Evening star., 1936-04-18
RED RIDER REPEAL
PLAN NOW LEADS
D. c. LEGISLATION
House Kills SiSSon Program,
1856 to IS, But Action Is |
Held Partial Victory.
BICKERING AND COMEDY !,
FILL 9O-MINUTE DEBATE
Filibuster of Blanton Factor
Finally Broken-Zioncheck
Hurls Landlord" Rumor.
BY JAMES E. CHINN

D1 JAmES T.. CHINN
Occupying a preferred status on the
House calendar, the SiSson bill to
restore academic freedom in the class
rooms of the public schools by re-
pealing the red rider" to the 1886
District appropriation act, now is as
Sured consideration April 27, the last
So-called District day" Of the month.
Automatically the "red rider" re-
pealer moved into No. l position when
the House late yesterday defeated
the Ellenbogen rent control bill by
decisive 1876 to IS vote.
Chairman King of the Senate Dis
trict Committee today indicated there
would not be time to consider a SINH
lar bill in the Senate committee dur
ing the remainder Of this session.
Senator King has always doubted
the constitutionality of the rent meas
ure and in addition he expressed the
belief today that the amount Of build
ing activity now going on in Wash.
lngton will result in adjustment Of
conditions. He also pointed out that
after Congress adjourns there will be
| a substantial increase in vacant hous-
ing accommodations
Although Chairman Norton Of the
District Committee fought vigorously
for the Ellenbogen bill, its defeat
represented to her a victory in one
respect, because the prolonged FL
buster was broken and the path
cleared for action on Sisson's
measure. For a time, the filibuster
against the rent control bill, threat
ened to keep the red rider" repeater
in status quo.
A special rule which the House
adopted 1913 to 90, ended the filibuster
against Ellenbogens bill An hour
and a half later. the measure vas
killed.
Comedy and Confusion.
In those 80 minutes. which were
supposed to have been devoted entirely
TO debate on proposed amendments,
the Easter week visitors that crowded
the galleries were given an unusual
exhibition of how District legislation
is treated. Nearly the entire time
was marked with pickering, confusion
and comedy. At one point, Represen-
tative Hoffman, Republican, of Michi-
gan, arose and asked: Are We doing
business or is it burlesque show?"
Sporadically cries of point Of
order" and Il object" rang through-
out the House chamber. At least q
Democrat Of North Carolina, the pre-.
siding chairman, was forced to pound
the gavel and appeal for order.
Several times he suspended proceed
ings to rule on nonsensical points Of
order At the end, however, the House
applauded him for his handling Of the
situation.
Numerous clashes between Repre-.
sentatives Zioncheck of Washington,
| and Blanton of Texas, both Demo-
Gratis, only served to intensity the
din. Repeatedly Blanton accused
Zioncheck of indulging in personals
ties, and raised points of order against
his remarks.
Landlord "Rumor" Hurled.
Blanton's ire was aroused particu-
larly when zioncheck told the House
"a bad rumor is running around town"
that the reason the Texan, opposed
the bill is because he is landlord.
Zioncheck also tried unsuccessfuuv
/ to read into the record the sale of 4
house to the late R. @. Lee, who was
/ IL e. -
Texan entered the Senatorial race ana
was defeated. Blanton raised a point
of order virtually every time ziont
check attempted to discuss the deal.
Finally. Umstead warned Zioncheck it
he continued to indulge in personals
ties, he would have to take his seat.
Several amendments were adopted
before the bill was defeated. Likewise
several also were rejected, including
one offered by Blanton to strike OUT
the measures enacting clause. AM
other amendment, presented by Chair
man O'Connor of the rules committee
would have removed a section chal-
lenged as unconstitutional.
Representative Taber, Republican q
New York, made the most active figk
against the bill. He charged its ONLY
purpose was to create nice, juicA
jobs 4
Representative Cox, Democrat On
Georgia, described it as 'repugnantPl
to his sense Of justice and declared
nothing worse ever came out Of
Russia" Blanton agreed It was conn
munistic.
Say Charge Absurd.
These charges we're greeted with
cries of absurd" and "ridiculousP
from Mrs. Norton and Representative
Ellenbogen, Democrat of Pennsyl-
vania, sponsor of the bill. IF this
bill is communistic," declared Elem
bogen. then all public service la@s
enacted by the states are comnIu.
niStic" !
| when has it become communistie
to lower rents in the District?" tn%
quired Representative Schultz, Denos
crat of Indiana. \
"If rents continue to soar in the
District" Mrs. Norton replied, they
will bring about communistic senti-
ment."
Representative SABBATH, Democrat Of
Illinois, chairman OF the select CONF
mittee investigating real estate bondr
holders reorganiZations, said he was
confident, on the basis of evidence un-
covered by his group, that rents could
! ArO