Evening star., 1935-08-17
SENATE VIRTUALLY
CLEARS CALENDAR
OF DISTRICT BILLS
Nine Passed, Including Jobs
Insurance and Utility Court
Procedure Measures.
LIQUOR LAW CHANGES
ALSO GET APPROVAL.
Majority of Legislation Requires
Further Action by House
Before Enactment.
BY i. A. O'LEARY.

bill and a series of amendments to the
District liquor law, passed the Senate
late yesterday under guidance of
Chairman King of the District Com
| mittee
This virtually clears the calendar
CT District measures which were
scheduled for passage at this session.
but nearly all of the bills require fur
ther House action before they go to
the President.
The unemployment bill was the
third and last of the local social Sc
curity bills to receive Senate approval.
the old-age pension and pension bill
| for the blind having been adopted
previously. There is no serious con-
| troversy over Senate amendments to
/ the two pension bills, the changes be-
ing intended mainly to comply with
the requirements laid down in the
national social security law to en-
able the District to receive Federal
aid in paying these pensions.
District to Supervise.
In the unemployment insurance
| bill, the Senate voted to let District
instead of Federal officials supervise
the plan, and eliminated the House
| requirement that the District Gov
/ ernment pay tax of approximately
/ Sl.250,000 a year into the unemploy-
ment fund in addition to the pay roll
| tax levied on employers. The Sen
ate made several other changes to
bring the District plan into line with
what the States are doing, but tie
question of administrative control
and the municipal tax are the main
points of difference between the two
houses
Although Congress is hurrying to
wind up the session by the middle Of
next week, it is expected the two
branches will have time to reach an
agreement not only on the three So
cial security bills, but also on other
District measures passed by the Sem
ate with amendments. The House
could conf ,ete action on these bills
by adopting the Senate changes. 1t
is probable. however, that conferees
will be appointed, at least on the un-
employment bill.
Utilities Bill Passed.
The public utility court appeal bill
got through the Senate late in the day
after it had struck a snag earlier in
tE3 afternoon that threatened to side
track it until January. 1t goes back
to the House for action on amend
ments providing that the findings Of
the Utilities Commission on questions
of fact would be final unless the utility
making the court apper' could prove
the commissions action was arbitrary,
I capricious or unreasonable.
| As it passed the House the bill pro-
vided that the findings of the COM
I mission as to facts would be final if
/ supported by substantial evidence. un-
! less its action could be shown to be
arbitrary or capricious. The first time
the bill came up Senator La Toilette,
Progressive, of Wisconsin. succeeded in
having the House language restored.
Senator King. explaining that the
Senate provision had been worked out
as a compromise between conflicting
viewpoints, asked for postponement of
final action. Later Senator La Fol-
lette agreed to restore the Senate
amendment and the bill passed. La
Toilette said the bill. even as amended,
was an improvement over existing law
Peoples Counsel w A Roberts took
/ the same view last night, pointing out
that if the amendments prove insufi-
cient further action can be taken by
Congress later.
Liquor Bill Changed.
The chief changes the liquor bill
makes in existing law are: Gives the
Commissioners discretionary power to
require local retailers to buy their
stocks from local wholesalers: forbids
customers in ION sale" places from Or
dering drinks during legal hours and
remaining to consume them after the
time of legal sale; increases the pen
altieS for intoxication. 1t goes back
to the House because Of amendments
Other bills passed by the Senate
yesterday we're:
Fixing one month. instead Of two
weeks, as the period for jury service in
Police Court, to correspond to the Dis
lAASl SOulI July law. AJOCS W
the President for signature.
Repeating the law which exempts
from jury service in criminal cases all
employees Of the Federal or District
governments ard persons receiving
pensions or holding contracts with the
Government. Only a limited number
CT Government officials would continue
to be exempt. This bill also goes to
the White House for signature. 1t
was explained that the wide exemp-
ton now allowed deprives the District
courts of too many qualified jurors.
To clarity the District code defini-
tions Of petit larceny, grand larceny,
false pretenses and related offenses,
to make 1t clearer when cases should
| be handled in Police Court and when
they should 60 to the grand jury.
This still awaits House action.
Would Exchange Land.
To authorize an exchange Of GER
tain park lands near Western avenue
and West Beach drive for other near
By land more suitable for park devel-
opment. Awaits House action.
To clarity the procedure by which
the Commissioners should serve notice
on property owners and other inter-
ested parties before instituting court
proceedings for sale of property for
Ion payment of taxes. Requires House
action.
Authorizing the Commissioners to
issue a permit for the laying OF oil
pipe lines under Fifteenth street
southeast. Requires House action. q
There is still on the Senate calendar
Awaiting action the revised airport
bill, reported late yesterday by Sena-
tor Tydings of Maryland, from the
District Committee. 1t may be called
up before adjournment. The House
bill called for a commission to select
site. The Senate substitute also
contemplates a commission but with
authority limited to making a study
and submitting recommendations to
Congress in January.
Ni.k~tak ev,aoM l1nrr kilI ,Taw