Evening star., 1925-02-16
District Legislation.

Despite the failure of the Senate to
do business the other evening, when a
special session was held for action
upon q. list Of District bills, hope per-
sists that the present session Of Con.
gress will not close with these meas
ures remaining unconsidered. If there
is a disposition in the upper house to
do this work the bills can be put on
their passage, notwithstanding the
great pressure of business.
The traffic bill, the school buildings
bill, the public welfare commission bill
and the city-planning bill are in this
list. While some amendments are like
ly to be offered to perfect them and to
avoid obstructive objection. they are
virtually unopposed. Two others which
were on the list proposed for special
consideration Friday night are subject
to serious opposition, those authoriz-
ing the merger of the street railway
corporations and creating rental
commission.
The two first named Of the six meas.
ures are of the most urgent impor.
tance to the welfare of the District.
That some better means Of controlling
and regulating the traffic in Washing
ton is requisite Is proved by the daily
reports of casualties in this city. Life
has become hazardous In the Capital
The present system Of control and
punishment for violations of the laws
is Ineffective. 1t can be made efficient
only through legislation. Congress
alone can cure the evil. The bill now
pending 10 the result Of careful con.
sideration by the two District commit
tees. 1t represents weeks of inquiry
and debate, with every interest heard
and every condition taken into ac-
count. Its enactment, followed by the
appointment Of capable persons for
the positions created by it. will relieve
Washington from a deadly danger.
The bill to authorize a series of
school building constructions Is
acknowledged by all who have con.
sidered the local situation to be abso-
lutely essential. The schools OF the
District are choking for accommoda.
tions. Year-by-year appropriations
for new constructions will not make
good the arrears accumulated through
decades OF comparative neglect. Only
by means Of a large program Of build
ing can this shortage be made good,
and the District for the first time in
Its history be assured Of adequate
school facilities. This bill likewise has
been jointly considered by the District
committees to the end of full agree
ment upon its terms. Those commit
tees are entitled to opportunity for
legislation. They have served the Dis.
trict well in this as In other matters.
and should receive now respectful at.
tention when they ask for the enact.
ment Of this measure.
The bill creating a public welfare
commission is the result of many
months Of painstaking inquiry by a
board OF citizens assembled by the Dis
trict Commissioners and Of ttoroush
consideration by the District commit
tees Of Congress. It Is viewed as an
essential to secure more effective ad.
ministration Of the establishments and
institutions caring for the dependents,
delinquents and unfortunates of this
community. It corrects present mis-.
adjustments which lessen their eco
nonical efficiency. It has received the
virtually unanimous approval Of the
people Of Washington. It's enactment
likewise is viewed as one of the urgent
needs Of the session.
As to the city.planning bill there is
on the broad question of providing for
p survey of District needs and ideal
detectives no dispute. This measure
may require amendment to prevent
conflict between the proposed commits
sion and that already working for the
creation and development of the parks
OF the Capital. This point, however,
Is susceptible Of easy adjustment.
Everybody who wishes to see the. Ma.
tonal Capital attain the proportions
and preserve the unities Of a model
city Is interested in the enactment of
this legislation.
In the Senate only such time as can
be by unanimous consent secured is
available for consideration of these
bills. In the House there is a possibiI-
ity Of another District day" The Sen.
ate, having set aside an evening for
this purpose, which it wasted In futile
talk, can do no less than repair this
fault by assigning another period with
In which a spirit Of accomplishment
will prevail.