Evening star., 1925-02-02
Senator Discusses WhaIey
Bill and Other D. C. Meas
ures With President.
COMMISSION EXPECTED
TO GET LIFE EXTENDED
Street Car Merger, Traffic Legis-
latlon and Reorganization
Keenly Interest Coolidge.

Senator Ball of Delaware. chair
man of the Senate District commit
Tee, teels certain that there will be
some rent control legislation enacted
INTO law during this short session
OF Congress. He would not say
whether he expects the whaley rent
Dill to pass, but he did say that
whatever measure is finally passed,
it will continue the life of the Rent
Commission in the District, at least
for a temporary period, will bring
about the licensing of real estate
operators and will attempt to pre-
vent pyramiding of realty values here.
The Whaley bill and a number
OF other measures directly affecting
the welfare of the District were
discussed during a conference at the
White House today between Presi-
dent Coolidge and the Senate Dis
trict committee chairman. The lat
ter said afterward that while he did
not care to divulge the Presidents
comments TO him regarding any of
this legislation, he had no hesitancy
in saying that the President is keen
ly interested in the District and is
anxious to see enacted any legisla-
tion looking toward the general bet
terment and advancement of the Ma
tional Capital.
Other Bills Discussed.
Besides the Whaley rent bill, Sena-
tor Ball took up with the President
the legislation authorizing a merger
of the local street car companies, the
traffic bill, which is aimed to provide
more effective handling of the street
traffic in this city, and less important
local legislation.
The Senator informed the President
that If it is possible to get these bills
before the Senate he has no fear of
their defeat. His only fear lies in the
possibility of their getting caught in
the eleventh-hour jam of Congress.
He informed the President that there
will be an executive session tonight
of the executive committees of the
Senate and House District committees
to map out a program of action for
the remainder of the session.
When asked directly if he thought
the whaley bill, which was drafted
At the suggestion Of President Cool
idge and which was submitted to
Congress by Richard Whaley. chair
man of the District Rent Commission,
would pass, Senator Ball replied To
the effect that If il didn't there would
be some other bill proposing to con-
troll the situation that would pass.
He had TO doubt about there being
some form of rent-control legislation
passed.
VIII Report Results.
Senator Ball said he would commu-
nicate the outcome of tonight's joint
committee meeting to the President
probably tomorrow. The Senator did
say that the Presidents interest in
legislation TO control the rent situ-
alton here is so great as to cause
him to personally throw the weight
of his office in pushing through this
legislation.
Harry Wardman, local builder and
real estate operator, saw the Presi-
dent shortly after Senator Balls con-
ference, but he said afterward that it
had nothing to do with the local rent
situation. His call was purely per-
sonal. he said.
Representative Smell of New York,
chairman of the rules committee of
the House. after comforting with the
Executive regarding the legislative
program in the House, stated that
the Executive is anxious to see the
bill providing for a reorganization of
the executive departments passed at
this session.
Representative Smell said that the
President made it plain to him that
he is determined that this bill shall
be enacted at this session. He was
represented as indicating to Repre-
sentative Smell that next to farm re-
lief legislation, as recommended by
the agricultural conference appoint
ed by him, he considers the reorgani-
zation bill most important. He inti-
mated to Representative Smell that
these two bills should be given pri-
ority now that the final legislative
rush is on and things will be more
or less jammed from now until the
closing hour of Congress.
According to Representative Shell,
rent legislation was not touched upon
during his talk with the President to-
day. The former said the impression
on the Hill is that the Executive is
interested in some form of legislation
looking toward relieving the housing
situation in the Capital. Mr. Smell
said it was his belief that, because of
lack of time and the numberless
measures awaiting a chance to get
to vote, he doubted very much IL
the House will find time for a rent
bill. He added, however, that was
just his personal opinion, and that.
besides, he had given little attention
to this matter.