Evening star., 1925-02-04
DISTRICT BILLS GET
COMMITTEES OK.
House May Meet Earlier Feb.
ruary 8 to Clear Program
for Capital.

House and Senate District commit
tees took favorable action on several
local measures of Importance today
and the former took under consider
alton a suggestion by Representative
Blanton of Texas that House Leader
Longworth be asked to have the
House meet at IL o'clock on the next
District day-February sand con-
tinue in session until the entire pro-
gram of important District legisla-
tion is acted on
Mr.. Blanton, in support of his pro-
posal, said that IL this suggestion
were carried out the entire calendar
Of District legislation could be clear
ed.
District measures acted on favor
ably by both committees today were:
Merger Bill Approved.
The bill drafted by the District au-
thorities authorizing a merger of the
two street car lines. The bill is aimed
at removing barrier which would
prevent voluntary merger of the two
lines without congressional sanction.
The Senate committee ordered a
favorable report on the five-year
schools. and the House committee
agreed to consider that measure with
view to favorably reporting 1t at
a meeting tomorrow morning at 10
o'clock.
The Senate District committee or
dered favorable report on the traf-
fic bill framed by the joint committee
on traffic legislation and introduced
yesterday in the Senate, while the
fn 6ar
traffic measures at its meeting tomor-
row morning, with the view of favor
ably reporting either the Rathborn or
the Gibson measure or adjusting the
differences between the two and re-
porting them as one measure. 1t was
emphasized that the two bills are in
agreement on major points.
The House committee will meet Fri
day morning to consider the Lampert
report on the rent bill. IL.
The Senate committee also ordered
a favorable report on joint resolu-
tfon introduced by Senator King of
Utah for the creation of a city plan
ming commission for the District of
Columbia. This commission would
be appointed by the President and
would consist of an architect, an en-
gineer and three other members. The
commission would be charged with
the duty of developing plan for the
future development Of the District,
including specifications as to coming,
| housing, traffic and transportation,
schools, Fairgrounds, highways, in
dustrial development and the co-ordi-
nation of these subjects into COM
prehensive scheme in conformity to
which both public and private build
ings and improvements would be exc
cuted. The resolution provides $4,000
to enable the commission to carry on
its work.
The Engineer Commissioner of the
District in a report to the committee
opposed the passage of the King reso-
| luton on the grounds that the WORK
would be better performed by the al
ready existing National Capital Park
| Commission working in conjunction
with the Board of District Commls-
| sioners.
Land for Cathedral.
Other measures favorably reported
| by the Senate committee today were:
A Senate bill authorizing the clos
| ing of a part of Thirty fourth place
north of Garfield street, and providing
that the land embraced therein shall
| revert to the Protestant Episcopal
Cathedral Foundation.
A bill which has already passed the
House authorizing the chief of engi-
neers, United States Army, to accep'
| a tract of land presented by Mrs Anne
| Archbold for park purposes, consist
| ing of 28.2 acres, lying along Foundry
Branch, between the Glover Parkway
| and Reservoir road.
| A bill which has passed the House
changing the name of Third place
northeast to Abbey place.
| A bill which has passed the House
| for the prevention of diseases in the
| District. This was ordered fayorabl3
reported with amendments.
A bill which has passed the House
providing for commitment to, main
| tenance in and discharges from th'