Evening star., 1937-11-14
CONGRESS- STUDY .
.0F DISTRICT VOTE
URGED BY cAPPER
Conditions Justify Giving
Voice to Citizens Here,
He Declares.
NOW IS TIME TO ACT,
KANSAS SENATOR SAYS
Conferees on New Juvenile Court
Code to Be Called Soon by ,
Chairman King.
BY J. A. OLEARY.

Consideration of Washingtons plea
for national representation this wintei
was urged on Congress yesterday BY
Senator Capper Of Kansas, ranking
minority member of the District Com
mittee. as the lawmakers prepared
to convene tomorrow, with indica-
tlons committee work on a variety of
local matters will get off to an early
start.
One of the first developments on the
eve of the session was announcement
by Chairman King of the District
Committee that he will call meet
ing soon of House and Senate conferees
in charge of the new Juvenile Court
code. left unfinished in August.
Just back from Kansas. Senator
Capper reaffirmed his interest in the
Districts fight for the vote, and indi-
cated'he regarded the present as the
time to seek action.
There never was time when the
need for it was greater" said the
Kansan. Conditions certainly justify
giving the people here voice in their
affairs. The city is growing and its
problems are becoming more COM
plicated."
District Representation.
Mr.. Capper is author in the Senate
of the joint resolution proposing a
constitutional amendment that would
empower Congress to grant District
residents representation in the House
and Senate and the right to vote in
presidential elections. Being a con-
stitutional amendment. it has been
referred to the judiciary Committee
for report.
Joining in the sentiment of num-
Der of other returning members. Mr..
Capper declared Congress ought to
be cautious about going too high" in
fixing the total of the next District
appropriation bill TO avoid working a
hardship on local taxpayers.
Senator King went further yeste.-
day. declaring expenses should be
reduced and the District government
reorganized with a view to economy.
He said he conferred yesterday with
Chairman Collins of the House Sub
committee that will draft the local
supply bill.
Nearly s50,OOO,OOO.
The size Of the next District bud
get will not be known until the Budget
Bureau submits its figures to Con-
gress, but there has been wide interest
in the subject since the Commission
ers submitted estimates amounting
to nearly $50,G00,000 as compared
with a current appropriation act of
S46,000,000
Senator King said current District
appropriations are larger than Balti-
more's and that he is gathering fig
ures on other cities also
The Senate District chairman Is
ready to seek prompt consideration
of any legislative measures the COM
miSsioners deem urgent between now
ana the regular session that will start
after the Christmas holidays. but he
added that his aim will be to intro
duce only essential bills.
There are too many laws on the
books now-Federal, State and mu-
iiiNAPoi, lllC Obdil oCIldIOl utCldI6Q.
Survey Being Made.
With regard to revision of the new
District tax laws enacted last August.
Senator Capper said he will be guided
largely by what the Commissioners
recommend following the survey now
being made by local officials On the
question of whether the gross re-
ceipts business tax should be revised,
or replaced by some other form of levy
after this year, MIR. Capper said he
had preferred the income tax. but
that local sentiment appeared to be
against it,
The Kansas Senator was not pre-
pared to express an opinion on the
recent increase in street car tokens
from four for 80 cents to six for so
cents He said it sounded rather high
but he wants to study the situation
before reaching definite conclusion
The proposed new Juvenile Court
law has passed both House and Senate
and awaits only adjustment of differ
ences in detailed provisions.