Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-26
SEEK EXCISE PLAN
House Conferences on Local
Liquor Regulation.
WORK ON DISTRICT BILL
Prospective Conferees Begin In
formal Discussion of Senate
Amendments.
WORK ON DISTRICT BILL

Conferences over the excise amendment
to the District Of Columbia appropriation
bill We're resumed today among the men
In the House on all sides OF the liquor
question with view 10 reaching COM
promise which will insure the passage Of
the bill at this session OF Congress.
carrying with II new excise regulations.
Further elaboration of the conS.romise
suggested yesterday was offered today.
tending to more stringent regulations than
were carried in the first draft OF the com
promise and the new plan was handed
around for the inspection OF all con-
cerned in the legislation
The difficulty In the way of reaching a
compromise lies in the parliamentary
situation rather than in the disposition OF
the men leading the TWO factions. That
Is TO say, If the subjects could be left to
the men in charge of the bill and
some of the more prominent workers i'm
the House in behalf of new liquor Ia "
II is thought that an agreement could
quickly be reached and the bill sent ia
conference with the Houses attitude on
the liquor question defined 10 the con-
ferees.
At Mercy of Director.
But the point is this: Such an agree
ment involves absolute unanimity of con-
currence. One objection interposed i'm the
House would upset the plan, and the bin
being then before the House would be
subject to the rules OF the House and in
the end vote obtained on straightout
concurrence in the Jones' Works bill as
proposed by the Senate.
The committee on rules, il is said. hest
tates to legislate on the liquor question
although II could bring in a rule provid-
ing for the sending of the District bill TO
conference. with concurrence in the
| Jones-Works amendment with an
amendment" the latter being by way OF
substitute.
1t is possible that. all other efforts fall
ing, this last alternative will have to be
adopted, although there Is dissemination
to resort to it on the part of the leaders.
Another important conference between
members OF the appropriations committee
and the men i'm the House who are hold
ing out for radically stringent regulations
Is scheduled for late this afternoon.
Although the District appropriation bill
has not been formally sent to confer
ence, the prospective conferees on the
measure got together today and for "A
couple OF hours discussed a possible basis
for a compromise on the amendments To
the bill inserted by the Senate. There
are 49, amendments in disagreement, in
GLIDING the public utilities and the Jones'
Works liquor amendments.
Minor Amendments Discussed.
Today's discussion centered around the
minor amendments. involving salary in
creases, provision for municipal improve
ments and other changes in the local
government. There are still to be
| fought out the big legislative amend
ments, discussion of them awaiting action
by the House.
AS the District bill NAV be one of the
last of the big appropriation measures To
be formally sent to conference. owing to
the fight in the House on the liquor pro-
vision, the prospective conferees thought
| it best to hold preliminary conferences,
so that the formal conference for an ad-
justment Of the differences would not he
so protracted as to prevent action on the
bill before the session closes at noon.
March 4.
Senate conferees. it Is understood. are
to make a stubborn fight for the public
utilities amendment and they hope Ii will
be accepted by the House conferees.