Evening star., 1938-12-25
Bv JESSE G. SUTER.

Christmas shopping and neigh
borhood celebrations have, to a
large degree, pushed aside much
of the civic activities. In the
outlying sections considerable ef-
fort has been put into lighting
community Christmas trees and
encouraging a wholesome rivalry
between the neighbors to spread
the atmosphere of good cheer
through exterior decoration of
the homes. The many colored
electric lights and the low-priced
electric current have enabled
householders to let others enjoy
with them this joyous season. In
several of the communities asso-
Citations have offered cash prizes
for the best displays, to be judged
much after the manner of the
lawn and flower contests in the
summer.
The week just closed was notable
for three important announce
ments Of particular interest to the
District. These were that Repre-
sentative Jennings Randolph,
Democrat, of West Virginia is to
be chairman of the House Dis
trict Committee: Senator Elmer
Thomas, Democrat, of Oklahoma
will retire from the District SUBJ
committee Craftsmanship of the
Senate Appropriations Commit
tee and that the District of Co.
lumbia for the first time in its
history is to have justice of the
United States Supreme Court as
signed to this circuit. The JUS
tice SO assigned is none other
than Chief Justice Hughes. This
recognition inclines one to the
belief that the District may yet
be considered part of the
United States.
The appointment of Repre-
sentative Randolph as chairman
of the House District Committee
is expected to be very gratifying
to the organized citizenry of the
District as the retirement of Sem
ator Thomas from the Appropria-
tions Subcommittee chairman
ship will be regretted. Senator
John H. Overton, Democrat, Of
Louisiana who will succeed Sem
ator Thomas is member OF the
District Committee and familiar
with District affairs.
The most important civic event
of the past week was the final
approval, though not by a unani-
nous vote, of the our-point tax
alton revision program of the
Commissioners Tax Advisory
Committee. The plan as ap-
proved has been placed in the
hands of the experts of the Con-
gressional Joint Committee on
Internal Revenue Taxation with
out a supporting report. These
experts are required to report to
the House of Representatives by
January IS.
There will be a break in the
usual festivities of the last week
in the year by the hearing by the
Commissioners on the proposed
regulations to control the move
ment of pedestrians on the high
ways of the District for their own
protection and safety. A large
outpouring of citizens is expected
to attend. The original proposal
for this hearing promised that it
would be in a more commodious
place than in the boardroom in
the District Building, which has
had Office rooms partitioned off
at both ends.
1t has not been announced
whether the hearing will be of
the popular town meeting type or
on a time apportioned basis,
spread out through the day
and only a few persons present
at any time. Many feel that the
former type of hearings is more
valuable as gauge of public sem
timent on q matter which must
have popular support to succeed.
$50 Years Ago Maryland Ceded
Sovereignty Over D. C. to U. S.
Another anniversary of interest
to the District of Columbia oc.
Cured on Friday last. On De-
cember %. 1888, the Legislature
of the State of Maryland passed
the act ceding the present area
covered by the District Of Co.
lumbia to the United States as
its part Of the site Of the seat
Of the Government Of the United
States. Thus II was Just $50 years
ago that the sovereignty Of the
State Of Maryland was trans.
ferred 10 the National Govern.
msnt. II was simply . csesion of