The Washington times., 1936-06-20
D. {. BILLS
SLIP THROUGH
CONGRESS

Ing suffered TO Such an extent
that the District supply bill was
the only major piece of legislation
to reach the President.
Even this bill gained congres.
sional approval only by a narrow
margin because of the unusually
unsympathetic manner in which
the House considered it. However,
the Senate battled the House into
submission on a large majority
of the important points in the
measure and gained its enact
ment.
In view of the bitterness which
a majority of House members
showed toward the residents of the
Nations Capital, important Dis
trict proposals we're continually
storm centerS throughout the SeS-
sion.
Red Rider Battle
The greatest controversy of the
year concerning District matters
resulted from introduction in the
House by Representative Fred j.
Sisson CD Of New York of the
Red Rider repeal bill. This not
only caused heated discussions on
the House floor. especially after
1t received approval of the House
District Committee. but became a
subject of discussion throughout
the city and aroused personal ami
mostly between ardent proponents
and opponents of the measure at
the Capitol.
It was as an outgrowth of this
fight that the questionnaireS re-
Gently were sent out to the local
school teachers by the acting
chairman Of the House District
Appropriations subcommittee to
determine what the teachers think
of Communism, religion and other
matters.
damned BY FilibuSter
The red rider repeal measure,
however, has been left to die with
this Congress. House supporters
promise that it will be brought up
for consideration early next ses-
sion.
It also was because Of the battle
over this proposition that other
District legislation became
jammed in the House and was
delayed or lost. This was because
opponents of the repeal bill en-
ployed filibuSter tactics against the
other bills so as to prevent con-
Sideration Of the red question.
Such was partially the case in
regards to the Ellenbogen bill to
recreate the wartime rent COM
mission to control and regulate
rents in the city. This bill, after
long delay, met defeat in the
House.
Race Bill Defeated
The most important local pro-
posals which found their way
through Congress, beside the sup
ply bill, were the airport meas
ure, the bill providing for the
merger of the local gas COM
panieS, and the measure permit
ting District authorities to re-
woke nonresident drivers privi-
leges when they violated traffic
laws in a flagrant manner.
The proposition to permit
operation Of race tracks in the
city was beaten almost before it
got underway, the House District
subcommittee which considered
it ditching the measure after
hearings.
Left to die in the Judiciary
Committee was the legislation
designed to bring about settle
ment of the District-Virginia
boundary dispute. That commit
tee refused to decide the issue.
Court Bill Pending
While the bill revamping the
Juvenile Court system here still
is pending before a House SUBJ
committee, the delay is due to
the fact the subcommittee mem
bers want ample time to do a
thorough job. 1t is expected
this measure will be rushed
through early in the next session.
Four investigations were inSti'
tuted by the House District Com.
mittee during the sessions and
the SABBATH special committee
probing activities of bondholders'
committees also pried into local
matters.
The four District Committee in
vestigations were the traffic in
quiry, which folded up mysteri-
ously with nothing accomplished;
investigation of the local transit
company and one into affairs at
the National Training School for
Girls, both of the latter still being
made.
The House Civil Service Com.
mittee has been comparatively
active, but little important legis-
1ation beside the annual and sick
leave bill successfully ran the
gauntlet Of the House. The com.
mittee reported bill to repeal
the marriage clause but has been
unable to obtain House considera-
tion.
Few Hearings Held
Required to spend long hours
on national legislation members
of the Senate District Commit
tee at this session took their
task of legislating for the Dis
trict in an apathetic manner.
In the majority of cases the
Senate Committee satisfied itself