Evening star., 1940-05-09
Six D. {. Bills
Voted by Senate
Committee
One Measure O. KID
Asks Recodificution
Of All LocuI Lows Z

The Senate District Committee to-
day voted favorable reports on six
bills, including a proposed recodifi-
cation Of all local laws, but post
poned until next week the Capper
bill to regulate primaries for the
selection of District delegates to the
national political convention.
Proposed revision of the District
code was approved after Senator
Bilbo, Democrat, of Mississippi de-
clared it has not been done for 10
years. Supporting the proposal,
Corporation Counsel Seal said the
compilation of local statutes made
In 1929 was not a codification and
that one was needed.
Bills Acted Upon.
The five other bills that now 60 to
the Senate for action are:
Revision of the District parole law,
to bring it into closer conformity
with the Federal parole system.
To authorize consumer co-opera-
tives to incorporate under District
laws.
To make minor changes in the
law governing adoption of children
here.
To allow the Commissioners to
rent to city employees excess parking
space in the new municipal center
garage.
To make former Policeman Amos
B. Cole eligible for retirement bene-
fits.
The adoption and parole bills
have passed the House, but all the
others require action by both
branches of Congress.
Denounce Present System.
Senator Capper, Republican, of
Kansas and Senator Clark, Demo-
crat, Of Idaho urged approval of the
bill to set election machinery for
the political primaries, denouncing
the present system of choosing local
delegates without official regulation.
Corporation Counsel Seal joined in
criticising the existing situation.
After 1t had been suggested, how
ever, that it is too late to enact a
primary law in time for this years
national conventions, Senator Over
tons Democrat, of Louisiana asked
that committee members be given
time to study the measure further.
Chairman King said he would call
another meeting before the session
ends.
Action on bills to regulate den
t1stry and pediatry also were post
poned when Senator Clark an
nounced the subcommittee handling
them plans to hold hearings.
In discussing the proposed pri-
mary law, Senator Capper called
the present method of selecting del
egates here as "a joke" adding that
comparatively few persons take part
in the voting.
Senator Clark, another member
Of the subcommittee that held hear
1ngs on the subject, said that at
present there is control by q little
self-appointed group in both par
ties" He said there is no moral
turpitude involved. They just get
control and hold on"
Branded "Disgraceful."
Answering the suggestion that 1t
is too late to arrange for an officially
regulated primary this year, Senator
Clark said if action is not taken at
this session, the whole subject will
have to be gone over again in the
next Congress. He told the commit
tee the supporters of the bill
painted. picture of an absolutely
disgraceful, though not necessarily
corrupt" situation in choosing the
local delegates without an official
primary.
The committee referred to a sub
committee the House bill to let
school teachers take leave with par
tial pay for educational purposes,
after Supt. of Schools Ballou had
outlined several perfecting amend
ments.
The parole bill was approved upon
recommendation of the Commits
sioners and Frank r. Jelled Of the
District Parole Board.