Evening star., 1935-01-10
D. c. LEGISLATION
UP ON WEDNESDAY
House Committee to Con.
slider Gambling, Rents
and Parking Bills.
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

The House District Committee Is
going to start work promptly next
Wednesday with consideration OF
three problems Of major importance
in which legislation will be urged
gambling and other crime, rent goug-
ing and night parking Of automobiles.
It is generally conceded among the
holdover committee members that
among the very first bills to be re-
ported must be one to tighten up
on the gambling law, designed espe-
cially to thwart the numbers" racket.
Chairman Norton has introduced the
Commissioners bill on this subject.
as well as the other nine bills on the
Commissioners program Of urgent
legislation.
Parking relief and high rents are
subjects in which both Chairman
Norton and Representative Dirksen
are specially interested and to which
each has been devoting much study.
Mrs. Norton today wrote to the Alley
Dwelling Authorities, Of which Com
missioner Hazen Is member. asking
advice as to whether in the reclaim
ing of alleys it might not be possible
to either erect garages which might
be rented at small rate to automo-
bile owners or to have parking space
marked of which could be rented at
a low monthly rate, thus getting
where they are q constant traffic
menace.
Dirksen to Fight Rents.
Representative Dtrksen, another
member of the committee, said that he
was not so much concerned over the
spasmodic or seasonal attempts to
"hold up what might be termed tran
sient residents, such as members OF
Congress, but that his inquiries have
convinced him that the level of rents
here is too high for the average fam
lily. "If folks are we'll to do or wealthy
and are willing to pay high rents
in swanky apartments or residences to
indulge their TASTE" said Representa-
tive Dirksen. all well and good-let
them spend their money and keep 1t
in circulation. But we have a duty
before us of making it possible for the
hard-working average citizen, such as
fill our Government departments, tc
live in decent home, where they can
bring up their families In relative COM
fort, saving little out of none-too-
generous Government salary to give
the children a good education and to
be ready for the proverbial rainy day, ,
I feel sure that our committee Is going
to find a way to reduce the level OF
rents for moderate homes IN good To-
calitles. There is a great deal of val
liable research on this subject avail
able for the committee and I am Ger
tain that we will 60 into this sub
ject thoroughly"
There has been considerable con-
cern expressed whether Representa-
tive Palmisano Of Maryland, ranking
next to Chairman Norton, would leave
the District Committee to take the
chairmanship of the Committee on
Education. Mr.. Palmisanos stated posi-
tiyely today that he had no intention
of resigning from the District Com
mittee.
Patman Is Hold-Over.
Representative Wright Patman,
Democrat, of Texas is another hold
over member who is going to con-
tinue on the District Committee. He
has been seeking q place on the
Banking and Currency Committee, but
saws that he would not surrender his
place on the District Committee.
The ranking Republican on the Dis
trict Committee is Representative
Gardner r. Withrow Of wisconsin,
now serving his third term. He is a
Progressive and will have as q COM
mittee mate another Progressive, Rep
resentative Merlin Hull, also Of Wis
consin, who previously served on the
District Committee when he was for.
merly a member Of Congress.