Evening star., 1932-03-16
COMMITTEE READY
TORUSH ACTION ON
TRACTION MERGER
Chairman Norton to Request
Early Report on Bill and
Publication of Hearings.
OLD AGE SECURITY ALSO
APPROVED BY D. C. GROUP
Local Measures to Be Taken Up for
House Action Again on
March %.

The House District Committee today
expressed eagerness to act as soon as
possible upon the pernissive legislation
for a merger of the street railway and
other traction facilities in the District
of Columbia.
Chairman Norton agreed to call upon
Chairman Black Of the Subcommittee
on Public Utilities for a report on this
bill and the committee directed that
the hearing which have been completed
a month ago be printed. 1t was en-
phasized that the District officials, the
Public Utilities Commission, th.e officials
of the traction companies and the peo-
pie of the District are all in favor of
the proposed merger.
The Senate District Committee will
endeavor to take final action on the
merger when it meets Friday afternoon.
Chairman Capper notified committee
members today the merger would be
taken up at that time and a decision
will be sought on the various changes
which have been advocated by the Utili-
ties Commission, the peoples counsel,
the District Commissioners and various
civic organizations.
The committee ordered a favorable
report on three bills and expressed a
favorable attitude toward Chairman
Norten's bill providing old age security
for persons over go years of age in the
District, but ordered that hearings be
held by the subcommittee and report
be requested from the District Com
misSionerS.
Insurance Substitute.
The committee favorably reported a
substitute by Representative Harlan OF
Ohio for Mrs. Norton's bill to require
all insurance corporations formed under
a District of Columbia charter to main
business in the District The Harlan
substitute was drafted by the corpora
ton counsel, carries the support of the
District Commissioners and the COM
missioner of insurance, and Is satisfac-
tory to Senator Sheppard of Texas, who
is fathering similar legislation in the
Senate.
The purpose OF this measure is TO
control certain companies which have
a District of Columbia charter and are
operating in the State of Texas, and
to prevent this business from spreading.
1t was pointed out that such compa nies
are not controlled either by the Dis
trict Insurance Department or by State
laws. Representative Harlan announced
that a new insurance code for the Dis
trict is being drafted and that this Is
merely emergency legislation to prevent
an ahi1Se from SPREADING
The committee substituted the bill
which has passed the Senate Tor a
similar House bill sponsored by Repre-
sentative Gambrill Of Maryland per-
hitting the sale of water to communi-
ties in the Washington Suburban SAM
tary area under certain regulations
safeguarding the interests OF the Dis
trict consumers.
The committee favorably reported
Mrs. Norton's bill to further regulate
banking, banks, trust companies and
building and loan associations IN the
District.
Security Bill Backed.
Mrs. Norton stated that her old-age
security bill is indorsed by the Amer
ican Federation of Labor and several
other organizations In the District.
Senator Capper has similar bill pend
ing in the Senate. Discussion before
the House District Committee showed
that such legislation has worked well
In Massachusetts,, Virginia, New Jersey,
Ohio and other States, resulting in an
actual saving to the taxpayers.
A report from the District Commis-
sioners regarding health and welfare OF
children, as called for in resolution
bv the House Committee on February
10, 1881, was received and ordered to
be printed.
Due to confusion over two hearings
being set for Friday before the subcom-
mittee on the judiciary, the hearing on
the Bowman bill to regulate the sale OF
securities in the District, which is
sponsored by the Washington group of
the Investment Bankers Association,
was postponed until Tuesday. On Friday
the judiciary subcommittee of the House
District Committee will conduct hear
ing on the proposed amendment OF the
child labor law governing the employ
ment of children in theaterS.
Chairman Norton announced that the
next District day in the House Is sched-
uled for March %, and that the COM
mittee has nine bills on the calendar to
be acted upon. She asked full at
tendance of her committee on the floor
on that day to assist in getting these
measures passed.