Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-19
Half and Half System Up.

dal1 ana hdlI system ~ y.
Senator Williams raised discussion OF
the half-and-half system by asking the
reason for striking out the paragraph OF
the House bill requiring one-half of the
fees of the building inspectors office to be
deposited to the credit of the United
States and one-half TO the District.
THAT was stricken out to throw into
conference a controverted question:.
Senator Gallinger replied. THAT may De
q wise provision. j think II any change
is made we ought to provide for paying
the salaries of the Office out of the fees.
Senator Williams contended for the
House provision dividing the receipts.
Il want to see Washington the best
governed. most beautiful and most LIBERAL
ly treated city in the world. he re-
marked. 1T ought to he.
Il believe i'm the half-and-half principle
for many reasons. / hope Washington
will he made the model city of the
United States in its schools, its santa
ton. it's police and fire protection.
But the citizens-to use a plantation
phrase-ought TO tote fair If the gov
eminent is to pay half the expenses the
residents here ought to be willing to
divide the receipts"
Senator Hoke Smith thought the House
provision right. objecting to the commit
tees recommendations TO strike out. tie
asked for a roll call.
The vote was 30 to II in favor of strik-
ing out the House provision.
Not a quorum announced the presid-
ing officer.
Il move the sergeant-at-arms request
absent senators to come into the cham
ber.'' responded a senator.
Business was suspended while the SER
seant-at-arms went after the absentees;
Within a minute Senator Crawford
came in. He answered Aye when MS
name was called. but Immediately beat it
to the republican cloakroom
This is the first time this session that
the Senate has been compelled to stop
business for lack of quorum so early
in the day.
Penrose Takes the Tip.
Senator Penrose of Pennsylvania came
in about five minutes later The sergeant
alarms was evidently having hard
hunt Mr.. Penrose answered Here
when the clerk called his name.
Its a VOTE senators called to him.
He walked slowly down to Senator Gal
fingers seat.
vote, aye" Mr. Gallinger said, in
whisper that could be heard all over the
chamber. Mr.. Penrose followed the tip.
The Senate just waited for other SEN
alarms was securing the Capitol and the
office buildings.
Senator Clarke of Arkansas came in and
answered Here
mittee amendment announced the pre-
siding officer.
'I1l vote no." quickly shouted Mr..
Clarke: and there was laugh among his
democratic colleagues.
Finally quorum was obtained, and
the vote was announced, 35 to IL. The
House provision. dividing the building in
pection fees. was struck out.
The opposition evidently saw the fulfil
ity of trying to change the committees
of,rr1vr, dati nd a Y10n "A 1nTfC
adopted rapidly as the clerk could
read them.
The clerk was skipping large portions
of the House bill which were not altered
by the Senate committees amendment.
Senator Williams of Mississippi had been
following the reading of the bill and he
couldn't follow the jump. So he protested.
The clerks then settled down to read
every word.
Bristow Frowns on Auto Item.
The clerks reached the amendment for
the purchase of an automobile for the
superintendent of construction.
That's another automobile" Senator
Bristow remarked. II should like to
by the District"
linger replied. This particular official
visits all sections of the District, to look
after the repairs os the municipal build
ings. 1t was thought to be economy to
provide this official with an automobile"
Senator Bristow said he frequently saw
government officials enjoying the cool of
an evening in a government automobile.
Sometimes it is hard to get around the
street because OF the crowd of govern
ment automobiles in the hands of subor-
dinate government officials, presuma bly,.
On official business occasionally" he
added.
He expressed a wish to vote against the
Adoption of the amendment, and he got
MS wish. His was the only vote in op-
position.