Evening star., 1937-04-01
Authority Will Be Usurped
if They Are Not Killed,
It Believes.
HOSPITAL, PLAYGROUND
JURISDICTION DEBATED
Course Mapped Out at 90-Minute
Session Preceding House Con-
sideration of Supply Bill.
BY JAMES E. CHINN.

The House District Committee today
made definite plans to fight vigorously
10 Of the 81 legislative riders on the
1888 appropriation bill-riders it be-
lieves will usurp its authority and pre-
negatives unless killed.
The course of action was mapped
out at Commute executive session
preceding consideration of the supply
bill by the House.
The principal targets of attack will
be provisions in the bill for transfer
ring jurisdiction over Gallinger Hos
pttal and the new tuberculosis sana-
toria at Glenn Dale, Md, from the
Board of Public Welfare to the Health
Department.
Points of order also are to be made
against riders transferring 20 munich
pal Fairgrounds to control of the Com
nunity Center Department of the
public schools and providing an ap-
preparation for District officials to
make survey looking toward reorgan-
tzation of the municipal government
In the interest of efficiency and
economy.
Decision Is Explained.
Immediately after the executive ses-
don Chairman Norton issued brief
statement explaining the decision of
her committee to fight the recon-
T1endations of the Appropriations
Committee.
I'VE are not antagonistic to the Ap-
propriations Committee or the supply
bill" she declared. This is ques-
ton whether legislative committee is
necessary. If the Appropriations Com
E1ittee can legislate as well as appro-
pirate then the Legislative Commit
tee Is not necessary.
"A rider-a red rider-waS attached
20 the appropriation bill two years ago
and caused great deal Of trouble and
confusion. We certainly don't want to
30 through that again. Our commit
tee feels it Is its duty to watch out
tor such proposed legislation on ap-
preparation bills"
The plans Of the Legislative Com
Anittee to fight the 10 riders appar-
ntly has not worried Chairman Col
Inns Of the subcommittee on appropria-
tons which framed the supply bill.
II am ready for anything that
might happen" Collins declared.
Collins knows If a point of order
k sustained against the rider for
transferring contrc! of the hospital
and sanatoria, the appropriations for
these institutions will be automatically
eliminated.
At the same time, members of the
Legislative Committee brushed up on
parliamentary procedure. They
learned that if the appropriations are
eliminated with the rider it will be
possible to have the funds restored
with an amendment which would
leave control of the institutions under
the Welfare Board
Mrs. Norton believes the Appro-
priations Committee has gone be-
yond its authority in attempting TO
dictate the types of tax bills which
should be enacted for the District to
raise revenue to offset an anticipated
100000 deficit in the coming fiscal
year. While Collins introduced the
measures, and has the privilege of so
doing, she feels they were Matched"
N his subcommittee.
The Appropriations Committee has
gone so far into the legislative field,
Mrs Norton pointed out, that she may
as well abolish special subcommittee
she created about a week ago to study
proposals for reorganizing the Dis
trict government in the interest of
efficiency and economy