Evening star., 1935-06-02
BY JESSE c, SUTER.

lIS plUuuIL III hh ullAltlAoiiCA
L state. The Senate has
passed a number of impor-
tant Senate bills which tarry long
in the House District Committee
and now the House has passed
many House bills which 90 to the
Senate District Committee. This
Is not an unusual condition, but
one with which organized civic
Washington Is far from satisfied.
There Is usually a crop Of bills at
the close of q session or Of q Con-
gress which have had the consider
alton and approval Of only one
branch OF the Districts exclusive
and all powerful legislature. Just
why there cannot be more team
work between the two houses is a
problem which civic leaders have
been unable to solve.
Last Monday was District day in
the House Of Representatives and
the approximate so out of the pres
ent membership Of 432 members
passed IL District measures in so
minutes and without debate. There
was not even any debate or politi-
cal speeches on irrelevant subjects,
as Is often the case on District day.
One of the bills passed was the
Senate bill authorizing the payment
OF a salary Of 81 800 year to the
director Of military science and tao
tics in the public schools. This bill
now goes to the President and II
signed by him will permit the put
ting Of Col. Wallace M. Craigie,
u. s. A., retired. back on the Dis
trict pay roll. This action meets
with general civic approval because
OF the high regard in which Col.
Craigie Is held both as an able in
structor and as well for his high
character and fine influence with
the cadets.
Other bills passed by the House
on Monday which have gone to the
Senate are the Norton old-age pen
sion bill, the Ellenbogen unemploy-
ment insurance bill. the A. B. c.
Boards bill intended to tighten up
the liquor law. and the bills per-
live outside of the District The
bill authorizing the construction of
bridge and an underpass over the
terminal tracks as described re-
Gently in this column was also
passed and another authorizing the
Pennsylvania Railroad TO construct
a bridge across New York avenue
to carry its tracks to the new COM
mercial area in the vicinity of West
Virginia avenue. All of this con-
struction is to be at the expense Of
the railroad companies with the
exception of the required connect
ing street construction and paving
under the underpass which will be
borne by the District.
A new Maine avenue, changing
the name of the German Orphan
Asylum and authority to the Com
miSSioners to make special regu-
lations for the National Grand
Army Encampment completed the
list and nearly cleared the House
calendar Of District legislation
The Senate Tuesday passed five
District measures. Included were
more liberal divorce law. author
izing renewal OF .he charter of
E. F. Droops g. Sons Co., changing
the name of the German Orphan
Asylum. authorizing the use OF the
parks for the Boy Scouts JAM
boree, settlement Of two claims and
clarifying the Law as to the control
of the National Geological Park.
District Responsibility
For National Zoo.
CIVIC leaders are not fully ad-
viSed as to the effect of the
bill passed by the Senate last
week to clarity the status Of the
National Geological Park. This
bill is so brief that it may be
quoted in full: BE it enacted. etc,
That the National Geological Park
shall be operated and maintained,
under the direction Of the regents
OF the Smithsonian Institution, as
an establishment of the Govern
ment of the United States"
What the organizations want to
know Is whether this bill means
that Uncle Sam will in the future
take care of his pets and the Dis
trict be relieved from building
snake houses. bird houses and
other structures at the Zoo when
school buildings are so badly
needed for District children. This
bill must now 60 to the House,
where 1t is claimed it will have
strong civic backing if i. will really
relieve the District taxpayers from