Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-19
House Committeeman Would
Investigate Fiscal Relations
With Government.
FORM OF PROPOSED BODY
NOT YET DECIDED UPON
Fight Expected in Settling Cues
tion, Appointment Of Local
Residents Being Opposed.

The District committee of the House
today voiced its sentiments as to an IN
vestigation of the fiscal relations between
the District of Columbia and the United
States by voting to approve the creation
of a commission to examine into all
phases Of the relations between the ma
ton and the capital.
Proposals for several such commissions
and investigation committees are before
Congress in the form of resolutions or
proposed resolutions. Details of the COM
missions work and its personnel are to
be discussed later, the committee today
merely giving its approval to the general
proposition for an inquiry.
The District committee of the House
today simply fioated with the current.
and perhaps STAYED off the possibility OF
an investigating commission being ap-
pointed out of the action of some other
committee of the House, Representa-
tive Smith of New York is framing a
resolution which would go to the rules
committee.
Meantime Representative George of
New York is at work upon piece of
.egislation to be introduced tomorrow,
calling for an investigation; 1t is based
3n the assumption that existing condi-
IONS are practically equitable.
Would Halt Legislation.
&c an investigation is made by an i'm
.esrtial commission, it is predicted, the
adverse legislation now in pickle for the
District will be halted. Plans to obht-
cate the organic act and to wipe out the
half-and-haIf plan would slumber for the
time being. and inasmuch as leaders on
both sides of the House agreed long ago
that a commission should be appointed
TO find out the truths of the maledictions
hurled at the District, the House prob
ably will be glad to join with the Senate
n joint inquiry.
Representative Winslow of MasSa-
chusetts. a republican member Of the
committee. precipitated action IN regard
TO a committee vote on an investigator
today. He made known his views early
in the meeting:
There seems 10 be no sense in TINS
piecemeal legislation We are working on
here" said he land 1 don't see why
we don't appoint some sort of a com
mission to find out the truths on botn
sides of the question. This tax Dill IS
ample illustration for the need OF thor
ough survey"
Following that there was long dis
cussion regarding the machinery needed
for an investigation. Several members
of the committee were of the opinion
that no one in the, District should be
the ground that it would be permitting
partial examination.
Representative Caraway expressed the
Jew that any District of Columbia mem
.ers of such a commission would print
minority reports in the newspapers daily
Differences Over Details.
Representative Igoe natly stated to the
committee that it would be almost i'm
possible to get an impartial commission
from the members of Congress, Repre-
sentative Coady suggested that the Con-
sress might safely trust the President in
his judgment as to selecting a commits
sion. The discussion as TO the possible
details of resolution appointing COM
mission did not produce a unanirnity of
opinion.
Representative Pfouty. has introduced
resolution for a commission of three
senator's and three representatives, to
report whether or not: local self-govern-
ment should not be established here. The
George propo%al is fer three men TO be
appointed by the President from outside
the city. Representative O'Leary served
notice he would introduce resolution
calling for nine members of the commits
son. in accordance with a request from
No record of the vote on the sense OF
abe. committee to favor an investigation
Ns.s taken. as-it was d viva voce matter.
Coady Votes NO"
representative .Coady voted No be-
r4use he is in favor of having the in
4uiry confined merely to taxation prob
ems He said he is not favorable to the
,ornmission being given power to go in.o
ocal government, suffrage and the
overthrow Of existing conditions. Repre-
sentative johnson did not vote on Mr..
Winslo1ss motion. because. he explained,
ne had not fully made up his mind on the
matter He believes at present that the
fullest and widest scope ought to be given
TO an inquiry. if it is held. and n also
believes that the people of the District
ought to have the right to vote.
4 real fight will take place when the
committee takes up the form of the com
mission and its powers, and the method of
appointment Chairman Johnson is in
favor of having the commission appointed
from the nlen bersrip of Congress, and he
also stated to the committee today that
such Investigations in the past had been
more or less futile.