Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-12-31

year ana increased the employees con-
tribution to the retirement fund from
| 212 to 49, per cent of their salaries.
| The employees had asked for a maxi
mum annuity of 81 zoe, with optional
retirement after 80 years Of service
| at lower age limits. They accepted a
| less desirable law in the hope of hav-
ing it further liberalized within the
near future.
Study of District Needs.
| In the Fall of 1926 n subcommittee
! of the House District committee, head
ed by Representative Ernest w. Glib
son of Vermont, undertook a compre-
hensiVe study of the District govern
ment with a view to recommending
| further legislation that may be found
advisable to improve the administra-
| ton of municipal affairs. Hearings
have been in progress for several
months, but the subcommittee has not
completed It's labors.
In April Representative Blanton of
| Texas made charges in the House
| against former Commissioner Freder-
! ick A. Fenning, involving his practice
! as guardian for mentally incompetent
! persons. A subcommittee of the
House Judiciary committee investigat-
ed "a articles of impeachment that
| had been outlined by Mr. Blanton. A
majority of the subcommittee found
that the office of District Commissioner
| was not a Federal office, and, there
fore, not an Improbable office. The
| report cleared him of the violations of
law charged in the articles of i'm
| parchment. but found fault with GER
tain phases of his practice. Hearings
also were held on the subject by the
House District committee and by the
/ cd yrAf~ r,s,S II.
| after Congress had recessed for the
Summer Mr.. Fenning resigned from
the commissionership.
The Senate District committee early
in the year instituted an investigation
into the price of coal in Washington.
resulting in an arrangement whereby
dealers agreed to furnish certain data
to accountants in the Controller Gen
erals Office to enable them to make a
report to the committee on the rea-
sonableness of prices in the District.
The report has not yet been COM
pleted.
New Wing at Jail.
In addition to the structures con-
templated under the Federal building
program, Congress in 1926 appropri-
ated for new wing at the District
Jail and passed a law authorizing a
new Police Court Building, but has
not made the appropriation yet for
the latter structure. Congestion at
both the Jail and the Police Court was
revealed by an investigation made by
The Star. Plans likewise are under
way for a f1reproof building for the
recorder of deeds, the appropriation
to be made later.
After the 5O,O00,0 900 Federal build
Too l. Il
substantive law early in the year,
Congress appropriated $5,750,0O0 as
the first installment toward carrying
it out and authorized the making Of
contracts up to limit of $34, $50, 900
under the program.
New buildings for the Department
of Justice, Department of Commerce,
Internal Revenue, independent offices,
Department of Labor and an archives
building are being planned for early
erection in the triangle south of Penn
sylvania avenue. Enlargement Of the
Liberty Loan Building already has
been started, and the Government has
purchased the Economics Building,
Linworth place and c street south
west, as branch Of the Department
Of Agriculture. Land adjoining the
Government Printing Office on G
street, between North Capitol and First
streets, has been acquired for future
enlargement of the big print shop.
Condemnation proceedings have been
authorized for purchase Of the square
just north of the Library of Congress
and facing the Capitol as a site for
the proposed United States Supreme
Court Building. There are other pro-
posed structures that will be planned
later as the building program pro-
crosses.
Other Local Legislation.
Other pieces of local legislation en-
acted during 1926 were:
Authorizing a new bridge across
Rock Creek at M street, funds for
| which have been asked in the new
budget.
| Providing for the payment to re-
| tired policemen and firemen of pen
sion allowances they failed to receive
a number Of years ago.
| Authorizing an allowance of SIS a
| year to each member of the Police
and Fire Departments for uniforms
| and equipment.
A general law empowering the Com
.misSionerS to open and widen streets
| in cases where benefits cannot be
| found equal to the damages, the diff
from the general revenues.
Authorizing sale of District water
to residents of Arlington County, Va.
| Authorizing purchase of garbage
| disposal plant for the District in
Prince William County, Va.
Giving the Commissioners, jurisdic-
i ton over Conduit road, formerly vest
| ed in the War Department, so that
street and sidewalk Improvements can
! be made.
| Establishing tree nursery for the
| District in Anacostia Park.
Reorganzing the Recorder of Deeds
| Office SO as to abolish the fee system
after a certain date.
Abolishing the half-cent tax paid by
| passengers crossing the Key Bridge
| on street cars.
Providing for the widening of Har-
| ward street entrance to the Zoo and
| for the widening of First street north
east, between G and Myrtle streets
! Providing for the regulation of the
| sale of Kosher meat in the District.
A resolution directing the Secretary
! Of War to secure bids for the COM
pletion of the Tomb of the Unknown
/ Soldier in Arlington National Gene
terry.
A law authorizing construction of
two large bathing pools, one for the
white population and the other for the
colored residents of the District. The
funds have not yet been appropriated
and the National Capital Park and
| Planning Commission has decided to
| recommend that a series of smaller
pools be provided in different parts of
the city, in preference to two centrally
| located pools.
The Senate passed the bill carrying
| oannraf atIfhnrifxr fnr 10 abolition nf
remaining railroad grade crossings
| whenever funds are made available