Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-08

In addition to the
s.n,.or c.nr., alley-closing prob
lem, Senator Cap
per mentioned the following measures
as ones he hopes to see enacted early In
the new Congress:
The Blaine bills to regulate the sale
of securities and the foreclosure Of
mortgages; the safety responsibility bill,
which would require motorists convict
ed of serious traffic offenses to establish
financial responsibility; the bill to au-
thorize the incorporation of credit
unions, for the purpose of saving and
making loans to members only.
Lauds Billboard Act.
1.-THE final session of the Seventy-flrst
Congress, which ended March 4, pro-
duced considerably more District legis-
lation than was foreseen at the open
ing Of the session in December" said
Senator Capper. "As chairman of the
Senate District Committee, want pub
licly to express my gratitude to the
members of the committee who gave
so generously of their time to the con-
sideration of District business. If 1t
had not been for their fine spirit OF
cooperation, 1 am sure that we would
have fallen far short of our desires to
help the District.
1T is a source of qualification to
every member of the committee that
the session witnessed the enactment OF
the law authorizing the Public Utilities
Commission to set a reduced rate OF
fare for school children, not to exceed
3 cents. I have always been IN favor
of such legislation, and hope that the
utilities commission will carry the law
into effect with liberal and sympathetic
Interpretation"
Commenting upon the new law Civ
ing the local authorities broader power
to regulate outdoor signs, Senator Cap
per said:
"The passage Of the bill giving the
Commissioners authority to regulate
outdoor advertising. including sign
boards, in the District, gave great sat
isfaction to those who have Washing
tons scenic beauty at heart. I hope
that this law viii be of assistance in
Kidding the Capitals landscapes Of I'M
slightly billboards by the time when
visitors will be flocking here for the
celebration Of the George Washington
Bicentennial."
Alley Cleanup Next Task.
In listing the alley dwelling problem
as one of the questions to be taken up
at the next session, Chairman Capper
expressed the following view:
There is one other District bill
which presents situation which Con-
greSs must meet, and the sooner this
problem is faced the better. I refer to
the bill for the elimination of alley
dwellings. I do not know of any well
fare bill so generally approved by local
and out-of-town organizations as this
one. 1t was unfortunate that the de-
tails OF financing the conversion OF al
ley dwellings to commercial uses could
n be satisfactorily worked out in time
for the passage of the bill. I have
hopes that the various interests in
volved will get behind this bill in the
next Congress and see it through to
enactment"
Discussing the traffic act, Senator
Capper said:
Another important enactment was
the new law restoring to the Commits
StonerS their powers over the traffic
situation, setting up a new Department
Of Vehicles and Traffic, and otherwise
revising the traffic acts of 1925 and
1925 to conform with developments
which have appeared since those laws
were approved.
THE partial notification Of the Bor-
land law by recent decisions Of the Dis
trict courts made imperative the en-
actment Of a new paving assessment
law. This subject, of course, is highly
controversial, open to misunderstanding
and surrounded by countless difficulties.
At a public hearing held by the COM
mittee it soon became evident that the
principle of assessing AUDITING property
tor street improvements Is as unpopu-
lar as ever with the citizens Of the Dis
trict.
Praises Blaine Probe.
However, it was equally evident that
this principle, which is common to
American cities comparable in size to
Washington, would not be relinquished
by Congress in legislating for the Dis
trict. The bill, as amended and passed,
does away with many of the admitted
inequities of the Borland law. While
the taxpayers of the Capital, it is gen.
orally fairer than the old law and in
PRODUCES many new and needed re-
FORMS"
Referring to the investigation into
real estate and securities in the Dis
trict, Senator Capper declared that
Senator Blaine and the other members
Of the subcommittee rendered a valu-
able public service"
Senator Capper pointed out that the
bills recommended by the Blaine sub
committee passed the Senate, but that
there was not sufficient time to permit
OF their passage in the House.
These bills should be the principal
business of the District Committee in
the December session." Chairman Cap
per stated.
Food Quiz Effective.
Senator Capper also expressed the
belief that the investigation of food
prices, both here and throughout the
country, brought good results.
II was placed in charge of the exam
nation into the prices of bread, sugar.
meat and milk" the Senator said, THE
price of whole wheat bread dropped in
Washington, and hope there will be
still further good news for consumers"
Senator Capper also expressed graft
f1cation over passage Of the resolution
changing the name Of B street to Con-
stitution avenue. leading to the Airing
ton. Memorial Bridge, which was spon.