The Washington times., 1915-01-23
UNDERWOOD AGAIN
URGES TAX INQUIRY
Makes Plea as District Budget
Is Sent to Conference This
Afternoon.
Continued from First Page.)

Continued from First Page)
the District bill went to conference on
the motion Of Mr.. Page to disagree to-
all Senate amendments. which ID tho
routine procedure.
The debate on the snd.hslf. pri,n- p,,,,n
sos son snd n Hs necessity he for existing ar
rangement overshadowed the routine
action Of the House. After Congress-
man Ben johnson had opposed the ac.
ssptanee Of the ssnnts sor Tine utiisa
tion of all District revenues. before q
call is made upon the Federal Treasury
to contribute anything to the Districts
upkeep. Majority Leader Underwood
took the floor.
Underwood Makes Plea.
"Why should we not have . commits
sion to investigate this half-and-half ar
rangement?" asked Mr.. Underwood.
1T 1s clearly the sentiment Of this
House that the Federal Government
should bear q proportion OF the e1-
cept the committees in charge Of these
bills seems to have any idea as to what
Is the fair proportion. know that l
do not know what is just. and / have
been here a great many years.
come from any of these committees
which clearly demonstrated what Is a
fair and equitable distribution OF ex-
penses. Why should VIC not have q
ago. we should have one now to as
certain the facts from top to bottom
and lay before this House all the facts
regarding this controversy. 1t seems II
Congressman PAGE said there had
never been any serious effort to get q
commission in the House. The attitude
Of the Senate. he suggested. was indi-
Gated BY an adverse vote or just such
III members Of the House would study
the reports made from time to time re-
garding this matter they would not be
entirely ignorant Of the situation" said
has beer. put into the Record from time
to time"
well. I for one do not know the
amount Of property owned by the Fed
eral Government in the District Of Co
lumbia." said Mr.. Underwood. This
would have a bearing on the fiscal ar
THAT is in the record The work of
commission would be largely obtain,
commented Mr.. Page.
"A eeommission could assemble this
Information then" replied Mr.. Under
Hose nd ant wsss Hst fap Of etRs, ms es % the the
Federal or District government not to
have this question settled. That the
Government should bear a certain pro-
p9rtion Of the expenses ,L S,, here AL. AL must must
We want to be proud Of 1t. ! think
the time has come to have an investi-
cation by a commission to settle this
controversy once and fer ALL"
the calendar a resolution to name a
commission, and he intended to ask
consideration Of it at this session.
Johnson Hits At Leader.
Congressman Ben johnson said sharp.
" that the gentleman from Alabama
frankly admits what the House has OBJ
served-that he knows nothing about
| this subject.
He is clamoring for a commission -
continued Mr.. johnson. He does not
| know, or has forgotten. that we have
| concentrations have never been adopted
| The commission of 1876, as partial as II
was to the District and as forgetful OF
the interests Of the Federal Govern.
ment. recommended that the District
pay go per cent and the Fedora! Govern
ment 70 per cent of these appropria'
tions., This recommendation was ig'
nored and the half-and-half plan wal
adopted. , l.
1878. and this resulted in the introduc
ton of bill for a local legislature
here in Washington. and 1t was pro-
vided that no money belonging to the
District should be expended on any
project until approved by this legisla
ture. Yet the work OF this commission
was thrown to the winds, and it is be
cause Of that fact that We are In {
| clash here today"
The discussion finally ended with Mr.
| Pages assurance that the House con
ferees would give the House an oppor
tulffty to 60 on record regarding tn
four amendments chiefly in controversy
The Senate and House conferrees prob
ably will begin their labors at the Sen
| ate end of the Capitol Monday. and al
Indications today point to a long strug
gle in conference.