Evening star., 1937-04-11
SENATET0SPEED
D. c. LEGISLATION
ON TWO FRONTS
Hearings on S45,117,000
Supply Bill Expected to Get
Started Wednesday.
SMALL CLAIMS BRANCH
MEASURE SAME MORNING
Proposed Juvenile Court Law to
Be Taken Up by King Group
in Executive Session.
BY ]. A. O'LEARY.

District legislation is scheduled to
move forward on two fronts at the
Senate end of the Capitol this week,
with the 1888 local appropriation bill
holding the center of the stage.
Hearings on the $45,117,OOO supply
bill are expected to get under way
Wednesday or Thursday before the
District Appropriations Subcommittee,
with Senator Elmer Thomas of Okla
homa presiding.
Meanwhile, Chairman King of the
District Legislative Committee an
nounced public hearing for 10 am.
Wednesday on his bill to set up a
small claims and conciliation branch
in Municipal Court Witnesses are
expected to appear for and against
the proposal.
In addition, there probably will be
an executive session Of Senator Kings
Committee some day this week to
take action on the proposed new
Juvenile Court law, which has already
passed the House. The Senate Com
mittee has concluded hearings on the
bill, but has not acted on series
Of proposed amendments. The measure
Is designed to modernize the hand
ling Of juvenile cases by changing
the court from a criminal to an
equity or chancery procedure. Sup
porters of the bill favor it as it
passed the House
As prelude to consideration Of the
appropriation bill, committee Of Dis
trict per diem workers called on Chair
man Thomas yesterday to urge the
elimination Of House provision that
would have the effect of depriving
them of annual and sick leave. 1t
states that per diem workers, of whom
there are about 5000, could be paid
only for time actually worked, and
savings effected thereby could not
be used for any purpose
Senator Thomas told the delega-
ton to have spokesman attend
the hearings and present the mat
ter to the subcommittee.
Senator Thomas said he would try
TO start the hearings Wednesday, if
other supply bills now being prepared
are out of the way by that day. In
any event, he expects to start before
the end of the week, with the District
Commissioners as the first witnesses.
The Senator called on the Commits
sioners last week to prepare any
changes they have to suggest in the
House text, and has been notified by
Commissioner Hazen that District
ofdcials are ready to proceed.
New Revenue at $4,000, 1000.
The supply bill, as it now stands,
with the Federal payment left at the
current figure of s5,000,000, would re-
qu1re the District to raise about S.
100000 of new revenue to balance its
budget next year. A series of new tax
bills have been introduced in the
House and are now awaiting House
committee study. The actual amount
that may be needed will not be known
until the Senate finishes with the ap-
preparation bill and conferees have ad-
justed any differences in House and
Senate figures.
The small claims bill which comes
up IN the District committee Wednes-
day morning is intended to set-up an
informal tribunal in which a simple
and inexpensive procedure could be
followed in settling claims involving
500 or less. Persons could appear
without counsel, and the court would
have authority to permit payment Of
claim in installments. The concilia-
ton branch also would be required to
remain open one night each week.