Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-13
Outside Interest Resented.

outside Interest Resented
During the meeting of the senate
District committee Senator tOpela nd
referred To the resentment which he
said local people have shown toward
the interest which has been taken
by New York charity workers in the
question of mothers aid law for the
District.
The subject arose when Senator
Capper, chairman of the District com
mittee, asked the committee what ac-
, ton it desired to take on the public
welfare bill. which would merge into
one board the several different acen-
CieS now dealing with social problems
in this city. II was explained that
hearings were held last year and that
the bill came very close to passage
in the Senate.
On The question of mothers aid
law the local organizations are ad-
vocatng the Capper bill. because it
would place administration Of moth
erS pensions temporarily in the Board
of Charities and therefore would he
come later function of the proposed
board of public welfare. which would
take over all duties of the Board of
Charities. The New York social work
erS are supporting a separate bill.
which would create an independent
Considerable ill-feeIing seems to ex-
list in the District on this question"
Senator Copeland said. THE only diff.
ference between the District and New
York people is that the experience of
the New York group makes them feel
there should be a separate hoard to
take mothers pensions away from the
idea of charity.
THE District people are anxious TO
have it placed so as 10 harmonic
with this proposed board of public
welfare. ! am anxious for the people
of the District to have every oppor-
tunity to he heard before any action
is taken"
Senator Copeland said he would ar.
range another meeting of the Suhcom-
mittee and invite the people of the
District to he heard on their bill
Senator Jones of Washington iDdi-
Gated that he favored a unification of
all such functions under one hoard.
( and suggested that the public welfare
bill to accomplish that end could be
reported to the Senate
1t was recalled by members of the
committee that opposition to the well
fare bill by Senator Gerry of Rhode
Island was the only thing which pre-
vented its passage in the last Con-
greSs.
I The District committee therefore
decided to defer action on the welfare
/ bill for a week or two and invite Sen
/ ator Gerry to meet with the District
committee to discuss the question
| Several members of the committee
/ said they knew that Senator Gerry
| took very deep interest in legisla ton
! of this kind and they thought il
would he proper TO have him discuss
! the welfare bill with the committee
Commissioners Bill Opposed.
! The bill to extend the powers of the
! District Commissioners was referred
! to subcommittee headed by Senate
Jones, and 1t is expected hearings
/ will he held al a date to be announced
! later. Senator Capper said he ex.
! pected there would be opposition tc
some features of the bill. pointing ont
/ that he himself is opposed to the
! paragraph which would give the
| commissioners authority to appoint
| the Board OF Education. Senator
Jones said he thought this appointiye
! power should be left with the justices
/ OF the District Supreme Court
| The committee decided to mako q
| favorah BILE report on the bill crea tinr a
commission to design a flag for tbe
| District of Columbia. 1t was decided
| however. to make the secretaries Of
! w dl anu navy He1lberS OF the flag
commission instead of the President
of the United States.
/ The bill to abolish capital punish.
ment in Washington was referred TO
/ the judiciary subcommittee Action
on the bill providing for the opening
| of A minor street near the base ball
park, between Seventh and Ninth
streets, and to widen First street
northeast, between G and Myrtle
streets, was postponed to see if any
one has objections to offer to the
measure.
| A bill transferring 4 parcel Of Gov.
eminent land adjoining the District
sewage station at First and Potomac
streets southeast to the Commission
ers was approved. The committee
| also approved, with a slight amend
ment, bill to clarity the language
Of one section of the coming law. de-
| fining the conditions under which
buildings may he altered when they
are used for purpose that does not
conform to the present coming Of the
property