Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-02-23
BY JESSE C. SUTER.

On uuIuSIOuS Pc IL IL
measures Is being urged by Chair
man Norton of the House District
Committee. Two favorable and one
unfavorable report was the extent
of the action during the last week.
Those ordered favorably reported
were the proposed amendment to
the tax sale law and the bill to
permit the property clerk of the
Police Department to sell after
six months, at public auction, with
out court order, all unclaimed prop
erty valued at 500 or less. The
present limit is $50. These bills
may be considered tomorrow If the
District gets its day.
The Sisson bill to modify and
clarity the little red rider" on the
1896 appropriation act was in
formally discussed, but no action
taken. 1t is understood that hear
ing on the bill is contemplated.
1t was announced by Chairman
Blanton of the House Appropria-
lions Subcommittee on the District
Budget that the hearings on that
measure have been concluded.
While these hearings were in execu-
tive session and all participants
sworn to strictest secrecy, 1t Is
understood that considerable time
was given to the consideration Of
o1lo0ad e,,huoroivo roo cbinoc IL, thu
schools. The civic minded will con-
tinue to grope in the dark as to
the Districts financial needs until
the appropriation bill is reported
out and the record of the hearings
is published.
The Senate on Thursday passed
five local bills. On one Of these
the Commissioners would be given
the same power to suspend driving
permits of out-of-town motorists
which they now possess as to local
drivers. The bill to apply the uni
form narcotic control law to the
District was among the approved
measures. This still requires &C.
ton by the House. The House bill
to tighten and more clearly define
the crime of bribery, under the
District Code, passed and now goes
to the President for signature.
The other bills passed authorized
Government agency cooperation
in arrangements for the national
jamboree of the Boy Scouts in
1887. and another to authorize is
suance of healing arts license to
a physician who was absent from
the city at the time of the passage
of the law. These bills came from
the District Committee.
The Senate also passed a bill
from the Military Affairs Commit
tee covering phases of the airport
problem - the jurisdiction over
Military road, keeping the road
open to traffic and safeguarding
users of the road and at the same
time giving authority to extend air.
plane runways over the road.
Under this bill deputy United
States marshals will control traffic
on Military road, which will be
closed only at times of crossing by
planes.
At the District Building the
Commissioners have accepted the
resignation of Corporation Counsel
Prettyman and are now struggling
with the selection of a successor.
The candidates are numerous and
Endorsed by various groups and in
terests. Peoples Counsel Roberts
has been Endorsed by several civic
bodies and the Federal Bar Asso-
citation. The senior assistant corr
poration counsel, Vernon E. West,
who has considerable support, ap-
pears to be the logical appointee If
the selection is to be made from the
present staff. Mr.. West has had
long experience, is a native of the
District and the son of q former
District Commissioner.
The Public Utilities Commission
is in the midst of the hearing of
the proposed merger of the Wash
ington Rapid Transit Co. with the
Capital Transit Co. The price
offered by the latter company for
the former is being contested and
peoples counsel is demanding that
as q condition of the merger fares
be uniform on street cars and buses
and system of universal transfers
be put into operation. The Capital
Transit Co. does not view the fare
proposal with favor.
Juvenile Court Bills
Increasing Support.
THE pending Juvenile Court bill
Oh. r. 10363) introduced by
Representative Mary r. Norton,