Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-23
LIMITED PROGRAM
FOR DISTRICT BILLS
URGED BY CAPPER
District Committee Chairman
Optimistic for Selected
Laws in Short Session.
PUBLIC B0RLAND LAW
HEARING ADVOCATED
Credit Union, Student Street Car
Fare, Utility Mergers and Dry
Enforcement Bills Pending.

The best results will be obtained in
District legislation at the approaching
short session If effort is concentrated on
a limited program, Chairman Capper
of the Senate District Committee adj
vised last night in a statement sum-
marizing the status of local measures
awaiting attention of Congress.
The Senator was optimistic over the
outlook for passage of District meas
ures, although he said his experience
has been that some desirable local leg
islation always Is lost In the rush at
the close Of Congress.
New Proposals Held Unwise.
Bearing In mind" he said, that
Congress Is held to but twelve weeks Of
work before final adjournment, 1t seems
to me that the best results will be &C.
complished by rallying public support
to bills now before the Senate and
House, instead of attempting any i'm
portant new District legislation"
Happily, our legislative calendar was
cleared OF all but comparatively few
important bills during the last session."
the chairman of the Senate Committee
began. ct think the committee should
conflne its work in the coming months
to these bills and to such emergency
and non-controversial measures as the
District authorities may recommend"
In referring to specific subjects, Sen
ator Capper advocated "a full and free
public hearing" to determine what
should be done regarding the Borland
law. which. assesses half the cost of
street paving work against property
owners, and which has met with CITY,
wide opposition since its enactment.
Senator Capper advocated passage of
the credit union bill, which would au-
thor11e Incorporation Of cooperative
savings and loan associations under
Government supervision. After pointing
out that 80 States now have credit
union laws, Senator Capper continued
Credit Union Praised.
Loan sharks vassalize the small Dor
rover. Credit unions preserve his self
respect, conserve his financial resources
and enable him to become economically
Independent. If the credit union bill
becomes law before March 8, Congress
will have made a very valuable and
worthy contribution to the cause of
justice and human welfare in Wash
ington.'
Discussing other local questions pend
ing before the two branches of Congress,
Senator Capper made the following
comment:
Another important bill before the
committee Is one to establish a 2-cent
rate Of street car fare for school child
rem. This bill already mas passed the
House and has been given some study
by the committee. Several members
OF the committee have expressed the
aVNfVAtAvA a. LII
tive provisions for the effective opera
ton Of this special fare. At the proper
time, the Public Utilities Commission
Will be requested to give the committee
its suggestions on the subject.
Work Of Blaine Mentioned.
II am advised that the Commission
ers are very much in favor of a bill
now before the committee to amend
the Borland law relating to assessments
for street improvements. The attack
on this law in the local courts, I am
told, has made apparent the need for
this proposed legislation. While the
Commissioners say the bills enactment
Is highly desirable, am aware that it
may not meet the wishes Of a consid-
cradle number of the public. Under
these circumstances, the committee
should hold a full and free public
opposing points Of view and to act
accordingly"
Senator Capper made special men
ton Of the work Of the subcommittee
headed by Senator Blaine, Republican
of Wisconsin, In studying proposed
legislation to regulate the real estate
business, to govern sale of securities
and to define the method of foreclos-
ing mortgages.
THE subcommittee is making an ex-
haustive inquiry into the need for such
legislation Senator Capper said. II
expect that a report will be made dur
ing the session, and that the bills under
consideration will be placed before the
full committee for action. I sincerely
hope that the labors of the subcom-
mittee may eliminate In the enact
ment of strong, fair and flawless laws
for protection OF She people of Wash
ington.
Pending Bills Summarized.
"The committee in the last session
considerable number of legislative items
upon which Congress has not acted
finally.
Awaiting action in the Senate are
the proposed mergers of the street rail-
ways and of the gas light companies:
the bill limiting the powers Of the local
courts over appeals from public utilities
commission orders; Senator Howell's
bill to aid prohibition enforcement in
the District; Senator Robinson's bill to
provide more stringent penalties for
gambling, and the bill requiring certain
trafic law Nolators 70 carry liability
insurance.
"Other bills considered by the COM
mittee at the last session and subse-
uuently passed by the Senate, now are
either in House committees or before
the House itself. These include bills
to regulate the real estate business, to
require taxicab owners to prove financial
responsibility, to establish a municipal
airport. to eliminate the Michigan ave-
nue. grade crossing by means of via
duct, and to increase the salaries Of the
Commissioners"
DISTRICT LINE CIRCLE