Evening star., 1935-01-11
Chairman Norton to Speed
Nine Measures Passed
by Senate.
GAMBLING AND SAFETY
CHIEFLY CONCERNED
Action Postponed by Upper
Branch in Proposed Code Change
Defining Usury.

District Committee said today that
her committee next Wednesday will
take some action on the nine local
bills passed by the Senate yesterday,
including the anti-gambling and mo-
torist safety-responsibility measures.
The seven other bills which went
through the Senate are: To authorize
the excess or incidental plan of con-
demnation in acquiring land for public
purposes; to establish a new pro-
cedure in recording and releasing
deeds Of trust; amending the rules
governing disposal of property by the
police property clerk; to extend to
the step-children Of officers or en-
ployes Of the United States residing
outside the District the same right
now granted to children Of such off,
GERS or employees to attend local public
schools without tuition; fixing pen
alties for unlawful entry on unoccu-
pied private property; to make the
corporation counsel a member Of the
Healing Arts Commission in place of
the district attorney, and to exempt
from taxation certain property of the
Daughters Of Union Veterans of the
Civil War.
Usury Bill Postponed.
OF the 10 District bills that were
on the Senate calendar the only one
on which action was postponed was
proposed change in the definition
Of usury in the District code. Pass
age Of the nine measures by the
Senate so early in the session was
made possible by the action Of Chair
man King in calling the District
Committee together several days ago,
when the bills had been introduced.
Since all of these bills had been con-
sidered at the last session. committee
members were familiar with them and
promptly agreed to expedite their
consideration.
The anti-gambling bill is intended
to aid the authorities in breaking up
the numbers game. 1t also strength
ems the existing code in several other
provisions.
1t would make the possession of
gambling devices or numbers slips
prima facie evidence of intent to use
them unlawfully. The committee ex-
planned in its report to the Senate
that the authorities have difficulty
in securing convictions at present be-
cause of the unwillingness of persons
found in gambling establishments to
admit that they participated in or
observed the operation of gambling
devices. The committee also stated
the bill is aimed at commercial or
professional gambling. Another pro-
vision increases the penalty for per-
mitting a gambling device to be set
up from one year or $500 to one year
or $1,000
. Safety Responsibility.
The safety responsibility bill pro-
vides that whenever a motorist is
convicted of certain serious traffic
offenses or has failed to pay an &C
| cident judgment claim he must show
financial responsibility before being
| permitted to drive again.
Passage by the Senate yesterday
afternoon of the automobile safety
responsibility bill practically assures
Washington motorists of a strong
measure of protection against care
less and irresponsible drivers, in the
| opinion of Ernest N. Smith, executive
vice president of the American Auto
mobile Association.
Smith pointed out that in the past
| the local safety-responsibility bill has
been passed three times by the House,
but failed of passage each time when
called up on the Senate unanimous
| consent calendar. The measure has
been introduced again in the House
| and referred to the House District
Committee.
Nov that the Senate has put its
stamp of approval on the bill" Smith
| said, lit is earnestly hoped that the
House again will act favorably on this
| measure, which has as its purpose
| the curbing of reckless drivers with
| out interference with the majority
of careful motorists. 1t already has
been adopted in 81 States and these
| States have made a much better
safety record than those without such
| laws.
Need Shown by Toll.
Washington, with a 1894 traffic
| toll Of 135 motor fatalities, urgently
needs additional safety measures, and
! the sponsors of the ety-responsi-
bility bill in Congress are deserving of
! high commendation for the prompt
manner in which they are handling
| this legislation"
The condemnation bill would enable
the authorities to acquire small rem
/, nant parcels of land adjacent to a
proposed public improvement, which
| otherwise might prove detrimental to
the public development. Chairman
King explained that in some instances
the Government acquires nearly all of
parcel Of ground, but leaves a small
portion, which is of little value. After
the proposed public improvement has
been completed, the Government
could. If deemed advisable, replat and
sell these small. excess areas.