Evening star., 1931-12-27
Year Busy One in Congress
For District Legislation
House Passes Income Tax, Estate Tax and
Several Other Mapes Committee Meas
ures, Including 6O-40 Repeal.
Adoption bv the House of six recon-

Adoption by the House Of six recon-
mendations of the special Mapes Com
mittee dealing with taxation and fiscal
relations between the Federal Govern
ment and the municipality of the
Capital brought to close busy legis-
lative year for the District. in the
early part of which several important
new laws were enacted
The program of the Mapes Commit
tee, which awaits consideration in the
Senate District Committee, was rushed
through the House with little or no de-
bate or amendment and several of the
measures passed by unanimous con-
sent.
The six distinct actions by the House
disposing of the entire program were
Adoption of an income tax bill in
substitution for the intangible per-
sonal property tax an estate tax, in
crease from to cents a gallon in
the gasolinee tax, a motor vehicle weight
tax. repeal of the old 60-4O percentage
in Federal contribution as provided in
substantive law of 1922 with directions
to the Appropriations Committee to
write into the District appropriation
bill annually variable lump sum con-
tribution. and adoption of the full re-
port of the Mapes Committee.
Senate Passes Two Bills.
In the brief period since the present
Seventy second Congress began Decem-
ber T. the Senate has passed two local
measures, one to incorporate the Dis
trict of Columbia George Washington
Bicentennial Commission so that it
may erect platforms and reviewing
stands and grant other concessions in
connection with the Bicentennial cele-
bration, and bill to relieve the Dis
trict Commissioners of certain minis
terial functions by empowering the
SECRETARY of the board to sign routine
papers. The Bicentennial incorpora-
ton bill has been favorably reported
from the House District Committee
The hearings have been held by the
House Appropriations Committee on
the items submitted by the President
for deficiency appropriations. including
many important District items. This
bill will be reported to the House and
called up for action Immediately after
the House reassembles on January 4.
| BY the shift in control of the House
from the Republicans to the Demo-
Gratis, the House District Committee
was carefully overhauled, with many
e.
Norton of New Jersey as the new cnair-
man. This is the first time in the his
tory of Congress that woman has
been chairman of any committee. At
the same time the Subcommittee or
District Appropriations got new chair
man, Representative Clarence Cannon
of Missouri Representative Collins OF
Mississippi and Representative Thatcher
| of Kentucky retired from this commit
tee and Representative Granfield OF
Massachusetts and Representative
Blanton of Texas were appointed tc
succeed them.
Capper Keeps Helm.
Senator Arthur Capper, Republican
of Kansas, continues as chairman OF
| the Senate District Committee ano
Senator Hiram Bingham of Connect.
cut as chairman of the District Sub.
committee Of the Senate Appropriations
Committee. Six new members were
appointed in December to the Senate
District Legislative Committee: Re.
publicanS, Otis F. Glenn, Illinois, anc
Warren A. Austin of Vermont; Demo.
Gratis, Thomas P. Gore, Oklahoma j
Hamilton Lewis, Illinois, and John H
Bankhead Of Alabama. Senator Henrik
ShipStead, Farmer -Laborite of Min
neSota, is the sixth new member. Sever
new members were assigned to the
Senate Subcommittee on District Ap
propristions, namely: Republicans
Senator's Frederick Steiwer, Oregon
Henry w. Keyes, 1Iew Hampshire
Porter H. Dale, Vermont: James j
Davis, Pennsylvania, and L. J. Dick1n'