Evening star., 1938-04-10
JESSE G. SUTER.

= Took in the District of CO.
lumbia's immortal right of
petition took decided slump
~ on Tuesday when the House
District Committee elected a rep
resentative group of citizens from
its meeting. They had come,
through arrangement with the
chairman of the committee, to
present the views of the various
organized groups on the pending
District tax bill. This was the first
opportunity any of these organiza-
tions had to discuss the bill with
the committee since its completion
and introduction in the House by
the subcommittee.
The committee continued to con-
slider the bill in executive session
and reported it to the House on
Thursday. 1t is understood that If
the District gets its day tomorrow
the bill will be called up for con-
sideration. Some Of the special in
terests affected by the bill are ex-
pected to make fight against some
OF its provisions. The features to
which District taxpayers object, it
is feared, will not produce many
champions of the voteless and un-
represented District.
Two important District measures
were signed by the President dur
ing the week. These we're the 1899
appropriation act. carrying SAT-
255,l55, and the so-called num-
bers' bill, tightening up the gam
bling laws. While the appropria-
ton bill creates several difficult
problems through the closing of the
National Training School for Girls
and the Receiving Home for Chill
dren, it is believed that the amend
ments to the gambling law will, to
a large extent, solve the numbers
game problem.
Last Monday saw the opening
for business Of the Small Claims
and Cancellation Branch of the
Municipal Court. A rather formal
ceremony attended the Inaugural
ton Of this new method in our local
judicial machinery. 1t was consid-
cred as fitting that the first men,
Der OF the court to preside over
this new branch should be Judge
Nathan Cayton. Judge Cayton, a
native of the District. was the first
to advance the idea for this inno-
vation and he continued through
a long period to advocate the
change and explain its many ad-
vantages In this work he had
many prejudices to overcome, par
ticularly among some of his
brethren of the bar, who were not
inclined to look with favor on new
methods in court procedure.
The Commissioners issued a new
order restricting the parking of
motor vehicles at street intersec-
tions. The new limit is to prohibit
parking at all times within 20 feet
of the building line of the inter-
secting street and within 100 feet
of all light intersections.
The reason for the rule is to in
crease the safety and cut down
accidents.
The records show that so per
cent of accidents occur at street
intersections through parked We
hicles obstructing the view. The is
suance of this order, which becomes
effective this week, has raised loud
chorus of protests by motorists who
fear they will never be able to find
parking space with the area so
largely reduced.
Some of the students of civic
problems express the opinion that
the situation calls for an intensive
study of the entire problem and
the preparation Of a comprehensive
plan covering term of years, so
that the streets may be relieved
OF doing garage duty. If pro-
gressive plan be put into operation
the change may be made gradually
and with a minimum of incon-
venience and hardship on the
motor car taxpayers.
Among the good news which the
immediate future has in store for
the District is that the water front
improvement is to start at once.
This is doubly good news, for the
District is only being required to
pay for the improvements which
are to be used exclusively by the
District government.
The Proposed Unofficial Ballot
To Determine Suffrage Wishes.
HOLDING an unofficial election,
or referendum, in a COM
munity without election machinery,
election laws or registration lists
is considered by some of the civic
groups as a large order. In the
absence of all such requisite elec-
tion paraphernalia there are some
who regard it as a hazardous un-
dertaking, especially if attempted
on too short notice.
This vital problem has been pre-
cipitated by the recent decision of
the Executive Committee of the
District Suffrage Council to hold
such an election on Saturday, April
80, 1888, to determine whether the
residents of the District want suf-
frage and possibly what kind.
These proponents are earnest peo-
pie who are anxious to be in
position to answer the question
propounded by some members of
Congress-"Do the District people
really want to vote?"
On all questions Of District legis-
lation petitions are the only way
open for the residents to register
their desires either as individuals
or through the action of their Or
carnations. On the question of
suffrage there has been a division
of opinion as to whether it should
be for local officers or for represen-
tation in Congress and the electoral
college, or both. Some of the or
ganizations have declared for suf-
frage OF all kinds and some only
for national representation. But
all nf tho 1aa dinu oroo ni1o tjons