Evening star., 1937-12-19
BY JESSE C. SUTER.

A 8 CIVIC leaders endeavor to
~ pause in their fight for
~ Washington long enough
to do belated Christmas
shopping they are confronted with
a perfect avalanche of civic news
and information. The last week
began with the release of the
long looked for report of the Citi-
zens' Efficiency Committee on Re-
organization Of the District Gov
ernment. This document has been
transmitted by the Commissioners
to Congress and it is proposed that
a joint hearing be had by the Sen
ate and House District Committees
on the plans for reorganization.
The report is a conservative out
line Of proposed changes in the
District set-up and has been re-
ceived with very favorable COM
ment by civic leaders and the
press.
The District budget hearings are
reported to be under way before
the District Subcommittee of the
House Committee on Appropria-
tions. The usual secrecy prevails
so the taxpayers are absolutely in
the dark as to what the budget
package, prepared by the Bureau
OF the Budget, contains. All that
the District taxpayers know about
the matter is that they will be ex-
pected to pay more taxes to meet
the 1889 budget in order that the
Federal Government may continue
to avoid the payment of its equit-
able share OF the cost of running
the National Capital.
Representative Scott, Democrat,
of California, has announced his
intention of pushing the bill to
provide for public defender for
the District. This announcement
followed action of the District Bar
Association approving the idea
of introducing the public defender
system, but disapproving the Scott
bill
Senator Reynolds, Democrat, OF
North Carolina. proposes to seek
early consideration in the regular
session of Congress of the bill for
advisory referenda in the Dis
trict. This is a proposal Of Com
missioner George E. Allen which
has had considerable study by the
civic groups, but as yet no con-
greSsional hearings. 1t is planned
to hold hearings early after the
first Of the year.
Traffic and safety problems have
been engaging the attention of a
subcommittee of the House Dis
trict Committee during the week
and, if the chairman of the COM
mittee really has the backing of
the House in statements he has
given out, some drastic legislation
will result. The Commissioners
have been told that they should
Immediately prohibit all-night
parking and restrict day parking.
The indications are that the Com
missioners will withhold drastic
action, until Congress. by legisla-
ton, indicates its desires very
definitely.
The Corporation Counsel has
ruled that the Federation of Citi-
zens' Associations lost its opportu-
nifty to obtain rehearing and a
later court review of the Capital
Transit rate case, through failure
to file its petition within the time
limit of 80 days prescribed by the
statute. 1t thus appears that the
federation twice through failure to
act promptly, stepped out of the
picture in this case. The other
lapse was the omission to file brief
within the time granted by the COM
mission and later extended.
The Citizens Advisory Commit
tee on Taxation is reported to be
endeavoring to shape up its report
to the Commissioners. Citizens on
this committee have been carrying
on in executive session at the re-
quest of the Commissioners and
the result will not be disclosed until
released by them.