The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-18
Cooper Resolution, Intimating Neg
lect, Causes Big Stir in Con-
E gressional Circles
HOUSE MEMBERS DENY
=, FRICTION WITH JOHNSON
Representative Rothermel in Favor
of Settling Vexing Question as
.. Quickly as Possible.
BY JOSEPH p. AMIN.

The resolution introduced in the House
late Monday afternoon, requesting tho
District committee to inform the House
as to the truth or falsity of the charge
that District business has been neglected
by the committee, and asking for a list
OF bills awaiting action by the commit
tee, created something of stir in Con-
Gressional circles yesterday.
Contrary to the expectation of Mr..
Cooper. author of the resolution, the
measure was referred to the District
Committee. although the request was that
1t go to the Rules Committee. This action
is open to several constructions. II
may have been done with a view to
permanently buying the measure. mas
much as nothing now will be heard Of
It unless the committee consents to re-
port it out On the other hand the gen.
eral feeling around the House was that
the change Of reference was made with
view to speedier action upon the
measure. Only the future action of the
District Committee will determine which
Of these two constructions is justified.
As was expected, the resolution was not
construed as an attack upon the District
Committee or any of its members by
those approached on the subject yeSteT-
day. Moreover, those members who have
been most active on the committee were
the first to indorse it and call for its
adoption by the committee. These mem
hers. less than ten in all, feel that be-
cause of the refusal of other members of
the committee to attend to District bust
ness, discredit is being reflected upon
themselves. who least deserve it. They
are inclined to the belief that if the de-
inquent members are made TO feel that
the committee will insist that it be not
loaded down with the odium deserved
only by few individual members, they
will be more attentive in the future.
Deny Committee Friction.
Several members of the committee yes
terday declared that the committee would
get together and report out the resolu-
ton.
DeRials of any friction between Chair
man Johnson and the committee were
to be heard from several quarters yes
terday, but # was noticeable that these
denials came principally from members
who have been working with Mr.. John
son and who have been among the few
with him.
Representative Cary of Wisconsin de-
Clared that the best action out of the
District Committee of the House was
to prevent the flooding of the committee
&c ms on meeting days by delegations ad-
6A'4sANASAA
that the committee consider certain meas
Ures against their will.
Representative LObeck was earnest in
insisting that there was no friction be-
tween Chairman johnson and members
Cf the committee.
FnVUrs Reporting Resolution.
Representative RothermeI of Penn
sylvania also was in favor of report
ing out the resolution and settling the
yeXed question as quickly and as thor
Oughly as possible. Representative
Dyer. of Missouri. the lone worker on
the Republican side of the committee,
smiled when it was suggested that the
committee report the bill out.
1t will be necessary for the commit
tee to meet. you know" he said.
Representative George of New York.
author of the report on assessment and
taxation in the District declared that
he knew of no controversy between the
District Committee and its chairman.
and that he had not read the Cooper
resolution. He refused to comment
upon the proposal. AS one of the
most active members of the committee,
Mr.. George does not feel that his rec
ord is on the defensive