Evening star., 1936-06-21
BY JESSE C. SUTER.

Wv and disgust organized
civic washington views
the past weeks doings on Capitol
Hill. There Is relief that the Dis
trict appropriation bill has at last
passed. There is widespread dis
appointment that the other Senate
amendments did not stick and
there is equally widespread dis
gust that the Federal share was
whitfield down to so inequitable an
amount.
Even overshadowing in interest
the breaking of the appropria-
tion deadlock was q questionnaire
sent to the officers and teachers
Of the public schools by the act
ing chairman Of the House appro-
priations subcommittee. The real
civic sensation was the placing
Of responsibility for this ques-
tionnaire on the Federation of Citi-
zens' Association. While the presi-
dent and vice president of the fed
Grafton denied all responsibility a
federation committee chairman
claimed the credit for inspiring the
action.
The House on Thursday passed
without debate two Senate bills,
two House bills and four Senate
joint resolutions. The Senate
bills provide for the granting of
charters to trust companies upon
the same basis as national banks
and authorize the laying of a
pipe line by a local corporation.
These and the four resolutions go
to the President. Two of these
provide the necessary authority
in connection with the Inaugural
tion Of the President next jan
uary. Another legalizes the ap-
pointment of Isaac Cans as a
member of the Alcoholic Beverage
Control Board despite his having
passed the retirement age and the
other making December 26, 1886,
legal holiday In the District of
Columbia. The House bills which
require Senate action authorize
the supply Of steam heat from the
Federal central heating plant to
any District buildings erected in
Judiciary square or In the NUM-
cipal Center area, and bill estab-
fishing two classes Of detectives in
the Police Department and fixing
their additional compensation.
A few more District measures
are expected to get through before
Congress adiourns but there ap-
pears to be no hope for the passage
of the bill repeating the so-called
red rider" This bill will be re-
introduced in the sevelty-fifth
Congress and Is expected to have
extensive civic organization sup
port.
The Famous QUESTIONABLE
And Citizens Federation.
A DIVISION Of opinion exists
among delegates to the Fed
Grafton of Citizens Associations as
to what should be done regarding
the QUESTIONABLE sent to the
officers and teachers Of the public
schools. Some appear stunned by
the placing of responsibility for this
sensational document on the fed
Grafton but hesitate to participate
in any action which might in
furiate Representative Blanton.
Others are indignant that special
subcommittee chairman should
have put the federation in a posi-
ton so unpopular with the COM
munity.
The latter class are strongly in
favor Of an early special meeting
of the federation or its Executive
Committee and the adoption of
resolutions repudiating the action
of the delegate who suggested the
sending of the QUESTIONABLE. The
action of this delegate as a Spokes-
man for the federation they claim
is contrary to the spirit of the OBJ
ject of the federation as set out in
its constitution. Section / Of Ar
ticle II of the constitution is as
follows: The object of this fed
Grafton is to obtain the expression
of the general public sentiment
upon matters of special interest to
all the citizens Of the District, and
which require concerted action"
Whether the federation will
undertake the handling of this
problem now or will permit it to
drift until the next regular meet
ing in october cannot now be pre-
dicted. The federation president
has stated in interviews with rep
resentatives of the press that he
does not contemplate calling a
special meeting. The president is
required to call special meeting
upon written request signed by
at least one delegate from each of
five member associations, ..
Meetings of the Executive Commit
tee are required to be called upon
the written request of five or more
members of the committee.
Citizens to Confer Regarding
Public Utilities Problems.
INVITATIONS have gone from
the peoples counsel. william A.
Roberts. to the presidents of all
Citizens Associations inviting them
with their Public Utility Commit
tee chairmen to a conference on