The Washington herald., 1911-06-13
WIN
FIGHT FOR MONEY
House Finally Allows Dis
trict PrObers $1,000.
DEBATE LASTS TWO HOURS
Several Spirited Verbal TiIts Result
from Introduction of Report on
OldheId ReSOIutIon-On Vote of 81
to AZ, House Prohibits Expendi-
lures Outside of the District. -

The prospective probers of District af-
fairs were granted their 5000 expense
money by the House yesterday, but only
after a spirited wrangle
In the face Of a virtual promise from
Chairman Johnson that the money asked
for the probe would not be expended
for expenses incurred outside of the Dis
trict, and in spite of tho evident interest
on this point by the House, the Commit
tee on Accounts. to which the Oldfield
resolution authorizing tie expenditure of
that amount was referred, sought to
strike out the prohibitory clause relating
tc expenses outside of the District. Some
one discovered the difference, and it took
two hours to straighten the matter up. A
TCll call vas necessary. and the clause
was reinscrted by a vote of 50 to 4.
Kansas vs.. Missouri.
Several discussions only distantly re-
lated to the subject were INDUCED in, and
Representatives Campbell, Of Kansas.
and Shackleford. Of Missouri both OF
whom formerly were members Of the
District Committee, had a merry time
telling each other what they thought OF
each others service for the District. Mr..
Shackleford said he hadn't attended the
meetings OF the District Committee be-
cause he soon was led to believe that the
committee was dominated by agents OF
the public utilities corporations. Mr..
Campbell politely Informed him that II
he had taken the trouble to attend the
meetings he would have been more cor
rectly informed on this point.
Minority Leader Mann, of Illinois, who
was much perturbed, apparently, over the
possible misuse of funds by the commit
tee when the original investigating reso-
luton was under discussion, wanted to
know II the probers were to get car-fare
money aut of the fund. He was told
that that should be left to the commit
tees discretion.
berger Was "Impudent."
Representative Macon was another self
constituted Treasury watchdog for the oc-
casion. Mr. Macon spoke at length against
the resolution. Also MIR. Macon thought the
Berger resolution authorizing the use OF
the now idle Speakers automobile piece
Of impudence on the part Of the Socialist
member.
Francis Burton Harrison, of New 1ork,
opposed the resolution on the GROUNDS
that the search for wrOngdoing was 100
chimerical to warrant the expenditure
Representative Edwards, OF Georgia, also
opposed the resolution.
In the course OF his speech Representa-
tive Shackleford said that Washington
was the worst corpOration-ridden city In
the world" He said that one street rail-
road was capitalized at $656,OOO mile
when It cost only $4,000 mile to ouild
it. I'VE want to know" he said. why
all these corporations in this city are
conducting their affairs as they are. We
want TO know why the District of Colum-
bia Commissioners have not brought
better government to this city than they
have brought. We want to know whether
all these corporations are conducting
themselves within their proper limitations
and whether they are giving the people
the best service they can for the least
money"
Representative Henry George, jr., OF
New York. is arraying himself for the
investigation of District tax assessments
and collections, which, as indicated in the
resolution will be one Of the chief feat
ures of the probe.
Mr.. George will direct that part OF the
investigation in person. He does not say
at this time that he has anything on
the board Of District assessors, but he
has promised himself a pretty complete
insight into conditions before the probe
is completed
George VIII Probe Taxes.
1T has been charged said Mr.. George
yesterday, that there has not been the
equitable distribution of tax assessments
provided for by law. This is a grave
charge, and the object of the investiga-
ton will be either to lay 1t at rest or
prove its truth. The law on this point
is explicit and comprehensive. The
charge involves the breaking of the law
and injustice to the individual.
What we propose to do is to obtain
access to the tax books and all the rec
ords of transactions in recent years, and
get to the very bottom OF the charges
If there is any basis, we want to know it.
If It is baseless the public should know
it, and the unrest cease"