The Washington herald., 1913-03-14
JOHNSON TALKS,
wilson Listens
Continued from Page One.

Continued from Page One.
in anticipation of having the minority
report issued by the companies in the
form OF an attractiveIy arranged PAM
phlet, which made no reference y the
majority report Late the following
afternoon the pamphlet was ready for
distribution as an advertising document,
SO thoroughly laudatory was 1t in tone.
That same afternoon newspaper men
calling at the rooms of the House Dis
trict Committee in quest of copies of
Mr.. Johnson's report were referred to
Charles F.. Carusi, general counsel for
the insurance companies.
Secretary Redfeld and Postmaster Gen.
eral Burleson are in a position to en-
tighten the President upon Representa-
tive Johnsons record. both as a member
of the House and as a member and
chairman OF the District Committee. 1t
is a record of reaction. While the ma
jority of the District Committee in the
last two years has been hanging up a
new long-distance record for inactivity
its chairman. by his examples at least.
has been pushing them-backwards. The
result was similar TO a meeting of an
irresistible force with an immovable
body-nothing.
Attitude on Appropriation Bill.
Mr.. johnson was completely repudiated
by his colleagues in the House at the
fag end Of the late session, when the
only important District legislation to re-
suit from the entire Sixty-second Con-
gress was passed in the shape of amend
ments TO the District appropriation bill.
the amendments having been put on by
the Senate and agreed TO without contest
by the House conferees on the bill.
This was done because all concerned
realized the futility of attempting to
get any legislation from Johnsons
committee. These amendments in
cluded Two measures of an advanced.
progressive type-the bill creating a
public utilities commission for the Dis
trict and the La Toilette bill prohibit
ing the merging of local public utili-
ties through common ownership by an
outside holding corporation. The first
measure, the most important piece OF
District legislation passed In years.
was strangled in the District Commit
tee of the House after having come
over from the Senate almost a year
ago. The utilities bill. which now is
law. was a thoroughly progressive
measure. designed TO meet much-com-
plained-of conditions, and the bill was
approved, in one way or another, by
leading progressive thinkers through
out the country. Chairman Johnsons :
opposition to this while unproclaimed
by himself. was we'll known, and when
his committee. after having passed
twenty-five successive meeting days
without meeting. finally got together
for three meetings before the session
closed. it was apparent that a word
from the chairman would have meant
an early and favorable report on the
bill.
This is only one of many bills of a
progressive type which Mr.. Johnson
in one way or another, has managed to
have strangled.
The La Toilette bill, regulating the
hours of employment for women in the
District to eight hours a day. six days
in the week. and prohibiting the en-
ployment Of girls under eighteen years
Of age between the hours OF : O'Clock
in the evening and O'Clock in the morn
ing was smothered by Chairman john
son in the closing hours Of the session.
after the Senate had passed it. Pro-
gressive members Of both parties made
heroic attempts to have the bill returned
to the Speakers table from the Dis
trict Committee. in order that it might
be called up and passed. This House was
working under a special agreement set
ting aside the rules in the case bills
to the immediate consideration of which
there was no objection while the House
was marking time between conference
reports These members signed a re-
quest that johnson return this bill to
the Speakers table for that purpose.
Johnson's refusal was returned in writ
ing along with the request. Because of
a parliamentary technicality, the pro-
gressive members were unable to obviate
the chairman's attitude.
Some Smothered Bills.
Among the District bills which passed
the Senate during the Sixty-second Con-
gress and were smothered in the House
committee were measures prohibiting
the abandonment Of aged or infirm pa
rents, providing an adequate police and
fremen's pension fund. and establishing
a home for. feeble minded children, and
several others.
Awaiting action by the District COM
mittee were hundreds of bills. to dispose
OF which no attempt was made. Many
were meritorious. Chairman johnson up
to last January protested that 1t was
not his fault. inasmuch as a quorum of
his committee failed to attend meetings
With this happy fixing OF the respon-
sibility, Mr.. Johnson calmly washed his
hands OF the District, remarking that,
anyhow. his duty as chairman was to
keep bills from being presented to the
House, rather than to facilitate consid-
grafton of them.
To further emphasize their attitude to-
ward Chairman johnson and the mem7
bers of his committee who refused to
attend meetings under his leadership,
the few members of the committee who
showed a disposition to take their as
signment seriously during the Sixty
second Congress are making every effort
TO be taken OFF of the District Commit
tee when the House is reorganized. As
their requests probably will be granted.
the District bids fair to become de-
pendant upon an absolutely new House
the membership of which
will be far too busy making a record in
obtaining favors for the folks back home
10 attend to people who can furnish no
uofee in return fnr con sidera tion