Evening star., 1937-02-04
SENATE D. c. BODY
T0BEG|NS STUDYOF
REORGANIZATION
Defers DeIiberation on Fis-
cal Relations Awaiting
House Investigation.
KING TO ASK $4,000
TO DEFRAY EXPENSES
Resolution Will Be Broad Enough
to Cover Weighing Of Jacobs
and Roberts Reports.
BY J. A. O'LEARY.

The Senate District Committee to-
day decided TO begin an inquiry into
proposals for reorganization Of the
District government. deferring its
study Of fiscal relations and tax prob
lens until the House has made its in
vestigation into those two features Of
the Jacobs report.
The committee also voted favorable
reports en- five bills, including the
measure to tighten the gambling law
and the proposed uniform sales act.
To pave the way for the reorganiza-
ton survey, Chairman King an
nounced he will offer a resolution in
the Senate outlining the scope Of the
inquiry and asking for an allotment
of not to exceed $4,000 to cover the
expense. The resolution will have to
be referred 10 the Audit and Control
Committee TO pass on the expenditure
before the Senate acts.
To Cover All Phases Of Report.
Although the resolution will be broad
enough to cover hearings on all phases
of the Jacobs report and the report on
District reorganization prepared two
years ago BY former PeoDle's Counsel
William A. Roberts, King explained at
the meeting that, since tax changes
must originate in the House, the
Senate group should concentrate on
reorganization until the House has
had time to 90 into fiscal relations
and taxes He said the Senate COM
mittee could work into its reorganlza-
ton hearings the question Of suffrage,
or giving residents more voice in Dis
trict affairs.
Although the conclusions and recon-
mendations growing out of the inquiry
will be passed on by the entire COM
mlttee. il was agreed today to have the
hearings conducted by special sub
committee. to be named later by
Chairman King.
The reorganization report OF two
years ago. made by Roberts, District
Auditor Donovan and representative
of the Budget Bureau. consisted OF a
number of large volumes. While most
of it was factual description OF the
history and existing set-up OF the
municipal government. Roberts reached
certain conclusions which have not
been published. Senator King said one
of the first steps will be to have the
former peoples counsel revise and
condense the recommendations in
that report.
In other words. the committee will
analyze jointly both the Roberts and
Jacobs reports.
The program adopted today resulted
from a preliminary conference Tues
day between Senators King and Cap
Der. who we're designated to outline
procedure.
Other Bills Reported.
Other bills reported favorably this
morning were the measure to define
the qualifications of persons entitled
to practice law in the District. and
two measures to grant licenses under
the healing art law.
The gambling bill is the same meas
ure that died in the House last year
after the Senate had passed it. Cor
poration Counsel Seal told the COM
rittee it is intended primarily to
strengthen the efforts of the police to
break up the numbers game. The bill
is recommended by the Commissioners
and District Attorney Garnett's Office.
The uniform sales act is intended
to clarity the laws here governing the
legal conditions surrounding the sale
of goods, and is similar to the stand
ard code IN force in most OF the
States. Both this measure and the
lawyer qualification bill passed the
Senate, but did not get through the
House last year..
Senators Copeland, Hughes and Cap
per were named a subcommittee TO
consider the bill to establish a new
system for handling lunacy proceed
ings, including creation of lunacy
commission.
Another subcommittee will be ap-
pointed later to hold hearings on the
proposed new juvenile court law.