Evening star., 1936-12-10
CHAIRMAN NORTON
AGAINST CONGRESS
APARTMENT HOTEL
Housing Problem Concerns
Permanent Residents,
She Declares.
BETTER TO INTRODUCE
BILL AT NEXT SESSION
Committee Would Be Created to
Borrow 81, 900, 900 From R. &c.
for Proposed Edifce.
BY JAMES. E. CHM.

Chairman Norton of the House
District Committee doesn't think much
of the plan of Representative Better,
Democrat, of New York, to erect a
large apartment hotel on Capitol Hill
for the exclusive accommodation of
members of Congress and their en-
ployes.
In the first place, Mrs. Norton said
she did not believe members of Con-
gress want to be "herded together in
one building" And secondly, she
said, if there is a serious housing
problem in Washington, it concerns
the people who live here throughout
the year more vitality than the legis-
lators who spend about six months
in the city.
Better plans to introduce a bill
at the coming session Of Congress to
create new committee which would
be empowered to borrow between
100000 and s4000,O0O from the
Reconstruction Finance Corp. to erect
the proposed congressional apartment
hotel.
Building for Employees Urged.
IF Congress goes into the apart
ment business" said Mrs. Norton, 1T
should look after the interests of the
Government employees whose salaries
are in the lower brackets. 1t is far
more necessary to have a special build.
ing for such employees than for mem
bers of Congress
Mrs. Norton reiterated her belief
that something should be done" to
control proiteering landlords in the
District. She indicated this question
would be taken up at the first meeting
OF her committee after Congress con-
venes, but at the same time expressed
the opinion that any legislation de-
signed to fix and control rentals
would be held unconstitutional.
Mrs. Norton came to Washington
Monday to attend a meeting of the
Special Airport Commission, of which
she is member. After a brief visit
she plans to return to her home in
Jersey City, N. j., and will not come
back until Congress convenes January
5. unless another meeting of the
commission is held in the meantime
Indorses Mrs. Agnes Mason.
One of Mrs. Norton's first official
acts was to write to Commissioner
George E. Allen, indorsing the re-
appointment of Mrs. Agnes Mason as
member of the Alcoholic Beverage
Control Board. Mrs. Mason's term
expires this month.
II have always manifested a most
profound interest in the activities
of women in public life" said Mrs.
Norton. For that reason the sue
cess of any member of my sex in
public life is source of pride.
In the local government of the
District of Columbia a woman has
been serving in a position of great
trust with what I deem outstanding
effectiveness. I refer to Mrs. Agnes
Mason, who is member of the AL
coholic Beverage Control Board
Mrs. Masons work has reflected
courage, intelligence and sound COM
mon sense. Her excellent efforts in
collaboration with those of the other
board members have brought to our
local liquor administrative body a
national reputation for honest and
vigorous enforcement of the law and
regulations.
Term Expires This Month.
1T is my understanding that Mrs.
Mason's term of Office expires in De-
cember. For that reason I desire to
be among the first to urge that she
be persuaded to continue her effective
service to the District of Columbia.
I am not aware of Mrs. Mason's in
tentions in the latter respect but, in
any event, wish that this letter be
regarded as a whole-hearted indorse-
ment of her excellent efforts as well
as strong recommendation for her
retention in Office"
In her first press interview since
her return to Washington, Mrs. Nor
ton outlined her legislative program
for the coming seSsoin-a program
which The Star revealed in a series
of stories November 20, 80 and De.
cember /, written by a staff CORE.
spondent who interviewed her in Pel-
ham, N. Y
The program includes rational rep.
resentation for the District, legaliza.
ton of horse racing under the pari-
mutuel system. and legislation to de-
stroy the effect of the so-called red
rider" to the 1886 District appro-
priation act which forbids the teach.
ing or advocacy of Communism in
the class rooms of the public schools.