Evening star., 1934-10-04
Tentative Set.up Will Be
Told by Prettyman
in Addresses.
COMMISSIONS POWERS
WOULD BE BROADENED
Regulation of Small Loans an1
Mortgage Foreclosures in
List of Requests.

A tentative program Of legislation
to be sought by the Commissioners in
the next session of Congress was an
nounced today by Corporation Coun-
sci E. Barrett Prettyman
1t includes broadening of the powers
of the Commissioners, establishment
of a lunacy commission, regulation of
small loans and mortgage foreclosures
and limitation of appeals to courts
from decisions by the Public Utilities
Commission
In move to gain public support for
the legislative proposals, Prettyman
asked that he be given time to outline
reasons for the legislation before the
Federation of Citizens Associations at
its meeting Saturday night, and the
District Bar Association at its session
next Tuesday night.
Control Asked Last Year.
The Commissioners last year sent to
Congress a bill empowering the Com
missioners to make all regulations ap-
plying to the District as the municipal
corporation, to take out of the con-
gressional grist mill many of the de-
tails of city operation which they felt
should be left to the city heads.
1t was emphasized at the time that
there was no intention on the part
Of the District to circumscribe the ex-
elusive jurisdiction over the Capital
which is given to Congress in the
Constitution. Their position was that
there are many details of city admin
istration which could wisely be left to
the District Commissioners. The bill
failed of action and the Commissioners
hope to gain approval at the coming
session.
The Commissioners already have
taken steps to control all loan opera
tionS here in the interest of borrow
ers. and the corporation counsel has
been authorized to draft regulations to
this effect under the District license
tax. Prettyman indicated he believed
the special act would strengthen this
effort.
Court Sanity Rulings Opposed.
For some time there has been agi-
tation here to have lunacy cases han
died by commission of psychiatrists
instead of by a jury of laymen. Under
such measure a person believed to
be mentally deficient could be given
treatments at an institution for the
insane without being adjudged of un-
sound mind by jury Of the District
Supreme Court.
Another of these bills would estab-
lish system for the election of dele
gates from washington to the con-
ventions of the national political par
ties. Another would set up under
this system a regulation of mortgage
foreclosures. Prettyman said he was
not familiar with the details of this
bill.
The public utilities bill would be
amended to limit appeals to courts
from decisions by the commission to
questions of law rather than of facts
The intent of the proposed admend-
mentS would be to solidify the power
OF the commission in deciding what
are the facts in case where there
Is ample evidence, thus to avoid hay.
ing an entire case already decided
by the commission dragged through
the courts. One of the principal pro-
ponents of the plan is William A
Roberts, peoples counsel. The move
also has been championed by William
Nick. Clayton, chairman of the UtiIi-
ties Committee of the Federation of
Citizens Associations.