
OF the joint committee that both
District committees win give this
bill right Of way on the floor. n
IL exceedingly unlikely that there
win be any opposition to the bin ar
that any attempts will be made 70
delay its passage.
On the welfare legislation there
mas been but little progress to date.
AZ mas Deen agreed, however, that
me matter VIII be taken up by the
senate ana House District commit.
!eeS Jointly as soon after the holi.
Jays as possible. No decision has
yet Deem made as to whether hear.
MS on this bill will be necessary.
II - the opinion Of Senator Bail,
chairman OF the Senate COMMITTEES.
tnat the hearings can be dispensed
with, as the matter has been
thoroughly aired before Compression.
al committees in previous years.
Congressman Oscar e. Keller. of
minnesota, chairman of the House
subcommittee on this legislation. be.
neves that mothers pension legisla
ton should be included in the wei.
rare code. He fears. however. that
70 insert this law during the shorf
session would result in defeat Of
the entire bill. He is of the opinion
mat a preliminary code should be
enacted and the mothers pension
act added at the first possible on.
portunity without endangerinR the
entire bill. lac
Falls Project Advanced.
The Great Falls develonnenI
project has been well advanced n
has passed the Senate ana. after
the most thorough and extended
hearings by a special House Snh.
committee, has been favorably re.
ported to the full District com.
Hlttee' The next step will be to
secure q favorable report to the
House. A poll of the District com.
EtnItee indicates that this step will
% taken. With these preliminAries
OUT OF the way 1t will merely be.
come a question Of racing against
time to secure a vote on the cues.
tlon by the House before adjourn.
ment on March 4. It Is regarded
as q probability that the measure
would be passed II the House were
given an opportunity to vote on
The bill to credit to the District
the $4,O0O,0OO fund now lying in
the Federal Treasury has the sun.
port Of many of the most in.
fluential members of the House.
IL Is opposed by members who be.