Evening star., 1936-01-22
CALENDAR CLEAR,
DISTRICT WAVES
ITS DAY IN HOUSE
First Cancellation in Eleven
Years Announced by
Chairman Norton.
CITY RENT CONFERENCE
SLATED FOR NEXT WEEK
Ellenhogen Bill to Revive War.
Time Commission Held Unlikely
to Reach Floor.

The District will give up its regular
day In the House Monday, because. for
the first time in IL years, the calendar
Is virtually clear Of local legislation,
Chairman Norton Of the House Dis
trict Committee announced today.
At the same time. however. Mrs.
Norton, who is conducting q private
investigation of the rent situation In
Washington, revealed she will call
conference next week of representa-
tives of leading real estate firms to
seek voluntary action on their part
to adjust complaints Of unreasonable
rents"
The announcement that the District
will forego its regular day in the House
was made after q brief meeting OF
Mrs. Norton's committee failed to pro-
duce reports from subcommittee on
bills which might have been approved
and placed on the House calendar IN
time for action Monday.
Calendar Practically Clear.
II have been on the District Com.
mittee for II years." Mrs. Norton re-
marked, land this is the first time IN
my memory that the House calendar Is
practically clear of District legislation.
I think that is worthy Of note"
The House, on the first so-caIled
District day Of the present session,
January Is, virtually cleared the cal
endar Of local bills left over from the
last session of Congress, passing seven
and killing two. The only measure re-
manning on the calendar is one spon-
sored by Representative Ellenbogen,
Democrat, of Pennsylvania. which
would revive the wartime Rent Com
mission.
The Ellenbogen bill was not called
up on the first District day of the ses-
sion, and Mrs. Norton indicated no
effort would be made to have the House
pass on it in the near future. In facs,
the measure may be withdrawn from
the calendar because Ellenbogen mas
under consideration a new plan for
regulating rentals here.
80 Bills in Committee.
Although the Ellenbogen bill is the
only District measure on the calendar,
more than so others are in various
subcommittee awaiting action. Some
of these include bills recently intro
duced, notably one to legalize horse
racing under the pari-mutuel system
and another to grant additional powers
to the Judge of Juvenile Court.
Public hearings already have been
started on some of the measures by
the subcommittees as the first step
toward moving the bills to the House
calendar. Mrs. Norton believes that
on the first District day in February |
the House will be called upon to pass |
upon four or five important District |
measures.
Since Mrs. Norton undertook her |
private inquiry her office has received |
. number of protests against alleged
excessive rents. The attack was CEN
tered chiefly on apartment house
owners.
Il am convinced" Mrs. Norton de-
clared, that some of the complaints
are justified. and that some action
should be taken to bring about an ad-
justment."
Mrs. Norton said she would place
the complaints before the real estate
men Ut the conference, and warn them
that unless voluntary action IS taken.
to bring rents down, Congress would
be forced to take remedial steps.
The Budget Bureau, incidentally,
has notified the Commissioners that
the Ellenbogen measure is in conflict
with the Presidents financial program.
Under the so-called gag" rule, the
bureaus announcement will prevent
the Commissioners from supporting
the bill.