Evening star., 1936-08-16
CITY HEADS INVITE
CITIZENS TO HELP
FRAME D. c. BILLS
Civic Leaders Will Be Asked
to Aid Legislative
Program.
ANTI.GAMING MEASURES
SCHEDULED FOR REVIVAL
Proposal to Establish Limited
Magistrate Court System Due
to Be Dropped.

United support Of leading civic or.
ganizations will be sought for the Dis
trict's legislative program in the COM
ing session of Congress, Commissioner
Melvin c. Hazen announced yester-
day as the Commissioners began
study Of measures proposed.
After the Commissioners have COM
pleted their study, spokesmen of vari-
GUS groups will be invited to confer on
the measures before they go to Con-
gress.
Hazen mentioned the Board Of
Trade, the Federation of Women's
Clubs, the Bar Association and the
Women's Bar Association as among
groups whose views would be sought.
Civic organizations, the Commits
sioner said, also would be invited to
submit suggestions before the pro-
gram is outlined.
Seal Preparing Program.
Preparation of the program now Is
in the hands of Corporation Counsel
Elwood H. Seal. AS a base for his
study he has l8 bills which failed
of passage at the past session.
Three Of the most important are the
bill to strengthen the anti-gambling
laws. particularly as to the numbers
games; the small loan control bill and
the bill to change Juvenile Court
methods.
Hazen said the bill fostsred by for
mer Corporation Counsel E. Barrett
Prettyman, to establish limited sys-
tenn of magistrate courts, probably.
would be dropped from che program.
Numerous District officials are opposed
to this, which was offered as a means
of relieving Police Court Of q large
number Of small cases. Starting con-
struction on large new Police Court
building has added to opposition.
Gambling Bill Passed Senate.
The bill to strengthen the gambling
laws was passed by the Senate jan
uary 10, 1885. 1t died in the House
at the end of the second session.
The Juvenile Court bill introduced
by Chairman Norton of the House
District Committee, by request, was
the subject of extensive hearings. The
Commissioners proposed a number Of
amendments. The session ended be-
fore action was taken by either House
or Senate.
The small-loan bill urged by the
Commissioners, allowing total charge
OF per cent per month, was intended
to bring lending Of small sums into
the open. The present law, dating
back to 1918. allows but / per cent
per month on unpaid balances, but
under it the District has been unable
to reach the procurer of loans, who
adds his charge
There was sharp opposition to the
bill. Prettyman therefore sent I'D a
second bill, an amendment to the 1918
law, intended to include the procur.
er's fee and all other charges. He
said he believed this would drive the
small-loan business from Washington.
He said he preferred the 2 per cent
fee bill.
The 2 per cent bill was passed by
the Senate, was reported favorably to
the House once, but was recommitted.
There was no action on the alternate,
affecting the 1918 law.
Auto Bill to Be Included.
The commissioners are expected to
include in their tentative program the
bill to require semi-annual mechanical
inspection Of all automobiles, at gov
eminent testing stations, measure
urged by Traffic Director William A.
Van Duzer. There would be a charge
of 81 for the inspection service the
first year and so cents a year there
after. The bill was opposed by the
Budget Bureau, but was passed by the
House. There was no action on it in
the Senate.
Other bills under study are:
To create a Commission on Mental
Health, which would handle commit
ments of persons of unsound mind,
now taken before juries of laymen in
District Supreme Court in open session.
There was favorable report to the
House on this bill.
To regulate foreclosures of mort
cages, one Of the bills growing out Of
congressional investigation of realty
scandals several years ago. The SEN
ate passed the bill during the first
session of the Seventy fourth Con-
gress. but there has been no action
| in the House.
To place women on the same basis
as men as to jury service. which was
adopted by the House but not by the
Senate.
To limit jury trials in Police Court
to cases in which jury trials are guar
anteed by the Constitution. which was
adopted in the House but not the
Senate.
To free the District government Of
liability for damages for failure Of
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