Evening star., 1943-10-26
House Is Ready
.ToAid District,
Leader Pledges
Legislators Thanked
By Mccormack for
Cooperation on Bills

by the District were voiced yesterday
by Majority Leader Mccormack as
the House quickly passed four Dis
trict bills.
May I observe" Mr. Mccormack
said, that the Committee on the
District of Columbia has been given
every opportunity to bring up legis-
lation as quickly as possible after il
is reported out of the committee
The leadership on both sides of the
aisle has co-operated to the fullest
extent possible with the chairman
and the members of the Committee
on the District of Columbia in see
ing that legislation reported out re-
ceived prompt consideration.
CAS- a matter of fact, the leader
ship has enabled the legislation to
be brought up where it has been re-
ported out unanimously without
the committee being compelled to
wait until the regular District OF
Columbia day. Further, I think the
business in order on District of Co.
lumbia day has been dispensed with
as little delay during the last two
or three years as during any similar
period.
SHOULD Have Confidence"
The leadership on both sides
recognizes that while we are men,
bers of Congress we are also mem
bers of the legislative body of the
District of Columbia and that that
is quite serious trust. We want
to see that the people of the Dis
trlct receive as prompt considera-
ton in the passage of legislation
as possible. We want the Con-
gress and the legislative body of
the District to convey to the people
of the District of Columbia and
the city of Washington that knowl-
edge SO that they may have conf
dence in the fact that Congress as a
legislative body is legislating as
quickly as possible.
The chairman of the committee
and all Of the members are aware
OF that fact The condition will
as long as 1 am leader
but l am very much concerned about
the constant tendency and effort
on the part of some individuals
and particularly one of your news
I speak frankly and
impersonally-to bring about a mis-
understanding between the people
of the District and members of
Congress.
We should have confidence in one
another and respect for one another
l think that instead OF irving to
bring misunderstanding that they
should attempt to bring about a
feeling of confidence and under
standing. Certainly the Congress
during the last three years. and ]
am confining myself to that period
only, has done everything in its
power to convey to the people of the
District of Columbia the fact that
we recognize our trust and are leg
slating just as quickly as is humanly
possible, even not compelling the
committee to wait until its regula,
District day, in order to get legisla
ton through which relates to the
District.
Congratulates Committee.
L think it is only fair to make
these observations so that in the
future, instead of trying to bring
about feeling of MISUNDERSTANDING
that feeling of confidence and un-
derstandlng, which the action of the
members of Congress justifes, be a
better course to pursue"
Later Mr.. Mccormack said he be-
lleved the House District Committee
had done "a wonderful job"
Chairman Randolph of the House
District Committee said both House
Democrats and Republicans had co.
operated lin every way" with the
District Committee.
Title Law Changed.
One of the four approved meas.
ures provides system for clear.
ing the title to District pron.
critics sold at the annual tax deco
auctions for nonpayment of taxes
This was described as desirable. but
Mr.. Randolph and Represent.
ative Dirksen, Republican, of Hi.
nois both voiced dislike for the ia,
auction sales. The latter called the
practice archaic" He explained
that tax deed brokers come to the
sales from other States and bid or
the better properties, leaving the
District to bid in the cats and
dogs"
The purpose of the amendment
was to provide for removing the
tax deed cloud" from the title to
a property if the purchaser of the
tax deed fails to obtain a fee SIM
pie title. This can be done row
only through legal proceedings. The
new measure provides this may be
done after five years by the owner
paying the back taxes, plus interest
for the first two years, at II per
cent, and interest for the last three
Soio du eilC ldOC VI u pei CSlll.
Weapons Law Strengthened.
A second measure, designed to
the law against the car
rying of concealed weapons. al
ready has been approved by the
Senate and now goes to the White
House. 1t was recommended by the
Attorney General, who explained
that under present law a weapon
is not concealed" unless it actually
is concealed at the time it was
proved to be in the possession of
the defendant. Mr.. Dirksen said it
would not apply to sohtguns.
Another of the bills makes BIZ
cyclists, streetcar motormen and
operators of other vehicles subject
to the hit-and-run and drunken
driving rules of the Traffic Act al
ready applied to motorists.
The fourth measure passed bv
the House broadens the authority
OF the District Motor Vehicle Park
ing Agency, permitting it to use
District-owned property in develop
ment of off street parking facilities