Evening star., 1936-02-20
SPEED PROMISED
ON 4 D. c. BILLS
Racing, Juvenile Judge Pow.
ers and Red Rider
Included.
BY JAMES e. CHINN.

sasSs~NS~e
BY JAMES e. CHINN.
Speedy action on four major Dis
trict bills, now tied up in subcommit-
tees, was promised today by Chair
man Norton Of the House District
Committee.
The measures are:
l. To legalize horse racing under
the pari-mutuel system.
2. To broaden the powers Of the
Judge of Juvenile Court.
3. To establish a system Of magis-
trate courts to handle minor infrac-
tions of the police and traffic regu-
lations.
4. To modify and clarity the anti
Communism rider on the 1886 District
appropriation act.
All these bills. with the exception
of the one to liberalize the so-called
'red rider" are languishing in the
Judiciary Subcommittee headed by
Representative Palmisano, Democrat,
OF Maryland. The Education Sub
committee, Of which Representative
Kennedy of Maryland is chairman,
has the measure for modification Of
the rider
Hearing on Courts Set.
Palmisano has arranged to start
hearings on the magistrate courts bill
Tuesday at 10:30 am, and Kennedy
is planning to AK a date for hearings
on the Communism measure in few
days. But even this activity on the
part of the subcommittees does not
completely satisfy Mrs. Norton, be-
cause she fears Congress may adjourn
early and leave other important Dis
trict legislation to die from inatten-
tion.
Mrs. Norton is particularly anxious
for the subcommittee to begin hear
ings on the Juvenile Court and racing
bills. which she is sponsoring. AS
both are before Palmisano's subcom-
mittee. which already is overloaded
with work, she is considering a pro-
posal to transfer the racing bill to
the Fiscal Affairs Subcommittee,
where, she thinks, it rightfully be-
longs.
The racing measure, Mrs. Norton
pointed out, is designed primarily to
raise revenue, and. therefore, should
60 to the Fiscal Affairs Subcommittee.
She explained 1t was originally re-
ferred to the Judiciary Subcommittee
by mistake.
Confident Of Passage.
Since the Fiscal Affairs Subcommit-
tee is in a position to give the bill
early consideration, Mrs. Norton pro-
poses to ask Palmisano to release it.
She is confident the House will pass
it at the present session if it gets
the opportunity. and for that reason
is anxious to get it through the pre-
liminary stages-public hearings and
committee approval.
Mrs. Norton likewise believes the
House will pass the bill to modify the
red rider" A bitter fight is antici-
pated, however, when it is called up
in the House. Representative Blan-
ton, Democrat, Of Texas. already has
served notice he would lead the battle
to defeat it.
Mrs. Norton Is doubtful about the
fate of the bill to establish system
of magistrate courts. At any rate, she
believes, it will have to be changed
materially before it is pushed through
the House.
II have already heard some opposi-
ton to the BILL" she declared. THE
principal objection concerns the pro-
vision to appoint retired business men
or Army officers as the magistrates.
II personally believe the magistrates
should be young lawyers and not old
men whose opinions differ from those
Of modern times"
Early Hearing Indicated.
Mrs. Norton also has discovered
there will be some opposition to the
bill to increase the powers Of the
Juvenile Court Judge and she wants
that to be brought to light through
public hearings. In view of her desire
for early action on this measure, Pal
misano's subcommittee is expected to
take it up for consideration as soon
as hearings are finished on the magis-
trate courts bill.
Monday will be the fifth so-called
District day" in the House at the
present session. Thus far there are
only three bills on the calendar. One,
the Ellenbogen bill to revive the war
time rent commission, is not expected
to be called up. Ellenbogen, however,
insists he will press for action on the
measure in the near future.
The other twos bills have the
Endorsement of the Commissioners.
The first is designed to enable the
Commissioners to get clear titles on
property bid in at public auction for
delinquent taxes. The other would
permit the property clerk Of the
Police Department to dispose of
unclaimed automobiles and other
property sooner than permitted under
existing law.
Another bill may be added to the
calendar before Monday-a measure
to permit police officials to assign
officers to the detective force without
promoting them, as now required, to
the rank of detective sergeant. The
promotion carries an automatic in
crease of $500 a year in compensation.
Under the bill, men merely assigned
to detective work would receive an
increase of $240 a year.