Evening star., 1936-05-31
BY JESSE C. SUTER.

r OSS of another District day
in the House last Monday
was q great disappointment
- to the civic bodies, as 1t was
hoped by many that the Sisson
bill repeating the "red rider"
might be passed in time for the
consideration Of other items on the
calendar. The day was lost be-
cause of the adjournment out OF
respect to the memory Of a MEM
ber. Other District days have been
lost for other reasons, but the one
last Monday, being probably the
last of the session, was considered
of vital importance. Local citi-
zens have been expressing the hope
that in fairness to the District
some time may be given to In Q
measure make up for these lost
days.
The House District Committee
has continued to act on bills pend
ing before it, but there appears
little prospect of their getting fur
ther than the calendar unless they
can get through by unanimous
, consent. Among the actions OF the
committee during the week was
the reporting out of the bill au-
thorizing appropriation Of $500, 600
for the erection of q new building
for the recorder of deeds ONCE;
resolutions authorizing prepara-
tions for the presidential inaugu-
ration next January; authority for
a subcommittee to investigate the
local transportation service and to
another subcommittee to investi-
gate the National Training School
for Girls.
Due to the heavy duties falling
upon Senator King on the Senate
Finance Committee, there has been
no special activity on the part OF
the Senate District Committee.
At present the outlook for the
District of Columbia appropriation
appears almost hopeless. The House
conferees have invited the Senate
managers to a final meeting on
Monday. With Blanton offering q
most objectional, so-called continue
ing resolution and with q more
liberal resolution expected from the
Senate conferees, If agreement on
the bill Is impossible. a new dead
lock Is anticipated over the form
of the continuing resolution. Sen
ator Thomas of Oklahoma proposes
a plan for a permanent solution OF
the fiscal relations problem. Civic
leaders continue to hope that Pres
ident Roosevelt will come forward
in the role of the good neighbor
and use his influence in behalf OF
the greater fiscal equity Of the bill
as passed by the Senate.
At the District Building the
Commissioners have just received
a first report from a committee
which has had under consideration
the Districts tax system. Elimina-
ton of the professional tax
brokers from the realty delinquent
tax sales is one of the matters in
cluded in the study. A suggestion
of Auditor Donovan, chairman OF
the committee. for the creation OF
a tax accounting division has a
strong civic appeal in one particu-
lar at least. Under this plan
taxpayer could go to one place
and get his entire account, real
and personal, assessments and
arrears. Under existing conditions
the gathering in of his bills SO
that he may know to what extent
he is indebted to the District Is
an experience not unlike going
shopping in q department store.
Before the Public Utilities COM
mission there is pending the pc
tition Of the Potomac Electric
Power Co. for authority to issue
3 per cent bonds to the amount OF
$4,000, 900 to retire other indebted
ness carrying a higher rate OF in
terest and for Improvements to
be made to the plant. There Is
also pending a petition Of the Cap
ital Transit Co. to purchase and
recondition additional secondhand
one-man cars.