Evening star., 1936-03-01

AtASA AOA eAAG C1tlC.IulLQcu 70 LIllOk
about. The two measures called up
in the House Of Representatives on
Monday, District day. were passed
with minor amendments. These
bills were to amend the law gov
erning tax sales and to authorize
the sale, without court action, of
property in the custody of the police
property clerk valued at 500 or
less. The following day the House
amendments were accepted by the
Senate, the bills passed and sent
to the President.
Hearings before three subcom.
mittees Of the House District Conn
mittee in a single week and Sen.
ate hearing or investigation threat
ened appears to be running a close
second to the flood conditions
feared from the Potomac. The
subcommittee investigating District
traffic conditions has continued its
work. Much additional informa-
ton Of value has been brought out
and a report with recommendation
of needed laws and regulations is
expected soon. The question Of
congressional immunity and special
privileges has loomed up in such
huge proportions as to almost over
shadow other traffic issues.
The Education Subcommittee Of
the House District Committee on
Tuesday began a hearing on the
Sisson bill to repeal the so-called
Red Rider" on the 1886 District
appropriation bill. The Board of
Education and other proponents of
the repeal presented a strong case
at the first session in an over
flowing committee room. Other
sessions are planned for this week,
beginning tomorrow, in a much
larger room to accommodate the
large number of representatives of
organizations desiring to attend.
The Judiciary Subcommittee be-
gan q hearing Thursday on the
Magistrate Courts bill. A marked
division of opinion developed re-
garding this bill. BY some it was
hailed as a step forward and by
others as step backward. OBJ
lection was raised to the Commits
sioners' suggestion that the four
part-time magistrates at $1,000 per
year be selected from retired Off
GERS Of the Army and Navy, retired
business men or young lawyers.
Corporation Counsel Prettyman ex-
planned the bill was aimed to relieve
the Police Court of a large number
Of minor cases and that this would
not only reduce the congestion in
that court but would permit the
Police Court taking over some of
the cases now handled by the Su-
preme Court of the District.
There has been nothing startling
happening at the District Building.
The Utilities Commission is still
studying the records Of recent
hearings, but with no announced
decisions as yet. The Zoning Com
mission held a hearing Thursday
on the proposed amendment Of its
rules which would abolish the re-
quirement to get the written con-
sent of adjacent property owners
for certain rezoning. The Board Of
Trade Committee and the Fedora
ton Of Citizens Associations Com
mittee appeared on opposite sides
on the question. The board favored
and the federation opposed the
change.
The Citizens Committee ap-
pointed at the instance Of the
Medical Society made a strong ap-
peal to the Commissioners to go
before the Budget Bureau and ask
for the recommendation of an in
creased appropriation for the con-
servation of health and the battle
against tuberculosis. While the
Commissioners are estopped by law
or executive order from making
such appeal. Commissioner Hazen
agreed to accompany the commit
tee in its visit to the Budget Bu-
reau.
District affairs really overflowed
the banks of the civic river and
reached the James River in Vir-
ginia during the week. A resolution
introduced in the Virginia General
Assembly by former Washing
tonian has excited considerable
civic interest. This resolution me-
moralizes Congress to pass and sub
init to the States for ratification the
amendment to the Constitution
giving national representation to
the District of Columbia.
Among the civic bodies many
resolutions are being passed approv-
ing or opposing pending legisla-
tion. All the bodies await with
deep interest the forthcoming
school building program of the
Board of Education.
Proposed "Red Rider" Repeal
Continues Of Major Interest.
As A matter of discussion in
civic circles and from the
space in the press devoted to it,
the so-called Red rider" or pro-
vision denying pay to employees of
the local public school system who