The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-05-21
District Legislation in the Jam
of a Closing Congress
By BILL PRICE.

Much useful and desirable District legislation will be
caught in the jam Of the closing days Of Congress
publican leaders put through their program Of adournng
early in June There will be disappointment but conoaon
may be found in the passage Of portion the local leg
hon that has been sought.
Increased pay for policemen and emen may be looked for
with confidence Both Houses have passed bills making the
increases and there ought to be difficulty about adjust
ent OF the minor differences between the Houses That
legislation is vital in assuring the best classes of men to fill
vacancies in the respective departments Strictly on merits
the policemen and remen of this city are entitled to better
pay than they getting There should no trouble in the
future in getting good to keep these departments up to
neT maxlnums OF strength Efficiency should be improved
through the large number Of applications that will pour in
enabling the heads Of these municipal departments to select
men whose physical and mental qualifications are especially
fitted for the work they have to do.
The teachers bill has passed the House and good
position in the Senate Senator cAPPER to whom the Dis
ct indebted for consistently fair attitude problems
gives assurance that the teachers bill will be put before the
senate within few days and that will be passed by that
po which has been support of better pay
instructors in our public schools.
The differences between the and Senate bills are
there every prospect that Washington teachers and the whole
public school organization will be treated fairly squaey
individual njusces may creep into the bill finally goes
20 the White House. but these be the next
Congress. -
House and Senate conferees will make attempt this
week to settle their differences extension Of -Four
eeth street through the grounds of Walter Reed Hospital
The Senate has twice passed. by unanimous VOTE bill
thorzng this extension matter of public welfare and
traffic necessity That important section Of the District con
Meeting does with growing section of Maryland is in
serious need Of at least through traffic artery to
relieve congestion on Georgia avenue and Sixteenth
Fourteenth obviously the one that will fill the de-
ands The bill received the favorable report of
the House District Committee but ran against some Of the
members of the House Military Affairs Committee This o
position strong enough amend the Senate bill so as to
stop Fourteenth street the southern boundary of the Wae
Reed reservation and only offered towards the the
problem of increased transportation in that section the au
thorzaon for an east and west street connecting Fourteenth
1wn
reservation.
The House bill mutilation of the Permanent Highway
Plan adopted by Congress in 1885, nasmuch its effect
to close that Of Fourteenth which already open
through almost two squares Of the Walter Reed grounds
The House opponents of the Senate bill candid ad
hitting that there should be development of the northern part
Of the District and the building of double track line
az O"II the o ae tat p d great
District and Maryland citizens 1.-THE taking care of the
poor SICK and crippled who in the hospital suf
fering" This from our friend BLANT0N of Texas =
Yet is shown that the suffering soldier boys are all
CHARTERED in wards along the Georgia railway
line some blocks away from Fourteenth street The opening
Of Fourteenth street through the grounds would however
sroy Of the privacy the officers quarters which are
oil located along Fourteenth street Just another evidence of
the manner in which the private soldier is used politically
when as cold fact his is not the real thought back
Of the project being discussed.
In conference therefore, the problem to work out some
method OF deourng around Walter Reed going through
It underground provided the House conferees do not
the Senate bill Of extending the street through the grounds
Of greatest Importance the District the Craton
en in the District appropriation BILL before the Senate
Recent reports indicate that the Senate likely to insist that
the 6O4O agreement shall remain unchanged at least
another That what should be The Senate has
had time to consider the equities the lump sum idea
and it is not accustomed to swallowing idea without
mature deiberation It be that the trick suddenly
sprung by Mr. Cramon and his House associates will defeat
itself through the haste with which put through
At rate it looks reasonably certain that if the Senate
does agree to lump appropriation rather than have the
District appropriation bill held up, will put the sum at
not less than probably standing out for
Or the latter figure being nearly in accord
with the 6040 law than any other
With the teachers pay bill and the increased
Tor fremen and policemen the District appropriation bill must
be increased by several millions of dollars which will NEAR
that the tax rate for the District in the fiscal year must
60 higher The Federal Government bear proportion
Of these increases for the good that police and fire
protection necessary Federal properties and the
properties and of Senators and congressman as to
the properties and persons Of humble taxpayers of the
Increased efficiency in Washington public schools will he
shared by the children of the Congressional SET
i CAn-S-1s-e Ii