Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-31
CONTINUES TO SLASH
Johnson Directs Attack on
District Appropriations. 9
BITTERLY ASSAILS THOMAS
Censures Corporation Counsel's
Work in Watson Defalcation.
SALARY INCREASES NIPPED

SALARY INCREASES NIPPED
Kentucky Representative Even Tries
to Reduce Pay of Charwomen
to $3.50 Year.
| Representative Johnson, chairman of
the House District committee. today
played hob with the progress of the
District appropriation bill in the COM
| m1ttee on the whole. attacking all
raises of salary and making a most
vigorous onslaught upon E. H. Thomas.
corporation counsel for the District.
He forced the committee to withdra W
! the proposed increase of salary for the
corporation counsel. despite all that
Representative Burleson Of Texas, in
charge of the bill. could do.
Mr.. johnson made a ten-minute speech,
in which he charged that Mr.. Thomas
had signally failed to make the most
of his opportunities in the suit on the
Watson defalcatiOn. and intimated that
the suit which should have been brought
would have been against the Commits
sioners or against their bond. and re-
minded the members present that the
$4,000 involved in the defalcation had
| never been paid back or obtained
through suit at law
Mr.. johnson also knocked out of the bill
the legislation providing for a new fish
wharf. He made points of order against
raises in salary all through pages of the
BILL which were read slowly. Just before
The Stars report closed he arraigned the
municipal architects office. Representa-
tive Cox of Indiana supported him by
submitting an amendment preventing any
District of Columbia funds from being
paid outside of the municipal architect s
office.
When the House resumed consideration
of the District of Columbia appropriations
bill today Representative Benjamin john
son of Kentucky raised a point of order
against reimbursement to three assist
ant inspectors of plumbing for use of
motor cycles. Mr.. BurlesOn conceded the
point and then offered an amendment to
provide for the up-keep of the machines
in the future. Again Mr.. Johnson inter-
posed a point of order.
Mr.. Sanders of Virginia pointed out
that these officials give more efficient
work by using their motor cycles. and
one man is enabled to do the work of
two men.
Mr.. Burleson added that this appropria-
ton could not be considered in any sense
jill Increase OF salary. DGt merely 10 Iur-
| nsh instrumentaities for more efficient
performance of their duties.
Back Appropriation.
Mr.. Fitzgerald and Mr.. Mann argued in
favor of the appropriation. holding that it
Is on all fours with the allowance of
| travelling expenses to many other officials
and employees of the government.
The chair overruled the point of order
and the appropriation remains in the bill,
but an amendment was adopted providing
that the money shall be used for up-keep
alone and cannot be allowed to accumu-
late toward purchase of new motor cycles
Mr. johnson made a point of order
| against the provision authorizing the as
appoint. with the approval Of the Commits
Sioners. the employees who take care of
the District buildng-the electricians. fire.
men. cleaners and others. The point OF
order was sustained and then Mr.. Burle-
son amended to allow their appointment
by the Commissioners.
Mr.. johnson said the Takoma Park
Library charwOmen are paid $50 a year
and District building charwomen get 500
a year. and moved to pay District build
ing CharwOmen $3.50 a year. Representa-
tive Johnson's motion was voted down.
Fowler Asks Questions.
Representative Fowler found occasion
to get in a little charwoman speech, ask
ing what hours Of labor they had.
Are they required to get on their
hands and knees to scrub?" asked
Mr.. Fowler.
Mr.. Burleson replied that he had no
knowledge on the subject.
"Oh. but should they not have such
scrubbing brushes and mops as would
| preclude the possibility of any necessity
for getting their kneeS!'
Mr.. BurlesOn told him he supposed the
District of Columbia charwomen had the
right kind of mOpS.
II want to say a few words on this
| very important subject" said Mr.. Fow-
| Ter.
Still with chivalry in his voice he de-
| manded that some relief be granted to
the women who crawl upon their knees
until they get bruises which do not
| heal"
For five minutes he described knee
bruises and their relief-and cited one
woman who has crawled about the House
office building for miles.
Calls Situation Disgrace.
He called on the United States to al
| leviate the bruises OF the charwomen and
said many times that lit was a dis
grace"
Representative Cannon. across the aisle
from his colleague. replied to Mr.. Fowler
| saying that $40 a year Is good pay for
! charring two and half hours day.
| Representative Cox of Indiana enlivened
the situation by bringing into the debate
| the price paid to household servants.
Representative johnson. smiling to him
| self. heard Representative Fowler start
| In to defend the common public in gen.
eral. and scrubwOmen in particular. He
] obtained five minutes more from the
\ chairman and used 1T all in an impas-
| stoned gesticulatOry speech In which he
| declared he would never vote for a bill
| which entailed on mankind the curse of
| stone floors which bruised the knees of
scrubwomen.
At the conclusion of his remarks every
representative present cheered him, and
| got down to business.
Provisions Are Approved.
| The assessors Office appropriations were
| approved, and Representative Cox of
| Indiana asked If the personal tax board
| is authorized by law. Representative
| Burleson told him Ii had been carried i'm
| the bill for years.