Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-17
Senate D. C. Group Delays
Action on District
Dry Measure.
STOCKHOLDERS VOTE
NECESSARY IN COMBINE
Two-Year Guarantee of Present
Fare and Possible Reduced Pupil
Rate Stipulated by Senators.

The Senate District committee late
yesterday voted to report favorably the
street railway merger resolution and
the bill to regulate the real estate bust
ness, leaving the Howell local prohibit
ton bill, for further elaboration next
week.
The committee was in executive ses-
sion for more than two hours and it
is believed considerable part of that
time was devoted to debate over the
Howell measure, which is intended to
supplement the Volstead law in Wash
ington by extending dry enforcement
authority to local policemen, extend
| ing the search warrant authority of
local officials, and re-enactlng certain
features of the Sheppard law,
The committee also took up the bill
changing the court procedure here
| when appeals are taken from decisions
OF the Utilities Commission. As origin
ally advocated by the commission, the
bill provided that in a court appeal
the commissions findings as to facts
would be conclusive if supported by
| evidence" Some members of the COM
mittee commended this provision was so
broad that any evidence would be suffi-
Gent to make the commissions find
| ings as to facts final. These members
wanted the bill to read IF supported
by the evidence" which would mean
| the evidence as a whole. The Senators
who attended yesterdays meeting
agreed to an amendment to read, sub
| stantial evidence" instead of 1.-The evil
| dence," but Senator Capper was in
structed to poll the absent members on
this proposal before reporting the bill
back to the Senate.
Tydings Would Test Hoover.
The membership of the District COM
| mittee includes Senators with firmly
| established views on both sides of the
prohibition question. and it is under
stood they had long discussion yes
terday over various proposed amend
ments to the Howell bill. Upon leaving
the meeting, Senator Tydings, Demo-
crat, of Maryland, who heretofore has
| taken the lead in opposing the bill, said
bis present inclination is to favor max
| ing to bill more drastic. He said he
| wanted to see If the President would
| sign 1t in that form.
Senator Howell, Republican, of Ne
braska, author of the bill, conferred
with members Of the committee over
| the details of the measure yesterday.
Chairman Capper SAID discussion of the
bill would be resumed at another meet
ing next week.
The street railway merger resolution,
| as reported out by the committee yes
| terday, contains the clause under which,
| If the merger is accepted, the rates of
| fare in effect on August /, 1929 would
remain in force for two years. The
only exception to this would be in the
| case of transfers. which would be made
free between street cars, and within
the discretion of the commission as be-
| tween cars and buses.
| With regard to the fare for school
children, the committee adopted Ian
guage giving the commission authority
to reduced rate, but did not make It
mandatory, as advocated by John
Noonan.
Stakeholder Vote Necessary.
The merger resolution, even II en-
acted by Congress. would have to be
ratified by majority of the stockhold-
ers of the company before going into
effect.
The real estate license measure, which
will be reported early next week, sets
up commission to license brokers and
statesmen. AS introduced by Senator
Blaine, Republican, of Wisconsin the
bill would have created commission
OF three persons to be appointed by
the District Commissioners, with. the
District assessor an ex-ofdcio member.
AS approved by the committee, the bill
provides for appointment of two per-
sons and leaves the assessor as a mem
Der. Not more than one of the two
members to be appointed shah have
been in the real estate business prior
to appointment.
The section defining the proof to
be required of applicants for brokers
licenses in determining competency was
amended to provide that such proof
would not be required of person who
could show two years of experience as
broker, salesman or general expert
ence in real estate Office for that
period of time. Several other changes
in phraseology were made.