The Washington times., 1937-01-01
MUCH IS LEFT
T0BE DONE BY
NEW SESSION

INC hearts OF WaSAlngLOnldIlS IlaI
the Seventy.fifth Congress con.
vering Tuesday will do more for
the District Of Columbia than the
Sevcnty-fourth Congress did in
1896.
Although the groundwork was
Laid during the past year for much
important legislation which will
be acted on again this year, Con-
greSs in 1885 passed few measures
for the District
Leave Bills Noted
Perhaps the most important
measures enacted were the leave
bills. which restored to Govern
meut employees the leave privileges
wrestled from them in President
Ho1ver's economy act. These bills
gave Federal workers 26 days an
nuai leave and IS days sick leave.
A bill authorizing the merger
Of the Washington and George
town Gas Light Companies was
the only piece of major legislation
referred to the District Commit
tees which was enacted.
There were many fights, how
ever, as the result of which the
District may derive some benefits
during the coming year.
The fight over the Federal lump
sum contribution to the District
appropriation was one Of these.
The current appropriation bill,
which when finally enacted
amounted 20 $43, 1904 was held
UP while Senate and House quar-
eled over the amount of the Fed
eral contribution.
Senate Backed Down
The Senate held out for larger
contribution and the House for a
minimum contribution. with the
result that the Senate finally COM
promised, setting the figure at
$5,000,000 and establishing a COM
mission to adjust the controversy.
At the present time, that COM
mission is about to report, and the
1888 District appropriations bill
will be predicated on the figure
which it establishes. The results
OF the commission findings will
be revealed when President Roose-
velt delivers his budget message
next Friday.
Among the many congressional
upsets in the last election was the
defeat of Representative Thomas
L. Blanton CD, of Texas, chair
man of the House District Appro-
priationS subcommittee and vir-
tual dictator of Washington leg
tSlation.
1t was his amendment to the
1886 appropriation bill for the
District, providing that no Wash
tngton teachers could receive their
salaries who had taught or ad-
Vocated" communism, that pre-
cipitated the red rider" contro-
verSy last year.
Red Rider" Boon
Representative Fred SiSSon CD,
Of New York, who also will not re-
turn to Congress this year, intro
duced a bill repeating the red
rider" but after lengthy and
stormy hearings, the measure
never reached the floor.
It is expected. however, that the
new Congress will see further de-
bate on this legislation. A bill has
already been introduced providing
for the red rider" repeal.
Also on the House calendar
when Congress adjourned last
June was a bill amending the
lunacy laws. Representative Mary
T. Norton Cd, of New Jersey,
chairman of the House District
Committee, has announced that
she will reintroduce this measure
in the new Congress. The bill
would change the method of lu-
macy commitments so that insane
persons would not be hailed be-
fore lunacy court as they now
are.
Hearings were held during the
last session on Mrs. Norton's bill
to establish magistrate courts
here, but it is expected that this
measure will be superseded during
the next Congress by Judge Ma
than Cayton'S proposal to eStab-
iSh a small claims court here.
Child Court Fought
During the last session, Mrs.
Norton introduced bill to amend
the juvenile court law, liberalizing
the procedure Of the court so that
children brought before it would
be treated more leniently. Lengthy
hearings were held on this legis-
lation and many objections were
raised on the fact that the bill
would give too much power to the
juvenile court judge.
A special subcommittee was ap-
pointed, which is expected to re-
port to the full committee early
in the new Congress.
The bill to regulate small loans
in the District. which passed the
Senate in the first session Of the
last Congress, was not passed by
the House. Mrs. Norton introduced
a similar bill, on which hearings
were held, but no action was taken
on the floor.
Representative Henry C. Ellen
bogens bill to establish a rent
commission here to bring down
the local rents Was defeated after
three days of debating on the
House floor.
Construction Of an Anacostia
Park stadium was proposed and