Evening star., 1937-08-08
BY JESSE C. SUTER.

4 a 1t Is understood that the
chairman Of the District Commit
tee has been promised the right Of
way. This may or may not mean
that the few District bills on the
calendar will be considered, rs the
voteless District frequently Is re-
quired to give way for other busi-
ness considered OF greater impor-
tance. The three liquor bills and
the proposed new adoption law
which were expected to be con-
sidered two weeks ago will be called
up by the chairman for considera-
ton and action by the House.
The Senate made big squirt in
the dispatch Of District legislation
on Friday afternoon. Nine House
bills and five Senate bills were
passed in short order. Three of
these House bills and one Senate
bill were to permit the licensure Of
certain individuals to practice the
healing arts. The passage also Of
House bill 6696. which amends the
healing arts practice act will OBJ
viate the necessity for the time of
Congress being taken up with in
dividual private bills for the pur-
pose.
Other House bills passed were H.
r. 4536-a private bill authorizing
an optometric examination for an
individual: H. r. 6446-preventing
the use of slugs in automatic yend-
ing machines and telephones; H.
R. 6242-protecting the buyers Of
potatoes; H. r. 6388-smending the
D. C. Code through more clearly
defining grand and petit larceny
and H. R. 5462-incressing the
age for marriage to l8 years for
males and Is years for females.
The more important bills passed
were S. 2l94, requiring the semi
annual inspection of automobiles
and S. 1885 which establishes a
small claims and concilliation
branch Of the Municipal Court.
This last-named bill carried the
committee amendments and repre-
sents the local concensus. The
other two Senate bills passed were
S. 1547, relating to the harboring
OF persons charged with crime.
and S. 22sl to regulate proceedings
in adoption.
AT the District Building annual
reports Of the various departments
and agencies OF the District gov
ernment as usual disclose the need
for increased expenditures which
threatens additional taxes in the
near future
The airport problem apparently
Is no nearer solution. The report
OF the Airport Commission has been
placed by some critics as in about
the same class as the Jacobs re-
port and the expenditure as equally
Wasteful. A number of airport
proposals are pending and these
include the temporary enlargement
OF the present port and the develop
ment OF Grsvelly Point. Dredging
operations in the Potomac will
soon raise much Of this submerged
site above the surface of the
Potomac. When this site becomes
actually visible as to location and
extent it is expected to increase
the number OF its supporters.
Water System Survey
To Determine Rates.
THE appropriation act for the
current fiscal year included an
item Of $4,000 to employ
necessary personnel and defrav
other costs OF survey OF the
District water system and a report
as to whether any change should
be made in existing rates. Under
this authority, the Commissioners
have named committee con-
sisting of Riley E. Elgen, chairman
OF the Public Utilities Commission;
Lieut.. Col. Raymond A. Wheeler,
representing the War Department.,
and Capt. Don A. Shingler, As
sistant Engineer Commissioner.
The committee met for the first
time on Wednesday.
Under this legislation the COM
mlttee Is to determine the re-
production cost and historical cost
OF the water system OF the District
OF Columbia and the proper water
rate to cover not only operating
expenses but also depreciation re-
serve Designed to determine the
lair water rate to be charged con-
sumers, 1t Is proposed to have such
rate produce surplus for ex-
pansion OF the system and a re-
serve for depreciation. The idea
Is to make a financial operating
set-up similar to any privately
owned and operated public utility.
This survey is matter OF deep
interest IN civic circles as there
have been marked differences in
the available data regarding the
cost Of the plant and its operation.
There is special interest In the
respective equities Of the United
States and the District of Columbia
In the water plant.
Another vital question involved
Is that OF the inequity of the United
States Government getting its
water free and thus throwing the
entire burden Of the cost Of the
operation, extension and main
tenance upon the private con-
sumers. Among the civic organi-
cations there is a hope that the
committee will consider these
factors which are of vital tmpor-
lance to District taxpayers.
Regardless Of any future leeis-
lation based on the survey, there
will be a material increase of the
rate effective Immediately. The
Is per cent reduction which has
obtained for several years has been
eliminated by the 1898 appropria-
tions act.
Districts Additional Taxes