The Washington times., 1913-01-24
LACK OF QUORUM
DELAYS ACTION ON
EXCISE MEASURE
Five Measures, Previously Acted
on By Senate, Are Reported
Out.
Continued from First Page.)


no picture film or picture intended for
previous submission and approval OF the
Commissioners. A $40 fine is provided
for those who violate the act. s
A bin re-incorporating the German
Orphan Asylum Association of the Dis
trict.
A bill making it a criminal offense II
any person removes and uses without
the consent of the owner any automo-
bile or motor vehicle. This measure is
designed TO break ap the habit Of Joy
riding on the part of those who tenn
porarily purloin automobiles owned by
others. A fine of $1,000 or Imprisonment
Of FIVE years, or both, is provided.
A bill prohibiting any captain. master,
or owner OF a vessel from depositing
dead fish or dead animals of any kind,
condemned oysters, decayed vegetables,
or any kind of filth or trash in the waters
OF the Potomac river. This measure
also provies that no barge, lighter, or
scow owned, controlled, leased, or en-
ployed by the owner or lessee of any
wharf used for private business. or for
any private purpose. and not used for
public or general wharfage, shall be
permitted 10 lie in front of or overlap
any adjoining wharf or wharves with
or lessee Of such adjoining wharf or
wharves.
The terms of the Senate bill abolish
ing hanging in the District are as fol-
lows:
Section SOL The punishment of mur-
der in the first degree shall be death
by electrocution. The punishment of
death must, in every case, be inflicted
by causing to pass through the body of
the convict a current of electricity OF
sufficient intensity to cause death. and
the application of such current must
be continued until such convict is dead.
The punishment of murder in ire
second degree shall be Imprisonment
for lie or for not less than twenty years.
In all cases where the accused Is found
guilty CT the crime of murder In the
first degree the jury may qualify their
verdict by adding thereto without capi-
tai punishment and whenever the jury
shall return verdict as aforesaid the
person convicted shall be sentenced TO
imprisonment for life
The District of Columbia House Com
mittee having failed to report out the
Jones-Works excise bill today, following
the declaration Of Congressman John
son that he would make every effort to
have il SO reported, supporters of the
measure are leaving no stone unturned
to bring 1t to the attention of the House
through other means this afternoon.
An effort is now being made to have
up motion m the House this afternoon
TO set aside the rules of the House in
order that the motion now pending. to
discharge the bill from the committee
maybe taken up at once
tatfves of the w. c. T. u, the Anti
Saloon League, the Y. NJ. c. A. and
the Epworth League, and other similar
organizations to force action on the bill
In the House. The bill already has
passed the Senate, but was referred to
the District of Columbia Committee in
the House when II was brought UP IN
the House last April.
Since that time, the committee has
not had a meeting because there was
no quorum. Supporters of the bill de-
clare that they are being held up In this
matter and that opponents of the meas
ure on the committee are Intentionally
preventing consideration of the bill by
falling to have a quorum.
r. L. Holmes, OF the Christian En-
deavor Union, who is pushing the meas
ure from the outside. declared today
that Congressman Johnson had prom
ised to report out the bill in the COM
mittee meeting today unless a point Of
Der present. AS the committee was in
executive session, this could not be
learned, but Mr.. Holmes declared that
action would be taken at once to have
the bin called out Of the committee by
the House.
Under the method suggested. it is
necessary to have the motion to suspend
the rules passed by q two-thirds ma
jority. II the bill can be brought out,
IL Is declared. II is practically sure of
passage. nearly 80 per cent of the men,
bers having declared in favor Of the
measure.
Congressman Johnson of Kentucky,
chairman Of the committee: Aiken of
South Carolina, Rothermal of Penn
Island are all said to be In favor Of
the bill Henry George of New York
is opposed to 1t and Congressman Sui
laway of New Hampshire is supposed
to be against 1t.