Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-21
HOUSE DOESN'T AGREE
Refuses to Consider Pension
Office for Ball.
LIKED BY THE SENATE
UNABLE TO TAKE UP JOINT
RESOLUTION TODAY.
Representative Morrell of the District
Committee Disappointed-Some
Suggestions Offered.
LIKED BY THE SENATE

| 1cluScu " COilSltiSl tliC ,1ShotN JNiii'
resolution authorizing the use OF the
pension office for the inaugural ball.
Representative Mann of Illinois in
terposed the objection which made
it impossible for the House to take
tip the resolution by unanimous con-
sent. At twenty minutes of O'Clock
the House adjourned for the Christ
mas holidays, and will not meet until
| January 4.
| In the regular order the inaugural propo-
| stion will not come up until the sec
ond Monday in January, but it is probable
| that it will be taken up by unanimous con-
sent immeda tely after the body recon-
| venes and disposed of.
| Soon after the House convened this morn
| ing and the journal had been approved
! Representative Morrell of Pennsylvania,
member of the District of Columbia conn
mittee, who has had the inaugural resolu-
ton in charge. asked unanimous consent
for present consideration of Senate joint
| resolution 81, authorizing the use of the
| pension office for the inaugural ball, and
| providing for carrying out the plans of the
| inaugural committee. Representative Mann
| of Illinois announced that he reserved the
| right to object.
'
| announced that he also reserved the right
! to object but that first he desired to call
| the attention of the House to the amend
| ment he proposed on Monday to the inau-
| gural resolution reported from the District
| committee providing for the of the
| Capitol for the ball. making it necessary
| for the members of the inaugural commit
| tee 10 give bond for the restoration of all
| government land ana property used during
| the inauguration to its original condition.
| Representative Morrell said he had no OBJ
TO n flffNG4r at
taChed
Representative Underwood of Alabama
| wanted to know by what committee the
| Senate resolution for which unanimous
consent was asked by Mr.. Morrell, had
| been reported to the House. Mr.. Morrell
| explained that the original resolution was
| drawn by the committee on the District of
| Columbia.
Has that committee taken any further
action asked Mr.. Underwood.
! There has been no formal meeting" Mr..
| MOrrell replied, but l took a poll of those
| members now in town"
| In reply to a question by Mr.. Underwood
| as to how many members of the committee
were now in Washington, Mr.. Morrell called
| off from his lists the names of Representa-
| tives Smith, Allen, Cowherd, Morrell, Nor
| gan Slemp. Davis. Wiley, Meyer and Pue,
| vino. he said had subscribed TO the poll.
| There are sixteen members of the commit
| tee.
''Then as understand it," said Mr.. I'm
derwood the absent members do not know
ANYTHING of this actiOn?"
! Mr.. Morrell admitted that it had been
| impossible to notify them. but he insisted
| that from the testimony taken before the
| committee recently and from the attitude of
| the members on that accession he was sure
the absentee members would feel that the
passage of the Senate resolution calling for
the use of the pension office was the best
thing possible under the circumstances.
| Mr. Underwood, continuing his remarks,
| said he did not think direct objection
| which might act as an obstacle thrown in
the way of the inaugural committee would
come well from the democratic side of the
| chamber, and for that reason he would not
make a personal objection.
He did not think it was proper, however,
to dispose of so important a matter as the
Inaugural resolution in such a hurried ana
| Informal manner, and when so many men,
| bers of the House who might like TO speak
! for themselves. were not in their seats lie
| thought if particularly Objectionable that so
| many members of the District committee
were not there Ito see the gentleman from
Pennsylvania CMr. MorrelD change his
I,tlctics."
Representative Mann of Illinois. who had
previously reserved the right to object, then
took up the opposition where Mr. Under
wood had dropped it He inquired of MI
| Morrell whether it was not fact that the
| District of Columbia committee had not
first settled on the Congressional Library
| as the best place for holding the inaugural
ball. Mr.. Morrell admitted that this was
And then" said Mr.. Mann. did not the
committee switch and decide to recommend
the Capitol?''
at did, admitted Mr.. Morren
And now continued Mr.. Mann sarcas-
tically. you have switched again and have
gone over to the pension office.
The Reasons Why.
THE committee has taken this latter ac-
ton" Mr.. Morrill, explained good naturedly,
! because of the very apparent disposition
of the House. manifested when this matter
was up before last Monday. in favor of
| the pension office. That's why this Senate
resolution is now reported"
Did you think" inquired Mr.. Mann,
| chat the people who voted against con-
sideration of the amendment to have the
ball in the Capitol did so because they
| wanted the pension Officer
Mr. Morrell said it was not entirely that,
but that he had certainly gathered the
impression, had the other members of
| the District committee that the majority
of the members of the House were in ia
vor of the pension office as the best place
for holding the inaugural function.
Well said Mr.. Mann, Il think for my
part that if the members of the District
of Columbia COMMITTEES can change their
minds so often about this matter that the
House should at least have chance to
talk II over. Not twenty-five per cent of
the members of this House are at present
in their seats or even in Washington, and
their views on the subject may be of in
|
After further discussion Mr.. Mann said
he would leave that particular phase of
the subject for moment and take up
something else. He then read the following
section of tie inaugural joint resolution:
Inaugural Joint Resolution.
said Commissioners of the District of
Columbia are hereby authorized and direct
ed 20 make all reasonable regulations neces-
sary 20 secure such preservation of public
order and protection of life and property
and fixing fares by public conveyance. and
to make special regulations respecting the
standing movements and operating of We
hicles of whatsoever character or kind, dur
ing said period"
Does not that section give the Commits
sioners the right to change the existing cab
fares and even the car fares, If they want
to do SOP" inquired Mr.. Mann.
"rhen," said Mr.. Mann, after Mr. Nor
rell had admitted that the Commissioners
were given such right by the section in
| question. cit gives them the right to make
| the cab fares and car fares higher, If they
want to, doesn't it?"
cit was not put in the bill for that pur-
| pose" rejoined Mr. Morrell. 1T was put
there to keep the cabmen from making ex-
| orbitant charges"