The Washington times., 1929-09-05
SEES MANY
URGENT.
NEEDS
BY SENATOR ARTHUR
CAPPER
Chairman Of the Senate District
Committee

Committee
While pressure of tariff
legislation will not permit con-
sideration of District needs
during the remainder of the
special session, I believe that
the first regular session of
the seventy-first Congress, be-
ginning in December, should
be productive of much that is
worth while for the people Of
the District.
refer particularly to the bills
regulating the sale of deadly weap-
ons, and to prevent the sale of
worthless so-called securities by con.
scienceless swind!ers. There are too
many crimes of violence in the
nations capital, and one way to
curb them is to make it difficult to
secure pistols and other deadly
weapons.
Better Traction Service
The people of the District are en-
titled to letter street car and bus
service without increase of fare If
that can be avoided by the economies
possible under unified, merged oper.
alton. l am hopeful that the Pub
lie Utilities COMMISSIONER it
seems to me has been working hard
and conscientiously-W be able to
suggest a constructive and practic-
able solution of this problem.
For the protection of the people
of the District, and especially those
of comparatively small means, there
should be effective regulation of
the insurance business so that policy
holders will not be overcharged or
defrauded. l am hopeful that we
may be able to secure the enact
ment of an up-to-date code of
insurance law.
The Police. Department should be
fully maintained for public protec-
ton.
Improved Schooling
1t should be made easier for the
parents of Washington properly to
educate their children by providing
free textbooks in the high schools.
The school building program should
be speeded up by adequate appro.
riations, so that there may be no
part-t1me instruction because of lack
Of space. Nor should any of the
children be compelled to ACQUIRE
their education in so-called TEN.
porary" buildings.
Many of the Districts streets are
In deplora'ble condition, and there
are still some sections of the Dis
tr1ct without water supply, sewer.
age and other modern conveniences,
Adequate appropriations should be
made for all such public improve
ments. The Federal Government
should contribute on an equitable
basis instead Of arbitrarily limiting
its contribution to an amount that
has been proved to be less tha4 its
fair share.
The park and playground needs
of the District should continue to
receive careful attention. l am par
ticularly desirous of seeing a start
made toward requirement of the
Great Falls.Potomac River area.
Law Enforcement
The subject of law enforcement is
receiving national attention, and ]
believe that if there are any defects
in the administration of justice in
the District we should deal with
the situation during the next ses.
sion of Congress. The District
jury system has come in for criti-
cism, and there are other phases
of legal procedure that should be
studied also. The register of wills
for the District. for instance, has
called attention publicly to the de.
lays in the settlement of estates,
and other defects of that nature.
We should anticipate the removal
of Center Market to make way for
the new Federal office buildings,
and provide other market facilities
convenient and serviceable to the
people of the District.