Evening star., 1934-01-23
Senator Kings "0pen Forum"

As one OF his first acts after becom-
ing chairman of the Senate District
Committee last Spring Senator King in
Nted local citizens to meet informally
with members Of his committee. The
meeting was we'll attended and the ses-
sion lasted all day. There was beneficial
discussion of local matters and helpful
exchange Of ideas, and the success OF
that first meeting doubtless prompted
the Senator to arrange for the confer
ence he has called for tomorrow. 1t is
to be hoped that representatives Of the
ctty's organizations, as we'll as individ-
uals interested in District legislation,
will attend, for while these meetings
are helpful to the Senators in furnish
ing an opportunity to obtain at first
hand the views and desires Of local tax
payers, the citizens themselves benefit
by the privilege in participating in the
sort Of open forum that Senator King
has arranged.
With the liquor control bill out Of the
way, Senator King is anxious to hear
discussion Of proposals that may BE- en-
bodied in a legislative program for the
District. He has himself become in
terested in legislation Of type cham
pioned previously by ex-senator Blaine
Of Wisconsin for new court procedure
on mortgage foreclosures. Senator
Capper and Senator Copeland are be-
hind old-age pensions for the District
and each has championed legislation to
provide them. 1t should not be dim
cult to reconcile the differences in their
bills and reach agreement on the type
Of legislation that will be pushed at this
session. There is doubtless other pro-
posed legislation that will be brought
up and discussed tomorrow.
In considering the liquor control
measure for the District, the two legis-
htive committees met and conducted
hearings in joint session. This expe-
dited the legislation and provided rare
opportunity for q pooling Of ideas. All
citizens who wished . hearing were
eourteously heard. 1t would be good
thing for the District If the idea Of
Joint sessions could be extended to in
clude participation by the House Dis
trict Committee in Senator Kings
"open forum" With members Of the
House District Committee present, con-
siderable time might be saved In reach
ing agreement on the local measures to
be slated for action in the next few
months. There Is no reason why Sen
ator Kings open forums" might not be
made q part Of the regular procedure in
considering District legislation.
Senator Thomas chairman of the
subcommittee on District appropria-
tions, Is still awaiting from Representa-
tive Cannon, who heads the similar sub
committee in the House, an answer to
his invitation, extended some time ago,
for joint session on fiscal relations. AS
everybody knows, this is the subject
that must receive equitable considera-
ton by both houses and be settled sat-
isfactorily before much progress can be
made on the outline Of legislative pro-
gram requiring any expenditure OF Dis
trict revenues. AS the settlement Of
this perennial cause Of controversy can
not be reached by agreement on an ap-
preparation bill, the legislative commit
tees Of both houses have very direct
interest in the subject. Senator Kings
and Mrs. Norton's anxiety to obtain the
views Of local residents and to co-ordi-
nate the work of their committees on
District legislation is an encouraging
and hopeful sign OF constructive and
beneficial action by Congress toward
the District at this session.