Evening star., 1925-02-18
COUNSEL
MEASURE 0. K 'DbY
HOUSE COMMITTEE
Officer to Handle Public Uti|-
tiles Work Would Get
$500 Yearly.
RENT AND TRAFFIC BILLS
DENIED RIGHT OF WAY
Police Woman's Bureau Proposal
Comes In for Warm Debate
at Session,

Creation of a new office Of peoples S
counsel for the Public Utilities Commits
sion at salary of $500 year, with
this counsel required to devote his en-
tire time to public utilities work, is au-
thorized in a bill favorabiy reported
| by the House District committee
today.
The committee also reported favor
ably a bill making 1t a misdemeanor
in the District of Columbia to
abandon OF willfully neglect wives
and minor children in destitute or
necessitous circumstances.
A subcommittee consisting of Rep
|resentatives Underhill, Massachusetts; !;
Gilbert of Kentucky, Beers of Penn
sylvania, Stalker of New York and
Gasque of South Carolina was ap-
pointed to consider the bill intro
and in the House by Representative
Blanton of Texas to establish d wom-
ems bureau in the Metropolitan Po-
lice Department of the District of
Columbia, giving greater authority
and official recognition to the work
now being carried on by the existing
one of the bureau.
Rent Bill Fight Lost.
Representative Lampert of Wiscon
sin sought vigorously and in vain to
have the District Rent Commission
bill put first on the committee pro-
gram for consideration in the House
next Monday
Members of the committee stated
vigorously during the meeting that
both the rent bill and the traffic bill
for OF 10
sion is concerned.
Although the special order for the
meeting today was consideration of
the Zihlman bill providing for an in
crease OF two members in the Public
Utilities Commission, Representative
Blanton got the floor and spoke at
length on the proposed woman s
bureau in the Police Department and
urged its passage in recognition of
the work being done by Mrs. Nina
Van Winkle. He euIogized Mrs. Van
Wrinkles services especially In be-
half of young girls in the Nations
Capital. He said that this legislation
would give her authority to continue
her good work. He became inter-
ested at the solicitation of the presi-
dent of Federated Women's Clubs in
Texas and told of the propaganda in
support of this measure being carried
on by Federated Women's Clubs all
over the country.
Underhill Blocks Action.
Representative Underhill of Massa-
chusetts asked How much does this
woman in Texas know about condi
tions in the District of Columbian"
Representative Blanton sought to
make this measure special order of
business and was blocked by objec-
to-, I,r, Dr. -
argued that the desertion bill was Of
Representative Blanton held that the
desertion be favorably reported, and
this motion prevailed.
Owing to a point of order the COM
mittee had to stay in recess until a
quroum was called in.
Representative Zihlman explained
the Public Utilities Commission meas
ure and the need for a special coun-
sci because the Public Utilities spent
between $4,000 and $4,000 in at
torneys' fees last year, where the
Public Utilities Commission was
represented only by the corpora
tion counsefs office.
BIantOn Asks Change.
Representative Lampert of Wis
consin said that he favored this
legislation with an amendment which
would make the Public Utilities
Commission distinct from tho Board
of District Commissioners. Repre-
sentative Blanton offered as an
amendment the proposal to appoint
special attorney for the Public
Utilities Commission at a salary of
$500 a year who would devote all
of his time to this work He said
that he conferred yesterday with the
Engineer Commissioner, who assured
him that all he needed at this time
was high-class attorney.
Representative Under:lill argued
that the District officials ought to
have counsel attending the Dis
trict committee sessions to advise
them in regard to legislation affecting
the District.
Representative Blanton told the
committee that the people are tired
of having Army officers running af-
fairs here in the District. Repre-
sentative Underhill made reference
to the District rent bill, at which
Representative Blanton said, That's
so dead there is no use in mentioning
it." Representative Lampert replied:
You think so? You may be disagree
ably surprised"
Representative Zihlman called at
tention of Mr.. Blanton to the fact
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