Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-31
NO QUORUM AGAIN
District Matters Passed Over
by House Committee.
LITTLE RECEPTION HELD
Johnson Vainly Tries to Find
Enough Lawmakers, Though.
ONE SENSATION CREATED
Oldfield Appears in White Trousers.
"Never Again." Say Two
Representatives.
RECEPTION HELD
SENSATION CREATED

When Charles Mann, superintendent of
the House press gallery. posted on the
bulletin board this morning the sched
ule of the House committees meeting to-
day, he wrote the word ''doubtful' after
the committee on the District of Column
oia- He explained. in response to an in
quiry. that while this is the regular meet
ing day OF the District committee. he had
been told by an employe of the committee
that 1t would not be surprising if another
meeting day went by without Il quorum.
Promptly at 10 O'Clock, the regular
meeting hour, Representative Prouty of
Iowa came down the stairs of the House
office building from his own office on the
fourth floor, and took the seat he always
uses in the committee room. He had the
hope that the committee would get to-
gether on some of the legislation piled
up on the desk Of the clerk of the COM
mittee.
He and Representative Lobeck have had
conference on two bills to prevent much
of the danger arising from faulty gas
fixtures, and they are about ready to
present 1t to the committee, If the COM
mittee will ever meet.
Chairman johnson There.
Representative L. C. Dyer, leaving a
desk full Of papers. letters and reports,
all of which will be used in the investiga-
ton into the Washington Asylum Hospi-
tai, which started today, went to the
District committee room at few minutes
past ten. Chairman Johnson had come
back from the interesting political fight
in Kentucky especially to be present at
todays meeting. Representative John
Adair, who said today he was not afraid
nf he yofc =; "A
welcome chance to get at it, was an
early arrival. So was Representative
George and Representative Lobeck.
Representative Oldheld was the pride
of the committee this morning. When he
entered the several members who had
been waiting for few minutes arose
and greeted him with distinction.
He was clad in a wonderfully well fit
ting blue coat, with waistcoat TO match
Upon his sturdy legs were draped delicate
white flannel trousers, which hung just
low enough to hide pair of white silk
hose, and his shoes were, of course, of i'm
maculate buckskin. His necktie, too, was
summery white.
Going to Garden Party.
"The Philippine commissioner is the
only man entitled to wear white trous-
ers," suggested a member Of the COM
mittee.
Il understand" said Mr.. Oldfeld. but
! am going to the White House garden
party this afternoon. That's why I'm all
dressed up" Then he paused.
How do look?" he asked
Charles w. Darr, one Of the fifty-seven
varieties Of candidates for delegate to the
Baltimore convention, and sturdy pillar
of the uninstructed democratic denomina-
ton, Joined the reception. He said he
had ii on good authority that the univer-
sal transfer matter would be brought up
today. A. E. Shoemaker. the attorney
for the Anti-Saloon League. also dropped
in. He had 1t on good authority that if
only a quorum would he present the ex-
else bill would be reported favorably.
Hugh Harvey, opposing Mr.. Shoemaker,
was on hand. and his good authority was
directly contrary to Mr.. Shoemaker's.
Frequent Calls Made.
The president of a citizens association
came in, five newspaper men fingered in
the cozy chairs of the committee room.
and Representative Johnson sent out fire.
quent calls for the members of his COM
mittee.
At 1O:45 the committee lacked one of
having a quorum. At that time the fol-
lowing members had appeared: Repre-
santatives Johnson. Adair Oldfield.
George, Lobsck, Reddeld. Sulloway, Dyer.
| Prouty and Kahn The other members
| We're not in their Offices The committee
! room was crOwded-but not with commit
| teemen. Friends of bills of all sorts
were there to attend to business and peo-
pie passing in the hallway looked in to
see what big hearing was going
At IL o'clock Representative Kahn look
| ed at his watch and reminded his col
| leagues that the House had convened.
| Every one started to leave.
| This is the last meeting of this COM
| mittee ! will attend" remarked Repre-
/ sentative Proutv as he left the room.
| Me, too" said Representative Adair.
| So ended another regular meeting of the
| House committee on the District OF CO.
| lumbia.