Evening star., 1933-04-06
Close Cooperation on Defi-
mite Program of Major
Importance Promised.
THIS SESSION TO STICK
TO EMERGENCY MEASURES
Rent Control Urged by Gibson
Report Says SO Were Evicted
in One Week.

Clase cooperation between the Sen
ate and House District Committees in
putting through definite program of
legislation of major Importance for the
District in the next session of Congress
was pledged today when Senator King
OF Utah, chairman of the Senate Dis
trlct Committee, addressed the House
District Committee.
senator King suggested that joint
hearings be held on the more important
measures; that special subcommittee
be appointed by the Senate and House
committees to consider the more i'm
portant questions of legislation so as to
adopt the program; and that this sub
committee hold conferences with the
leadership of the Senate and House
so that this major program can be
put through expeditiously.
Senator King pledged the heartiest
cooperation of the Senate Committee
and Chairman Norton similarly pledged
the House District Committee to CO.
operate in such an effort.
Legislation Limited.
1t was agreed that no general legis-
lation for the District is to be consid-
cred at this session, and only emergency
measures connected with the Presidents
program are to come before the District
committees in this session.
Preparatory to starting a drive for
major legislation in the next Congress,
the House District Committee today ap-
pointed a subcommittee to make study
of questions affecting District taxes,
rent, evictions, sale of securities, fore
closure of mortgages and other such
important questions.
This new subcommittee Is to organ
ize Immediately and draft a resolution
to be presented to the House so as to
secure authority to compel witnesses to
testify. Its study of District matters
will continue until the close of this ses-
sion. During the recess, members who
live near the District will be gathering
additional information, and the COM
mittee will meet again in about a week
in advance of the sext session OF Con-
gress when it will be prepared to make
its report.
Appointed on this committee are Rep
resentativeS PalmiSano, Democrat, OF
Maryland; Patman, Democrat, of Texas;
Randolph, Democrat, of West Virginia;
Kennedy, Democrat, of Maryland; Mrs.
Jenckes, Democrat, of Indiana; O'Brien,
Democrat, Of Illinois, and Stalker, Re-
publican, of New York and Burnham,
Republican, of California. Several ad-
ditional Republican members are to be
appointed.
Control Of Rents Urged.
Representative Gibson, Republican, of
Vermont, chairman Of a special COM
mittee which made systematic study
Of District matters several years ago,
appeared before the committee urging
control of the rents in the District
He also presented a report from well
fare organization showing that in one
week Of February 10-17 there had been
80 evictions. He also discussed fore
closures of mortgages, and said there Is
a real estate ring preying upon the
people.
Representative Patman also denounced
what he described as 'the real estate
racket" in the District, saying there is
fraud and that the records do not tell
the truth. He declared there is more
fraud on real estate in the District
OF Columbia than any place in the
country" Representative Gibson pledged
his cooperation to the committee In
an investigation Of this situation.
Speaking for the committee, Represent
ative Palmisano said. "The sympathies
of this committee are with the little
fellow"
Representative Stalker advised that
the banking situation in the District
should be made q part of the study by
the special committee. Representative
Harlan, Democrat. of Ohio, promised he
would have report ready for consid-
Grafton by this special committee of the
bill he has sponsored for control over
the sale of securities. Representative
Patman pointed out that it Is not en-
tirely District operators who are at
fault, but that outside interests come
in and impose upon and discredit the
National Capital. Mr.. Harlan stated
there is hardly hotel Or an apart
ment house that has not been used for
working the racket of imitation of valu-
alton, exploitation and receiverships."