Evening star., 1937-10-14
CHANGES SLATED
IN SUBCOMMITTEE
|. PLANF0RD|STR|CT
PaImisano Claims Standing
Groups Better Qualified
to Pass on Bills.
SYSTEM WAS ENDED
BY PREVIOUS CHAIRMAN
Difficulty in Choice of Unit Heads
Seen-Special Transit Body
to Continue.
BY JAMES E. CHINN.

A general reorganization Of the
House District Committee was planned
today by Chairman Palmisano to take
effect when Congress convenes in
special session November IS.
Palmisano proposes to abolish all
existing special subcommittee except
one, and create in their stead nine
or ten standing subcommittee charged
with considering specific classes of pro-
posed legislation. The only special
subcommittee to be given a stay of
execution is the one appointed late
IN the last session of Congress to in
vestigate the Capital Transit Co.,
which has not completed its work.
Standing subcommittee were abo]-
ished by former Chairman Norton
soon after the last Congress convened
because she believed too many bills
were allowed to die from inaction in
these subcommittees. She adopted the
policy of referring bills to special SUBJ
committees and pressing them for ac-
ton.
Sees Former Plan Best.
Palmisano, however, feels that
standing subcommittee, delegated to
consider certain types of legislation,
Will be far better qualified to solve
problems submitted to them, than spe-
cial subcommittee, made up of mem.
bers who, in some instances. are to.
tally unfamiliar with the varied ar
ray OF subjects assigned to them for
consideration.
Indications are Palmisano viii re-.
establish all of the standing SUBJ
committees Mrs. Norton abolished with
the possible exception of the one Gre
ated several years ago to investigate
crime conditions. These subcommit-
tees are:
l. Judiciary.
2. Education.
8. Public Utilities.
4. Streets and Trafic.
S. Fiscal Affairs.
6. Public Health, Hospitals and
Charities.
Z. Parks and Fairgrounds.
.. Insurance and Banking.
8. Police and Fire.
Tentative Slate Disclosed.
Selection of chairmen of the stand
ing subcommittee, Palmsano said.
will be difficult because a number of
members OF the full committee are
qualified, from previous experience, to
head two or three different groups.
A tentative slate, however, follows:
Representative Nichols, Democrat.
OF Oklahoma Judiciary; Representa-
tive McGehee, Democrat, of Missis-
sippi (educationD; Representative Ran
dolph, Democrat, Of West Virginia
public utilities; Representative
Schultz, Democrat, of Indiana (streets
and traf1c) :, Representative Kennedy.
Democrat. of Maryland fiscal afYairs)
Representative Jenckes, Democrat. of
Indiana public health, hospitals and
charities); Representative Allen. DEM
ocrat, Of Delaware (parks and play
grounds; Representative Arnold.
Democrat, Of Illinois 1nsurance and
banking. and Representative Sacks.
Democrat, of Pennsylvania (police
and fire).
To Resume Transit Inquiry.
Randolph will continue to serve as
chairman OF the special subcommit-
tee investigating the transit company
until its report is submitted to the
full committee. This subcommittee
held several hearings prior to ad-
Journment Of the last session of Con-
gress. and Randolph announced re-
Gently the inquiry would not be re-
sumed until January. There is
strong likelihood now, in view of the
special session, that Randolph will
call the subcommittee together to
renew the probe the latter part of
next month.
The inquiry grew out Of two bills
introduced at the last session by Rep
resentative Dirksen, Republican. OF
Illinois. a member of the District
Committee. One would fix the maxi
mum rate Of fare on bus and street
cars at Z cents. The other is designed
to abolish one-man street car opera.
tionS