Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-23
NO MORE WITHDRAWALS
The House Must Act on District Bills
Called Up
Mr.. Heard Tired of Being Left With
out q Quorum-Either
Pass OF Reject.

Next Monday Is District day In the House
Of Representatives. This does not mean
necessarily that any District business will
be transacted. From past records it rather
means that the day will be wasted in OBJ
struction. This is not q fault that can be
charged with Justice to the District COM
mittee but rests at the door Of those Con-
gressmen who constantly absent themselves
when local affairs are under considera ton.
The disgust felt by citizens at the MONACO
tion Of Congress on important measures Is
fully shared by the committee itself, and
speaking Of the matter. Mr.. Heard said to
Star reporter today that as long as ne
was chairman Of the District committee ne
would never withdraw another bill after It
had been called up for consideration.
1T Is an outrage" he said, that the
House should give with one hand only to
take away with the other. That q day
should be given US for District business,
ana then a quorum refused. In future, OF
course, the committee can arrange the or.
der OF business for District days, and It
VIII be followed In calling up bills, but when
a bill is once called UP / propose that the
House shall take some action on It, either
favorable or adverse II q quorum II re-
fused, why the bill will stay there Just the
same. and the country can know that
enough members will not attend on District
days to transact busiE ess. Hitherto many
bills have been withdrawn when opposition
has developed on the plea that there were
other bills waiting, to which there was no
We are all pretty weary of that
sort OF business. which leaves the dictation
In the hands Of any man who in the alb
sence OF quorum. can throttle q measure
without difficulty.
Hereafter. as in the past, the committee
Is going to take every care in the bills 1t
reports. and Is going TO expect that when
these bills are called up the House will take
some action on them. Persons interested
In bills further down on the calendar need
not expect that their bills are going to be
reached by the withdrawal Of further ad-
vanced bills. The only way their own bills
can be reached Is by keeping a quorum and
disposing Of the others. What we ask and
what we have a right to ask Is that the
House furnish us with a quorum on Dis
trict days. Then the action that is taken
on bills Is something entire.y within the
discretion OF the House. anc whether bills
are passed. amended or defeated will not
interfere with our happiness - any extent"
The other members Of the committee are
In accord with MIR. Heard In his views and
are quite vigorous In their uenuncia ton of
the present condition Of apathy in the
House In regard to District matters. The
inittee Is iaborious. and, so far as their own
districts are concerned. unproductive Of DO
itical results, and they hold that the House
owes II to them at least to furnish members
enough for the tran saction of business on
which they have worked hard. The District
committee members are especially sore owe :
the remarks of some members Of the House
District measures.
On Monday the unfinished business will
be the bill amending the Suburban railroad
charter.