The Washington times., 1915-02-23
Hak.and.Haf Fiscal Plan Is
stu In Dispute Among Con.
ferees.
MILLION FOR HOSPITAL
Plan That Commissioners Ap-
point Members of the Board
6 Education.

Senator John Walter Smith, in charge
OF the District bill. reported a partial
agreement from the conference COM
nittee to the Senate this afternoon.
Senator Smith reported that the con-
Terence had been able to agree upon all
but three features Of the bill. These
sre the Johnson rider involving the
proposed abolition Of the half-and- half
system; the provisions for a public
convenience station at Fifteenth street
and Maryland avenue northeast. and
the provision allowing $50 900 to continue
the construction Of the new Emergency
Hospital. It was the purpose Of Senator
Smith to have the Senate adopt the par
tial report and to instruct the conferees
as to the three items in disagreement,
but Senators Root and Thomas insisted
that the conference report be printed
before the Senate passed upon it and so
1t went over until "Wednesday.
Chief New Feature.
Senator Smith urged prompt action
upon the conference report in view Of
the short time remaining before the
end Of the session. He thought the re-
port contained nothing but what was
well understood.
The chief new feature, he explained,
was that the conferees had inserted a
provision, to abolish the present system
whereby the members Of the Board of
Education were appointed by the Su-
preme Court of the District and pro-
viding that they shall be appointed by
the Commissioners and should report
1T was thought" said Senator Smith.
that the present system Of appoint
ments was unsatisfactory. Sufficient
reports are not made by the sehoo!
some one to whom the board would
make frequent reports. It was decided.
therefore, to give the Commissioners
the power Of making appointments: !
appointments made by the courts Is un'
satisfactory
Senator Smith reluctantly yielded to
the objections made to immediate con:
s1deration Of the conference report and
will bring 1t up once more In the Sen
ate tomorrow. He will then ask that
the partial report be agreed to and
also ask for instructions as to the
items In disagreement.
johnson Rider.
Senate and House conferees on the
District appropriation bill. after work
ing all yesterday afternoon. disposed
Of the measure except for three items
which are still in controversy. The
foremost of these is the half-and-
half question.
The johnson rider to abolish the half
and-half system continues to be the
chief subject of disagreement. In
dications continue to point to a COM
promise on joint commission TO
make an investigation of the fiscal
relations between the District and the
Federal Government. The Senate Dis
trict Committe has made a favorable
an investigation with a view to giving
the proposal for a commission q bet
ter parliamentary standing than 1t
would otherwise have. The, Sterling
bill contemplates an inquiry by
three House members.
Other matters still in dispute are the
proposed construction Of q public
convenience station at Fifteenth
street and Maryland avenue north
$4,000 toward construction of a new
Emergency Hospital building.
Senator John Walter Smith will prob
ably report a partial agreement TO the
on the matters in dispute
Tho limit Of cost of the new Gallinger
Hospital has been increased by the con-
ferees from IS 0.0O0 to 31,O0O.0O0 and of
this H50.0eO is to be Immediately avail
able.
The conferees have agreed to author
ize q municipal fish wharf and ma rket
at a cost Of sls5, 900. of which $4,000 is
to be available the next year.
The Lee amendment, providing that
regulations concerning the milk supply
shall be applied to each State that ships
milk into the District caused a long
discussion. but 1t was tentatively
agreed. despite objections of some Of
the House Conferces. that 1t should re-
main. 1t was proposed by Senator Blair
Lee OF Maryland when the bill was in
the Senate.
The plan to have the Commissioners
instead Of the District Supreme Court
appoint the members Of the Board Of
Education remains In the bill.