The Washington times., 1931-03-04

B|CENTENN|AE'S
100000 BILL
SIGNED
District Loses Old Friends,
Sponsors; DC. Heads Watch
Hoover Fix Last Signatures

Hoover Fix Last Signatures
The Seventy-first Congress died
today, having made many legisla-
tive contributions to it's foster
child the District of Columbia,
having shielded it from some pro-
posed laws, and having failed to
enact other measures sought in
it's welfare.
The closing hours Of the Con-
gress held little of interest to the
city except as a spectacle. There
was virtually nothing which
either house did today which will
materially affect the National
Capital as a community. y
President Hoover, who spent
the last hour Of the session at
the Capitol, signed several minor
local bills.
The District Commissioners,
Mai. Gen. Herbert Crosby, DIR.
Luther Fl. Reichelderfer and
Major John C. Gotwals, were
present in the Presidents room
off the Senate Chamber to ad-
wise him on any local bills about
which doubt may have arisen.
Among the local bills signed by
the President was one authoriz-
ing the establishment of a mi1-
ing experiment station at a cost
of $35O,0OO on the campus Of
the University Of Maryland at
College Park.
Another bill signed at the last
minute authorized an appropria-
tion of $4,000 for entertain
ment of members of the French
veterans of the World War dur.
ing their national convention
here in September, 1882.
Statue Removal Made
Removal Of the statue Of Gen.
eral Rawlins from in front OF
Center Market to Rawlins Park,
near the Interior Building, is all"
thorized in another measure
signed by the President.
The President also signed the
second deficiency bill which con-
tains appropriations of several
millions of dollars to be expended
in the District.
This bill contains $2,7OO,OOO for
construction of the George Wash"
ingtOn Boulevard; 100000 for
the George Washington Bicen"
tennial Commission Of the Dis
trio and $34,S4O for the new traf-
fic department.
Loses Old Friends
With the close Of the present
Congress the District loses many
members who have taken an aC-
tive part in consideration of local
legislation. Senator Lawrence G.
Phipps (R.), Of Colorado. for
many years chairman of the SEN
ate subcommittee on District ap-
preparations, retires, as do two
members of the Senate District
Committee, Senator Arthur Gould
(R.), of Maine, and Senator Cole
L. BIease (D.), of South Carolina.
On the House side the District
Committee is due for considerable
S h aking up, Representative
Frederick N. Zihlman, chairman,
and several other members OF
the group leaving the legislative
precincts.
Important Measures
badly the outstanding
achievements Of the last session
as they affected the everyday
life of residents Of the National
Capital were the passing of the
Saturday half-hOliday bill COR
Government employees and the
three-cent street car fare bill for
school children.
The holiday measure passed
unexpectedly during the last few
days of the Congress and the
fare bill, after years of effort,
was pushed through a few weeks
ago.
Congress, against the almost
unanimous opinion of residents.
adopted substitute for the Bor.
land law governing street paving
assessments, insisting on main
tanning the principle that abutting
property should bear the burden
Of street Improvements.
Traffic Additions
Another important local meas
ure enacted was the traffic law,
extending the powers of the Dis
trict Commissioners and creating
a department of vehicles and
traffic.