Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-03
Member of the Associated Press.
Things Left Undone.

The tie-up over the lump sum in the
District bill has had the unfortunate
effect Of centering attention upon only
one Of the many important legislative
items concerning the District Of Co.
lumbia. 1t now has reached the point
where, If Congress successfully nego-
tiates this last hurdle, other things
kicked over in the excitement will be
forgotten.
This session of Congress has done a
great deal for the National Capital in
authorization Of additional projects I'M
der the building program. But several
bills, affecting merely the taxpaying
residents Of this community. have not
received the attention they deserve.
One must look for other Congresses to
do what this one now has failed to do.
At the outset Of the session the usual
amount of attention was directed to the
need for passage of some law regulating
the sale Of securities in the District,
and the usual optimistic prophecies
were made that the time had arrived
when something was to be done. The
usual bills were introduced and studied.
The usual statements were made re-
garding the need for correcting admit
tedly bad conditions. It was empha-
sized, as usual, that the District Is with
out any of the protective measures
against sale of fraudulent or worthless
securities that many Of the States have
adopted with success. But the closing
days Of the session have come around
again, and the District remains w%hout
any legislation aimed at the dealers In
worthless securities who are peculiarly
free, in Washington, to work their vari-
Gus "racketS" without interference from
the authorities.
At the outset of the session the real
estate business in the District was given
q wholesale indictment, and one not
familiar with true conditions was left
under the impression that the majority
Of men in the real estate business were
actuated solely by sinister motives when
renting an apartment or selling 9
house. Something, undoubtedly, must
be doneI The real estate men, prob
ably more anxious than anybody else
for legislation that would protect hon.
est business by establishing standards
and check-ups on those engaged in it.
assisted in the drafting Of what they
considered good legislation, and the
bills were introduced. But the session
now comes to a close without any legis-
lation regulating the real estate busi-
ness and with the bills in dusty pigeon
holes.
Under the Borland law, inequitable
enough in its original conception, other
inequities have developed and prop
erty owners as well as the tax-gather-
ing municipality have been left holding
the bag. Assessments have been levied
against property owners that will not
hold water In the courts. Scores OF
cases have gone into the courts and
have been decided against the District
while many more cases have been taken
into the courts that cannot be reached
for decision because of the resulting
congestion. The District authorities
have been seriously embarrassed by 9
law that demands collections from
property owners to finance street work
authorized by legislation, but which
will not stand the test in the courts.
Early In the session the District
~uthorities proposed certain amend
Enents to the Borland law designed to
get around the points raised by the
courts. But this is only another piece
Of legislation that Congress, in its ex-
element over other matters, has failed
10 touch.
II half the amount of time and
energy consumed by members of Con-
gress in berating the District for its
shortcomings was devoted to correcting
them, the District would be better OF.
The conditions at the end Of this ses-
sion, with the municipality functioning
without authorization for spending q
penny, and with many important bills
left out In the cold while a tremendous
racket ensues over the expenditure OF
one million dollars in a session that has
authorized or spent hundreds Of mil
lions. remain ironical commentaries on
the system Of government in the Capt.
tai, for which the National Legislature
Is exclusively responsible.
Tho rrfroariaS syStaVo opahIaS yD01itios