The Washington times., 1911-03-30
Record Roues Representative Ben Johnson Hostile To
Districts Desires Utaslated for Committee Chairman

MI Johnson-Persons as old as sixty
six years attend these schools.
MI. Gardner-Mr. Chairman, It Is well
known that we have system of night
schools here that does not limit the
age. The gentleman from Kentucky
does NOT present the matter to the
House and the country as it should be.
In the day schools they have truant
officers, and so far as the committee Is
advised they are doing the work well.
The unfairness of this criticism of
Mr.. Johnson's Is best appreciated when
considered in connection with the fact
that only children below the compul-
sorry school attendance age limit are
under the jurisdiction Of the truant Of
ficers, for whom the appropriation IN
question was provided.
When the report of the conference
committee on the District appropriation
bill was made to the House Of Repre-
sentatfves on February % Mr.. Johnson
announced that he would reserve all
points or order on the report. His first
objection was to the appropriation for
a municipal asphalt plant, which he had
already beaten on point OF order
when the bill was before the House.
Speaking on the conference report he
said:
"Mr. Speaker. this matter was
stricken out on a point OF order in
the House, 1t went over TO the SEN
ate, and the Senate did not make pro-
onN Conference itself has done So
Therefore, II is new legislation, un-
authorized by law: and these con-
ferees have undertaken TO legisiate
about a matter that this House knows
nothing about. Nearly 500 men In
these two bodies are without lnfor-
nation concerning IL. have not been
given an opportunity to know any;
| thing about 1t. and for that reason l
| object to il and make a point OF
order"
Forgot Tawney's Explanation
I Mr.. Johnson. in making this state
ment. evidently forgot the forceful
and comprehensive explanation of the
asphalt situation in the District made
by Mr.. Tawney. the chairman of the
| House Appropriations Committee, at
the very time that Mr.. Johnson
| knocked the item out of the House
bill. In reply to Mr.. Johnson's declar-
ation that he knew nothing about the
| asphalt situation. and that nobody else
| in the House knew anything about
| 1t. Mr.. Gardner said:
| "The hearings before the subcom-
| mittee were printed, and every men,
: Der of the House had access to them"
Mr.. Johnson's point Of order, how
| ever. was sustained, and the asphalt
| plant item was thereby put to sleep
| for keeps
On March 2 Mr.. OIcott brought up a
/ bill providing certain increases in the
4 funds available for pensions for hre-
| men and policemen in the District. Mr.
| Johnson at once took the floor against
| the measure and opposed it's consider
| alton under suspension of the rules
! which requires a two-thirds vote. After
| a long debate, in which Mr.. johnson
attacked the pension bill, declaring that
| II mulcted the Treasury and increased
| pensions-vhich was denied by Mr.. Oh
| colt and Mr.. Mann-the House declined
1 to vote to suspend the rules.
| Again, on March 3, Mr.. Johnson
! blocked an effort 10 consider District
| legislation in the House. The unan-
| imous consent calendar was taken up.
! and by his single objection in that one
| day Mr.. Johnson prevented considera-
| ton Of the following measures:
| Widening of Sixteenth street at Ptney
/ Branch.
| Making appropriation|for deficiency In
/ Districts expenditures for 1893.
| Extension of Underwood street.
| Teachers retirement
| Extension of Barry place northwest.
: Police and firemen's pensions.
Support of wife and minor children by
husband.