Evening star., 1937-08-15
3Y JESSE c. SUTER.

days session, even the
very small calendar of District
business was not completed. The
House substituted the Senate adop-
ton bill for its own and passed it
with two minor amendments.
The time consuming item on the
calendar was the bill, H. r. 1850,
to amend the District A. B. c. con-
troll act. Proposals to permit the
sale OF hard liquor over lunch
counters and to change appeals
from the Commissioners to the
court were rejected. These pro-
visions were opposed by the Com
missioners and the A. B. C. Board.
The bill as passed covered changes
In procedure and the bringing Of
alcoholic beverages into the Dis
trict These changes were recon-
mended by the liquor board.
The District revenue bill remains
unsigned by the President. Upon
receipt at the White House it was
referred to the Budget Bureau
for report. 1t is presumed that
the delay in the signing OF this
bill is due to the Tydings rider.
In this connection it is interesting
to note that this rider, regarding
price agreements, will not apply in
five or six of the States and also
in the District Of Columbia. 1t is a
rather striking situation that
purely District Of Columbia legis-
latlon should be used as a vehicle
for national legislation, Of which
the District will be no beneficiary.
Though no other District days
are expected this session in the
House, the District Committee met
and approved the bill establishing
a five-day, 60-hour week for fire-
men. This bill is opposed by the
District Commissioners because of
the present condition OF the Dis
trict finances.
The Senate District Committee
has reported favorably to the SEN
ate three House bills, including
that for real estate licensing.
naming four driveways on the Mall
after four Of the States and to
grant charter to the Southeast
ern University of the Young Mems
Christian Association. The COM
mittee also reported the Senate
bill to regulate the sale of serums,
toxins and analogous products in
the District, in accordance with the
Federal law on the subject, and a
Dill to require an agreement be-
tween the Federal and District Of
hclas before closing any streets
in connection with the new public
buildings in the area west of Nine
teenth street northwest, bounded
by New York avenue, E street and
the Potomac River, and in several
additional squares.
The committee rejected a bill TO
exempt from taxation certain prop
erty of the Society of Cincinnatus
in the District of Columbia. The
Commissioners had reported ad-
versely on this bill.
At the District Building the
Commissioners held a meeting of
the various committees charged
with arranging for an appropriate
celebration Of the sesQuicentennial
OF the Constitution. Preparations
are being made in anticipation of
the approval by the President OF
the District revenue bill and re-
quests have been made by the Com
missioners of the Budget Bureau
for the approval Of an additional
appropriation for the employment
OF increased personnel made nee
essary by the recent tax legislation.
Education of Non Resident Pupils
Mandatory in District Schools.
THE decision of the Court OF
Appeals during the past week
very definitely removes any doubt
as to the absolute requirement Of
the public schools Of the District
Of Columbia to educate, free of cost,
nonresident pupils whose parents
are employed within the District.
The court apparently was impressed
with the reasonableness of the DO
sition taken by the school officials,
by holding that it was the duty of
the court merely to interpret the
law. The position taken by the
District, the court suggested, was
question for legislation and not
legal determination.
The District schools, through the
failure of Congress to make ade-
quate appropriation, are unable at
the present time to properly house
and educate pupils living in the
District of Columbia. The COM
pulsory educational law makes 1t
obligatory upon the schools to take
care OF our own. BY legislation,
Congress has imposed the addi-
tional burden OF educating, at the
expense of the District taxpayers,
non-residents whose parents are
employed within the District, and
certain others in various branches
of the Federal service.
In our local civic circles the
idea DreVailS that there is AZ orne
ent less reason for throwing the
District schools open to outsiders
than some years ago. Nearby
Maryland and Virginia have In
recent years provided extensive
school accommodations and have
materially raised their educational
standards.
1t is now possible for children
living in these nearby suburbs to
attend conveniently located, we'll
equipped, modern school. These
schools are provided for the ele-
mentary grades and junior and
senior high schools.
To some of our citizens. there
appears to be no good and sum-
cient reason for pupil ignoring the
more convenient school facilities Of
his own neighborhood and insisting
on getting an education in 4 more
remote school located in WaShine-
ton. There are some civic leaders
in nearby Maryland and Virginia