The Washington times., 1914-03-19
F AVORS COMMISSION
TO END TAX FIGHT
ouse Committee CapituIates in
Battle to Abolish Half and
Half Pain.
CONTINUED from First Page.l

Continued from First Pagel
The committee considered both the
Gorge and Prouty resolutions. Mr.
Jorge wants the President TO name
rec men outside OF Congress 10 con
ct thorough inquiry into the half.
ld-half controversy. Mr.. Prouty pro.
pses q commission Of six menperr
insisting OF three Senators and three
embers of the House, appointed by
I e respective presiding Officers.
There is yet to come the fight over
ile form of the commission and thG
sysct definition OF its duties and privi-
ges.
The action Of the committee today
a. by viva voce vote. Congressman
oady OF Maryland was the only nem-
"r voting No" and he explained tha,
vote was not in opposition to the
neral scheme for an inquiry, but he
anted the inquiry confined to taxation
roblems. Mr.. Coady said he was op-
Nosed to giving the proposed con>nlls-
on authority to go into such matters
5 suffrage, local self-government. ana
possible complete overthrow OF the
resent order OF things.
Johnson's Attitude.
Chairman Ben johnson did rot vote
n the motion Ito express the sent
nent Of the committee" lie frankly
formed Mr.. winslow that re hadn't
lily made up his mind on the sub
~ct, but II al inquiry is to We held
r. Johnson suggested, il ought 10
axe In everything. including the propo-
:Ition of granting the people of the
district the suffrage they once exer-
Used.
..T mould ,dya th.r, .,-~-,. - -
nunced.
ifter the committee had Informally
scussed the Prouty and George reso-
tons for more than an hour. Mr.
Ninslow said:
To bring the matter to a head, ]
X for vote to test the sentiment of
- committee as to whether there shall
1'" an investigation at all
What kind of an investigation
sked Mr.. johnson.
Il mean an Investigation by a COM
: ission that will include all local prob
MS Let them report on suffrage,
Kstion, the half-and-haH arrangement
f-government, and reorganiza ton.
necessary. of the District govern
ent-'
Chorus of "Ayes."
With this understanding that the
'mmission should be. when created.
=
hartman johnson then put the ques-
IN and there was a chorus Of ayes
Congressman Mapes moved an ad-
urnment and the committee has yet
thresh out a resolution describing in
t"taiI the functions of the commission.
is real fight. however. will come Oh
q form of the commission and the
N"thOd of its appointment. Chairman
'rEnson expressed the opinion that the
gislators themselves could conduct an
INQUIRY without calling in investigators
'um without. lie also reminded the
,mmittee that such inquiries had been
ICre or less futile in the past. !
An impartial irQuiry into the half-and-
calf arrangement is about all that has
eeen asked by The Times and by the
'Tsidents OF the District in connection
With the proposal to overthrow the half
I'D half system. II the District Com
"lttee carries out its tentative agree
ent and reports the resolution that
I'll bring about such an investigation,
Is believed that District citizens gen
ally will cooperate in the effort 10
termIne Just what contribution the
0ited States should make for the up
'ep of the District of Columbia.
Change of Front
N voting today to create an investi-
stion commission the House District
d B
-nt. Not many weeks ago the same
"mmittee placed on the House calendar
"e Crisp bill proposin gtO repeal the +;
Sanic act OF 1873 providing for half |
ld-half plan between the District apd !
- Federal Government.
while the Crisp proposal held the |
nter OF the stage. The Times printed /
Christmas Day a message to the !
.ople Of the District from Majority |
ader Oscar w Underwood. Jn this !
nTlstnas Day interview Mr. Under |
yod said he would oppose any effort |
tear down the half-and-haIf arrange
Hnt without Offering sonnet hing in its /
'a'e He then suggested an impartial /
mhlsslon TO invest gate the entire sub |!
I ana TO report whether the Federal |
DNcrnment was contributing 100 much !
too little TO the Districts support.
oHgressInan Cooper of Wisconsin,. /
no has always been a friend OF th,a
strl"t, introduced resolution for such !
inquiry, and later Congressman !
Gorge and Congressman PrCuty came /
the commission idea-
Fight Inevitable.
kTen without the action Of tho Dis /
.Ict Committee today it is I.cmcd .
nprobahle that tho commission izht /
"uId have been kept of "T tGe floor .
the House. In fact CONGRESSMAN |
urge has ser"rd notice that when
Ie emasculated George tay.fi0u hi, 7
called up he will offer to anerd !.
providing for an iuy-St eating .
ouImissicn. Such an amendment, OF
curse, wOTlC rreCipitate the haIf and .
All Issue. BY its action today, there
re. the District CoUIniricr kccrs 1
EEeast Cf the movement TOR an early