Evening star., 1914-12-15
SENATE LEADERS
TOF|GHT FOR D. c.
Determined That HaIf-and-
Half Plan Shall Continue
in Effect.
BILL NOT TO BE PASSED
CARRYING HOUSE RIDER
Appropriations of Last Year Will Be
Continued in Case of
Deadlock.

The District appropriation bill
never will be enacted into law
carrying the Johnson amendment,
doing away with the half-and-half
plan OF appropriating for the Dis
trict. in the opinion OF Senate
leaders.
Should deadlock arise between the
two houses of Congress on this matter.
members of the Senate are prepared to
see the bill die, if necessary, rather
than accede to the proposition contain
Ell in the johnson amendment They
believe that to permit such legislation
would not only be great injustice to
the people of the District, but that it
would have an evil effect upon the
National Capital. which would be felt
Ly the entire country.
Fight May Come Soon.
Tli. fact that the present session is a
short session. and ends automatically
March next, and that the leaders In
congress are determined to complete
all Legislation by that time. probably
viii bring the fight over the District
l,il 10 i head much sooner than was
the case L year ago. If the House
should prove obdurate. the only course,
in TIE. opinion of Senate leaders, would
l'r to pass joint resolution continuing
tho appropriations of last year for the
rscal year ending June 80, 1916
The District bill WAS received by the
Senate from the House today, and I'M
mediately referred to the appropria-
tons COMMITTEES.
Subcommittee Members.
The subcommittee of the appropria-
Ions committee which will have charge
OF the District bill consists of Senator
John Walter Smith of Maryland, chair
man. and Senators Shafroth. Colorado:
Lea. Tennessee: Gallinger. New Hamp-
shire. and Dillingham;, Vermont. 1t Isl
expected that the subcommittee will
conduct brief hearings on the bill and
report 1t to the Senate quickly as
possible
It is a foregone conclusion that the
bill as reported to the Senate will be
minus the johnson amendment. All the
members of the subcommittee have
shown themselves in the past firm
friends of the National Capital. Sena-
tor Smith led the fight last year against
the eighth section of the bill as 1t
pa 4ssed the House then, which provided
for covering into the Federal Treas
u,y all revenues of the District in ex-
cess of current appropriations, and in
this fight he had the backing not only
OF the other members of the subcom-
Tuittee. but of the leaders of the SEN
ate irrespective of party.
Senator Martin Also Foe.
senator Martin, chairman of the ap-
l.ropriatIons committee, while not a
member of the subcommittee, will aid
ir the fight against the Johnson amend
luent He said today that he believed
th.. haIf-and half principle of appro-
;,ri,,ting for the District should be con-
;tGed.
1t has worked we'll for many years"
said Senator Martin, "and ] believe that
i would be great wrong to the cap
it'll if the organic act was repealed IN
this particular. as proposed in the
Johnson amendment.
senator Gallinger. the republican
leader. for many years chairman of the
District committee while the republ1-
e3ns were in power. said today that he
had always opposed any change in the
il,.tf-and- d-half plan of caring for the
Districts expenses and that he would
continue to oppose such a change.
Senator Smith Surprised.
-'latcr John Walter Smith said that
h. would consult with other members
o! The subcommittee in charge of the
Iii! ana dc ;ide when to hold hearings.
He said that no extensive hearings
would be necessary.
lie expressed surprise that the House
should have placed in the bill this year
another provision tearing down the
Ilalf-and half plan of appropriating for
ri
taken by the Senate on the law of the
present year
II do not think that there is any
chance of the Senate's agreeing to the
Johnson amendment" said Senator
Smith. He characterized the plan as
entirely unfair to the National Cap
1tal.
Senator Kern, democratic leader said
that in his opinion nothing Should he done
in \ hasty manner looking to Il change
OF the organic act. and that the District
should be treated fairly by Congress.
mo Feeling of Hostility
There is no feeling OF hostility to the
District in the Senate" said Senator
Kern, and / am sure that whatever is
done VIII be done justly"
lie indicated that an investigation of
The relations existing between the Dis
Jrict and The federal government
should be made in Il thorough man
us-r before any change in the existing
plan of government was attempted.
Two amendments to the District bill
We're introduced in the Senate today.
one, by Senator Clapp of Minnesota,
~ould provide for the widening and eN-
tension of Spring road between 18th
street and the west line of square 2901
and also would provide for the widen
ing of Spring place betNe cen l4th and
10Th streets northwest.
senator Sterling offered an amend
Iu~nt which would give to the special
policemen detailed TO crossings the
same pay as that received by the regU-
lar fnrr ruhers of The nnlics fnrce