Evening star., 1909-01-25
INVITES GOV. HUGHES |OANCE IN THE COURT
president Asks New Yors Pension Office Granted for the
Executive to Dinner. Inaugural Ball.
looming is OF INTEREST Mr.. SIMS IN OPPOSITION
Politicians Regard the Visit Declares the Function Is Wholly
Significant Commercial Affair
MAY BE RoosEvELTs OPPONENT VOTE WAS AGAINST 4s
OF o'ei
When s"oteo IN course OF 'ne LIS
~. s.s.,on M..ts a Jim"
Pension Office Granted for the
Inaugural Ball.
Mr.. SIMS IN OPPOSITION
Declares the Function Is q Wholly
Commercial Affair.
VOTE WAS 1872 AGAINST 43
Prices of Hotel Accommodations
Quoted in Course Of the Dis
cussion-Slap at "our Jim"

BY a vote of 192 to 43 the House OF
Representatives today passed the reso-
luton authorizing the use Of the pension
ONCE for the inaugural ball. The only
member to speak In opposition to the
resolution was Representative Sims Of
Tennessee. Mr.. Sims occupied the time
of the House for forty minutes, although
he knew that the passage OF the permis-
sive resolution was foregone conclusion.
Immediately after the House met this
morning Chairman Smith Of the House
District committee called up the House
joint resolution which was adopted last
District day. two weeks ago, and moved
to amend 1t by striking out all save the
enacting clause and substituting there
fore the Senate joint resolution. He took
this course because In order to have con-
sidered the Senate joint resolution under
its own number 1t would have been neces-
sary for the House to go into committee
of the whole. time-consuming process.
Also. the Senate resolution was consid-
cred as an amendment. as the House
resolution did not contain permission for
| the use of the pension office.
Sims Charges Lobbying.
Mr.. Smith made a brief explanation Of
the situation, and then Mr.. Sims was
recognized. He opposed the resolution, al
! though he admitted that the resolution
would pass. because there has been q
great deal of work by many people to Sc
cure its passage" and also because 4
distinguished member Of this House. Mr..
Sherman. Is to be a participant in the
festivities.
But Mr.. Sims insisted that the inau.
gural ball was a purely commercial affair
and that Congress should not authorize
the use of the pension office for a dance
hall He declared that the people Of
Washington did not put up the money or
take any financial responsibility for the
affair inasmuch as 1t did not cost them
anything.
The country puts up the money and
the people OF Washington pull it down."
He thought the House would do itself
honor by defeating the resolution.
Baths Come High.
Mr.. SIMS then read letters received
by member Of Congress from the man.
dSe!Ecut VI ecfcTdI local nOteI8, Two OIL
them on Pennsylvania avenue. quoting
prices for the inaugural period. The let
ters from the avenue hotels quoted rates
Of 1926 and s75 for the Ave days Of the
inaugural pertod-this meaning he ex-
planned one room with bath-and the
other hotel of the avenue was somewhat
lower
When vote was taken II was seen that
those favoring the resolution were in a
| great majority. but Mr.. Sims demanded
| the yeas and NAYS But only thirty-four
| members supported the demand and It
was refused Then the vote was taken
| resulting 192 to 45 and the resolution was
passed Representative Hay of Virginia
and Representative Carlin of Virginia
were two of a number of democrats to
vote in favor Of the resolution.
Quarters for Oldest Inhabitants.
The House then took up and passed
without material discussion for amend
ment the Senate joint resolution
2024. authorizing the Oldest Inha bitants'
Associations joint use with the Veteran
Volunteer Firemen organization OF the
premises occupied by the latter. Mr..
Campbell of Kansas, having the resolu-
tion in charge, explained that there were
only twenty-seven members of the fire.
mems organization, and that the Oldest
lnha bttants Association. which was a
perpetual one. would take charge. when
away, of the old fire apparatus and other
relics of Washington's early days. The
resolution was then agreed to.
Mr.. Smith then called up the bill
making changes in the procedure for
admission to the Government Hospital
for the Insane across the river but it
was not considered. a point of order
was made and sustained that II was not
on the proper calendar.
The House then passed the resolution
| authorizing the use by the 9TH Mary
land Regiment of the corridors of the
courthouse from 6 pm March to I
| am. March 4th. This resolution was
opposed by Representative Sims Of
| Tennessee on the ground that there
was a federal statute prohibiting this
sort of thing.
| He admitted, however, that his opposi-
| ton was futile in view Of the sentiment
use of the pension Office for the inaugural
ball. and suggested that If the inaugural
committee happened to desire the use of
the White House it would probably
get it just as easily. The resolution was
passed. Mr.. Sims and one or two other
democrats registering the only votes in
opposition
Would Enforce Fire Escape Law.
Representative MeGavin Of Illinois next
called his resolution asking the District
Commissioners to explain the alleged nom
| enforcement Of the existing fire escape
| law. He said that certain property own
ers Of the District of Columbia had ap-
peared before the House District commit
tee to urge the passage OF an amendment
exempting from the provision Of the law
| fireproof apartment houses and other
structures. In response to queries they
had told the committee, Mr.. McGavin
said, that on the advice Of the District
Commissioners they had not compiled
with the law.
This" said Mr.. McGavin, lis an out
rage on the law perpetrated by the Com
missioners of the District. 1t is an out
| rage for them to say that they will en-
| deavor to have the law made to conform
to the building instead of having the
building conform to the law"
| Mr.. McGavin said the word ''freproof'
seemed. for some reason or other to have
| an extremely soothing effect on the Com
missioners He declared there was no such
| thing as a f1reproof building, as had been
proved by every big. confiagration In re-
cent years
, He said the Iroquois Theater in Chi
| cago was a supposedly fireproof theater,
vet hundreds Ct people lost their lives
when It burned. Thare was particularly
| deep damnation, he declared. awaiting
| those whose neglect resulted In loss Of
| life by fire. Representative Drscoll Of
| New York suggested that a certain time
| be named within which the Commits
| sioners be compelled to report the de-
| sired information to the House. but Mr..
Mann of Illinois opposed this as being