Evening star., 1915-10-20
Preliminary Arrangements Are
Made at First Session of
Congressional Committee.
SENATOR Chiffon ABSENT,
NEXT SESSION MONDAY
Every Effort Will Be Made to Ex.
pedite Hearings-Commission-
ers Promise Data.

Tor what promises to be the most
important discussion of District
affairs in nearly forty years. were
made at meeting of the joint Sc
lect committee of Congress on in
qulry into the fiscal relation be-
tween the District and the federal
government. The committee met
in the committee room of the SEN
ate judiciary committee in the
Senate Office building, where its
public hearings will be conducted.
The members of the joint select COM
mfttee were present. with the exception
of Senator Chiffon of West Virginia,
chairman. who had telegraphed that a
slight Illness prevented his attending.
Charleston, w Va.
The committee, after comforting with
Senator Chiffon over the long-distance
telephone. determined to go ahead with
all arrangements for the conduct of the
hearings Senator Chiffon said that he
believed that he would be able to meet
with the committee Monday.
Next Meeting Monday.
1t was decided. therefore, that the
next meeting of the-committee should
be Monday at 10 o'clock. and that the
public hearings should begin at that
time The committee also determined
that it should meet daily at 10 O'Clock
and sit until 1 o'clock, recess until Q
o'clock and then continue it's work until
5 o'clock.
While the discussion in the commit
tee today made it clear that every ef-
fort would be made to expedite the
hearings and the work of the commit
tee. it was made clear also that full
opportunity would be given citizens of
the District to be heard on the impor-
tant questions now before the COM
mittee-
The committee also gave the District
Commissioners to understand that it
would desire their views on the ques-
tfons before 1t.
tor salisbury of Delaware. Senator
Works of California. Representative
Rainey OF Illinois. Representative Gard
Of Ohio and Representative Cooper of
Wisconsin were present On motion of
Senator Works, Senator Salisbury was
tee.
Senator Salisbury announced that
by the citizens joint committee. by Her
bert j. Browne and by the Tax Reform
Association.
District Heads Present.
The District Commissioners were
present. as were Henry B. F. Macfar-
land. representing the citizens joint
committee. and Herbert J. Brown and
Charles E Davis. representing the Tax
Reform Association.
Commissioner Newman addressed the
committee briefly. stating that the
Commissioners were ready to furnish
the congressional committee all the
Information and data that might be
called for and which it was in the Com
missioners' power to furnish.
The District Commissioners" said
Mr. Newman, ARE the creatures of Con-
gress, are subordinate officers subject
to respond at all times to REQUESTS
from Congress for information We do
not at this time come forward as ad-
Vocates OF any particular plan for ap-
propriating for the District. but We
desire. Such information we will fur
nish you most gladly, and if at any
time you wish the views of the Com
missioners. we will present them"
MI Newman said that one or more
OF the Commissioners would attend
each meeting of the congressional com
mittee SO as to be on hand to reply to
requests for information.
Individual Expressions.
Representative Gard asked Mr. New
man if the Commissioners were agreed
in their views.
Our views will have to be expressed
individually. was the reply of Mr.
Newman.
Mr. Macfariand appeared for the citi-
zens' joint committee. He indicated that
thAp r,,tl -
joint citizens committee, A. s. Worthing-
ton. Theodore W Moves and himself He
said that he thought that they could
present the case Of the citizens commit
tee, which is urging the retention of the
haif-and-half principle, in eight or ten
hours.
Opposes Restrictions.