Evening star., 1933-03-05
Rejection of Conference
Agreement Throws $36, 6,900,-
600 Bill Into New Congress.
FUNDS FOR WELFARE
IMPORTANT QUESTION
Traction Merger Resolution Passed
Along With Banking Legis-
lation.
Failure of the $50 900 900 District ap-

Failure of the $36,900,00O District ap-
preparation bill due to the House re-
fusal to approve the conference agree
ment, throwing the measure into the
new Congress to be acted upon promptly
SO funds can be available for carrying
on the municipal administration after
July l, means the bill will have to
start its legislative course all over again.
With new Congress, a new admin
istration,'a new budget director and
new House officials coming in, it is
thought likely the District officials will
be called upon to submit new estimates
to the Budget Bureau, which in turn
would submit new District budget to
Congress.
This belief is strengthened by the fact
actual revenue collections in the gen.
eral fund for the eight months of this
fiscal year are approximately $1,000,000
less than for the corresponding period
of the fiscal year 1882, so there would
be change in the basic estimate of
revenue on which the new appropria-
tion bill would be considered.
Welfare Fund Involved.
One of the important questions that
will arise in the reconsideration of the
District budget IS an adequate allowance
for continuing the efforts of the Board
of Public Welfare to relieve distress
among needy families. While the last
deficiency bill signed by President Hoo
yer during his final hour in office yes
terday, appropriates an additional $175,-
600 for unemployment relief during the
rest of this fiscal year, this was sub
stantial reduction from the figure of
100000 allowed by the Senate to meet
the requirements demonstrated to exist
by District officials.
At the same time, the failure of the
House ito take even committee action
on the Wagner bill, which included
authorization for the District in an
emergency to borrow from the Recon-
struction Finance Corporation. makes
1t essential that Congress make ade-
quate provision at the Forthcoming
special session.
The regular District bill which failed
carried $625, 900 for relief purposes
after July l, but since similar amount
allowed in January for the first six
months of this calendar year was
shown by yesterdays deficiency bill to
be inadequate even for six months. it
is obvious that an increased sum Will
be considered in the new District
budget, unless the economic situation
improves.
Other Laws Enacted.
Although the District appropriation
bill failed, many other important pieces
of local legislation became law during
the Seventy-second Congress. which
ended at noon yesterday. In the hnal
session of that Congress outstanding
measures put through included:
The long discussed street railway
merger resolution, laying down the
terms on which the Washington Rail
way g. Electric and Capital Tractlon
Companies may voluntarily consoloaIe,
subject to the approval OF the stock-
holders. If the companies accept the
merger on this basis, the present re-
dl,ced fare for school children must be
continued.
A bill to allow home owners 10 pay
their taxes quarterly, providing 1or the
mailing of notices and allowing 9O-oay
extensions in needy cases. In oroer 10
gain the advantages of this leglslatlon
home owners would have to file state
ment with the assessor showing tney
are occupying their own homes.
A measure to regulate the business Oh
professional bondsmen in criminal cases
which is said to be an important step
toward improving the ADMINISTRATOR . u
6ustice in the District. President HooVei
RlRUeQ ILLS UllA yColNAN'S
Bank Legislation Passed.
A bill. recommended for several years
nv the Controller of the Currency
Sroadening the provisions OF existing
law regarding banks, trust companies
and building and loan ASSOCIATIONS.
This prohibits any new foreign corpora
ton from doing banking business IN
the District. 1t gives the contrcller the
same authority over building ana loan
associations as he now has over pankS
and makes several other additions 10
the banking code. 1t also was signed
by President Hoover yesterday.
In addition to these permanent
changes Congress as an emergency
measure rushed through both Houses IN
record time Friday joint resolution
giving the Controller of the Currency
Temporary authority to make rules ana
regulations governing the receipt ana
Withdrawals of deposits by and from
banks and trust companies. This also
was signed yesterday.
Among important District bills which
died awaiting action by either House
or Senate was the authorization for
merger CT the Washington and George
town gas light companies; the group OF
Mapes bills by which the House sought
to increase the District tax burden and
to lower the Federal contribution toward
support of the National Capital.
Earlier in the Seventy second Congress
laws were enacted for the better regu-
lation of the sale and possession OF fire
arms, providing heavier penalties Tor
kidnapping, setting up parole board
with an indeterminate sentence system
and authorizing establishment CT credit
unions in Washington. A score or more
of minor measures were enacted during
this Congress.