Evening star., 1928-12-31
MARK MADE In BETTERINC
CONDITIONS OF WORKERS
Vast Building and Development Projects
Started i'm District to Add to
Majestic Beauty of City.

fixed ratio other than 60-40, but the
House stood firm for continuation OF
the lump-sum basis. When the report
of the conferees was made to- the Sen
ate, near the close of the session, the
Senate decided to recede from its
amendment and agree to the House
provision in order to complete the bill
before adjournment of the session.
Shortly after the present short ses-
sion of Congress began Senator Bing-
ham (Republican) of Connecticut was
appointed chairman of the District ap-
preparations subcommittee in the Sen
ate. Senator PhippS having asked to be
relieved from the chairmanship after
more than seven years of service. The
Colorado Senator will continue, how
ever, as a member of the subcommittee.
Senator Bingham has been a member
of the subcommittee for the past two
years.
The Bureau of Efficiency has COM
pleted study of the fiscal relations
problem at the request of Senate and
House appropriations committees and
of the Gibson subcommittee, which Is
expected to be transmitted TO Congress
early this month.
In the last session Congress passed
the Welch salary increase bill, which
Government employees and lesser in
creaSeS in many instances where sub
stantial increases were intended. This
failure of the act to carry out the will
of Congress is credited to administra-
tive delinquency and in a large part
caused by a ruling of the Controller
General. To correct this situation and
to bring retroactive relief, especially to
those in the lower salary ranges, a bill
is now being drafted by Chairman Lehl-
bach of the House civil service COM
mittee, following conferences with rep
resentativeS of the employees organlza-
tions, with officials of the Budget Bu-
reau, the Controller Generals office,
the Personnel Classification Board. Bu-
reau of Efficiency and the Civil Service
Commission.
Chairman Lehlbach has promised to
introduce this bill Immediately after the
holiday recess. On the Senate side
Senator Brookhart (Republican) of
Iowa also is drafting a measure de-
signed to correct these inequalities IN
the present law, and Chairman Dale of
the Senate civil service committee has
declared in favor of some legislation to
carry out the intent of Congress. Sena-
tor Smoot (Republican) of Utah also is
studying this problem.
Retirement Law Changed.
To liberalize the civil service retire
ment law and grant equal justice be-
tween various branches of Federal en-
ployment the Senate in the last session
passed bill, fathered by Senator Dale,
which raises the maximum annuity to
81 200 a year, changes the divisor to be
used in computing the annuity from 40
to As for the benefit of those in the
lower grades. and gives employees the
option to retire two years earlier than
existing retirement age limits. Prac-
tically every member of the House is
on record as favoring these more lib
eral provisions and urging early pas
sage of the measure.
In the closing days of the last ses-
sion of the rules committee ordered
special rule giving this measure prefer
entail status, but it was never called up
by the House leaders. Chairman Smell
of the rules committee, Speaker Long
worth and House Leader Tilson have
all promised that an early opportunity
will be afforded House members to vote
upon this measure. The Republican
steering committee has agreed to con-
slider this at its first meeting after the
recess.
One of the most important measures
directly affecting the people of the
District to come to the attention of
Congress during 1928 was the plan for
bringing about street railway merger.
The merger resolution was reported out
by the House District committee to-
ward the close of the last session, but
still requires action in both House and
Senate.
The Senate District committee ap-
pointed a special subcommittee in May
to study the merger proposal and OBJ
tanned from the Senate a fund of S10.-
900 to defray the expenses of thorough
study OF the question. During the Sum-
mer the merger agreement was analyzed
for the subcommittee by the Bureau of
Efficiency and by DR.. Milo r. Maltbie,
New York utilities expert.
The railway companies and Harley
P. Wilson, of the Washington Rapid
Transit Co.. were asked to file written
reply to the findings of DR.. Maltbie and
the Efficiency Bureau. DR.. Maltbie and
the efficiency experts next will submit
any comment they may care to make
on the view of the traction officials,
after which the Senate subcommittee
will be prepared to reach a decision as
to its report. The proposed $50,000,000
valuation for the merged company, TO
be in effect for 10 years, with stip-
ulation that fares shall not be in
creased for one year, is one of the
questions being discussed most frequent
ly In the merger deliberations.
Pass Compensation Law.
One of the great humanitarian meas
ures put through during the past year
is the workmen'S compensation law,
which was in bitter controversy between
rival factions in the House for several
years. A compromise measure was en-
acted permitting the compensation in
to be placed with private COM
panies with administration Of the law
by the United States Employees Com
pensation Commission.
The House early in 1928 passed the
Stalker bill to authorize establishment
Of the new Farmers Market on the
Southwest site. but the differences of
opinion over whether the market should
be in that area or north of Pennsyl-
vania avenue has prevented a vote in
the Senate thus far. The bill is still
ON the Senate calendar.
Two measures relating to develop
ment of the upper Potomac region were
put through during the last session.
One was the bill authorizing the Great
Falls Bridge Co. to build a private
bridge across the Potomac just below
the Falls, and the other was reso-
luton restraining the Federal Power
Commission from ing any permits
for power projecss ) the upper Po-
tomac until it is definitely determined
how the area should be developed both
with respect to power and parks pos
Sibilities.
Early action by both House and SEN
ate to provide Washington with an ade-
luate airport has been promised fol-
lowing extensive hearings and confer
ences on the subject. There is general
agreement that the Gravelly Point site
should be designated The airport bir
s expected to- be taken up as soon as
possible in the House under suspension
If the rules, the House leader be!nc
and the Speaker havir