Evening star., 1937-05-17
District Bill Riders.

One OF the important tasks facing
Chairman Thomas and the members of
the Senate subcommittee on District
appropriations is to rid the District
appropriation bill, which they take up
for consideration this week, of some of
the curious anomalies caused bv legis-
aative riders The safest and Wisest
course Is to eliminate the riders.
The rider transferring control over
public hospitals from the Board of Public
Welfare to the Health Department was
emasculated by the House. But while
administrative control remains with the
Board Of Public Welfare, the money is
transferred to the Health Department.
The funds and the administration should
remain with the Board Of Public Welfare
until properly considered legislation is
enacted providing for a change-if
change is shown to be desirable-in the
existing system.
The rider prohibiting school teachers
from engaging in clerical work was aimed
at the so-called psychological tests in
the schools. The actual effect, If the
rider remains in the bill, will be to cause
confusion and uncertainty second only
to that caused by the lamented red
rider. The rider should be eliminated.
The rider transferring school play
grounds and other Fairgrounds to the
Community Center Department sets up
another administrative agency for play
ground control, is contradictory to the
established policy of co-ordinating al
ready divided control Of recreational
facilities and should be eliminated from
the bill. If there is merit in the con-
tention that playground activities should
be under direction of the Board of
Education, this rider does not accom-
plish the purpose. 1t is a half-baked
proposition, neither fish nor fowl nor
good red herring, and should be stricken
from the bill.
The provisions for a fire insurance
rating expert and for a bonding COM
missioner for the District we're carried
would be legislative authorization for
the creation Of such posts, with powers
and functions provided for the incum-
bents. Unfortunately, for 1t Is believed
the theory behind the creation of such
positions may be sound, no accompany
ing legislation has been proposed. Until
the legislation is enacted, is it not unwise
to appropriate needed revenue for new
positions that may not be authorized by
legislation?
The rider which sought to divert
gasoline tax funds to support of the
Department of Vehicles and Traffic was
killed in the House, but the traffic
department was left high and dry,
without the funds necessary to support
It. That condition will be easily reme-
died. But the bill should avoid gas tax
diversion In every case. Threats of such
diversion are already blamed for de-
priving the District-through tabling Of
the House bill passed by the senate-of
It's share OF Federal road-aid funds. The
appropriation bill should provide no new
channels of diverting gasoline taxes.
The rider prohibiting salary realloca-
tions under the Reclassihcation Act re-
fleets the personal opinion of House
committee members that reallocation
salary step-ups are being abused by. the
municipal government. Is that opinion
sound? What supports it? AS it is, the
rider is discrimination against num-
cipal employees who in other respects are
placed on the same basis with other
Federal employees. AS such, it is unjust.
These are some Of the riders remain
ing In the District bill. Experience has
amply demonstrated the danger Of this
sort of legislation, danger best avoided
by eliminating the riders and leaving
legislation to the legislative committees.