Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-02-28
SMITH SAYS SENATE
WILL AGREE TO PLAN
MARYLAND Senator Thinks the Half
and-Half" Fight Is Ended
for the Present.
CONFEREES MAY BE NAMED
Investigating Body Is to Have
5000 for Expenses and Is
to Report by January
1, 1916.


yesterday refused to abrogate the
half-and-half principle OF appro-
priations for the District of Co
lumbia without a thorough inves,
tigation; and by vote of los to
Isl adopted the Underwood
amendment to the District appro-
priation bill providing for a joint
commission OF Congress to make
such an inquiry and report to the
next Congress.
= The adoption OF this amend
ment killed the Johnson amend
ment, by which the District would
have paid out all its revenues for
its support next year, while the
federal government would have
paid out only enough to complete
the amount of the present rather
meager appropriation bill.
The fight on this vital principle
i over, it is agreed on all sides at
the Capitol, for the Senate is ex-
pected to adopt the House idea as
set forth in the Underwood
amendment, thus breaking the
deadlock which has existed on the
conference report on the District
appropriation bill -.-...
Possible Personnel.
mission have not been appointed and
will not be until the Senate takes
formal action agreeingto the House
amendment. 1t has been suggested at
the Capitol that the conferees on the
District appropriation bill would form
the proper personnel These are Sen
ators Smith Of Maryland. Lea of Ten
nessee and Gallinger of New Hamp-
shire and Representatives Page OF
North Carolina, Sisson of Mississippi and
Davis Of Minnesota. Members of the
among themselves, agreed that the
strongest move to make would be the
appointment of a commission of un-
biased members whose minds are open
which the next Congress will have con-
hdence.
The Underwood amendment, which
takes the place of the johnson amend
rnent. provides:
That joint select commit.ee shall
be appointed consisting of three SEN
ators. to be named by the presidinG
officer OF the Senate. and three mem
bers Of the House. to be named by the
Speaker Of the House. whose duty II
shall be to prepare and submit to Con
gress statement of the proper pro-
portion of the expenses Of the govern
ment of the District of Columbia, OF
any branch thereof. including interes,
on the funded debt. which shall be
borne by the District and the United
States. respectively, together with the
reasons upon which their conclusions
may be based; and in the discharge OF
the duty hereby imposed the committed
is authorized to employ such assistance
as II may deem advisable, at an ex-
pense not to exceed 81, 900; provided
that the report Of the committee shall
be submitted to the Congress not later
than the first day of January, 1916"
The Senate failed to receive the con
ference report on the District bill, at
amended by the Underwood plan for ar
tnvestigation. ! ntime to act upon !,
last night. Senator John Walter Smith
in charge OF the District bill in thu
Senate, was ready to move that the
Senate agree to the Underwood amend
ment. 80 that the bill could be nnall,
disposed of and sent to the President
for his approval. The messenger of tn.
House. with the report in hand, stoot
in the entrance of the Senate chamber
seeking recognition of the chair. but
the Senate had agreed to go into ex
ecutfve session at o'clock. and Will,
several senators were seeking to ad
dress the chair. Senator Stone movet
an executive session. his motion wal
adopted. and all chance of act ng or
the District bill until tomorrow wa.
shut off.
Senator Smith. who has led the fieh
for the half-and- half plan in the Sen
ate and to whose efforts the defeat O
the johnson rider doing away wit
that plan is due in large part, said las
night that tomorrow, as soon as h
could get recognition. he would NOV
TO agree to the conference report.
The fight is ended said Senate
Smith.
He said he expected the Senate 4
agree without opposition to the pla,
for an investigation.
Similar to Senate Plan.
The Underwood plan is similar to tina
proposed In an amendment offered I
the bill by Senator Gallinger of Ne,
Hampshire while the bill was befor
the Senate aHd which would have pre-
vailed by an overwhelming vote ha
not point Of order been made agains
IL. Senator Sterling of South Dakota
after the passage of the District bil
by the Senate, offered the Gallinge
amendment as joint resolution; tn
Senate District committee later re
ported it favorably to the Senate an
IL 10 now on the calendar.
Debate on the amendment in tn
House was of the rapid-fire variet
after Speaker Clark had upheld tn
Underwood motion as proper unde
the rules. Subsequent to the close o
The Stars report Of yesterday. Repre-
sentative Underwood's plan was at
Continued on Fourth Page.)