Evening star., 1915-11-17


and a few minutes later decided
dav for further consideration of t
Those who have followed the cause of
the haif-and-half plan. and the arsu-
ments of the three speakers on behaif OF
the Joint citizens committee went away
from the hearing in high spirits yester-
day They were encouraged by the
mastery conclusions for progressive ac-
tion," enunciated by Mr.. Worthington,
and were put in good humor by the curt
final statement of Representative Ralney
of Illinois. This was to the effect that
after listening to Commissioner Brown
lows pleas for an abolition of the half
and-half plan he had come to the con-
clusion that the Commissioner mad torn
down in his last speech all that he had
built UP in opposition to the half-and-naI
in his first appearance.
Present Plan Should Remain.
Mr. worthington declared that to dis
turb the present relations would be a step
in the wrong direction, and added that If
any change should be made it should in
clude a plan for local self-government to
some extent in the National Capital. He
also reminded the committee of some of
the gross incongrutieS of the testimony
of Herbert j. Browne in the hearings pre-
ceding the preparation of the George bill :;
and as a sample of what the people of
the District fear from Congress he read
from one of Representative Prouty's
speeches. in which many unfounded state
ments were made as to fiscal matters here
Commissioner Brownlow followed
him, and. although attempting to hold
up his theory that the half-and-half
plan is impracticable and productive of
friction. under questions from almost
e.t-y member of the joint committee
he admitted that it had worked since
and contradicteJ the fundamental
statements of his original speech to the
committee. 1t was at the close of his
statement that Representative Rainey
punctured the Brownlow bubble-with
a club. instead of pin.
Those who followed the committee
with the, closest attention went from
the hearing unable to make a sound pre-
dict on as to what the committee will
recommend to Congress. Evidently the
only true statement to be made on this
point is that the members of the COM
nittee themselves have no idea of
what the final vote will be. The work
o. disestins the testimony will start
tuesday.
knxious to Conclude the Work.
cmbers of the congressional COM
sn3 3ttee said today that they were anx-
Tfois to conclude the work on their re-
POI to Congress before the session
on ns and to lay the report before the
senate and House as soon as possible.
fhe committee may frame a bill or
bills in accordance with its recon-
mendations to Congress, provided the
committee determines that existing
law should be amended that new
legislation along particular lines was
needed
This bill or bills. after being intro
duced. will be referred to the District
committees of the Senate and House.
1t is not anticipated, however, that
any further hearings as exhaustive as
those just completed will be under
taken by either the Senate the House
District committee.
Results to Help Congress.
The joint select committee was Gre
ated for the special purpose of inves-
tigating the fiscal relations between
the District and the United States, and
1t Is expected that Congress will set
much store by what that committee
recommends
In recent years it has been the prac-
tice to have the District appropriation
bill reported to the House and passed
among the first of the annual appro-
priation bills. and il such a course is
TO be followed at the coming session
the report of the joint select committee
must be submitted early. for the corn-
unittee was appointed for the purpose
OF putting an end to the wrangle which
has arisen in Congress the last two or
three years over the method of appro-
priating for the District
Discusses George Report.
After his opening remarks. Mr.. Worth
ington turned his attention for few
minutes to the George report:
There was no effort" he said. "on
the part of the George committee to get
citizens of the District to attend those
hearings preliminary to the George re-
port). You will remember that the
testimony Gf you can call the testi-
IIony) Of the principal witness was
that of Mr.. Browne, who was in the
committees pay. as he himself has said,
II SIS day"
Mr. Worthington recalled the atten-
ion of the committee to Mr. Browne S
swn words in reference to changing the
worn testimony in figures of Assessor
ticha rds.
You will remember that he said to
you. in explanation OF this action. that ii
vas immateral. That after an official OF
the District government had furnished the
George committee with set OF figures
he. Browne. went to another official and
got other figures: and that he showed
them 10 Mr.. George, and that Mr.
George told him to make the change
I am sorry that Mr.. George cannot be
here / do not believe that Mr.. George
countenanced such action, and | myseli
will never believe such thing until II
comes from lips other than those from
which IL came here.
Other Errors in Report.
He recalled the Judge Archibald case
wherein the Importance of a very sligh
change made in the testimony of a wit
ness was a part of the serious case be
fore the Senate at that time. He als'
told the joint select committee that an
other erroneous feature of the Georg'
report would be found in the map ac
companying that document:
Il would like to have this committe'
go with me, with the map in hand, ant
visit that section which the George re
port map calls the good home area.
In this area you will find dozens AM
dozens of blocks on which the hum
blest of dwellings, stand, and yet thi
report would have you believe that tn
area was entirely confined to fine resi-
dences.
Reference was also made to tn
Browne charge that only one side 0
the half-and-half matter could b
gained from reading the local papers
that the four dailies here are lin leagu
on the half-and- half" Mr.. Worthing <
ton referred the committee to one sin
gle letter of Mr.. Brownies printed Il
The Star. Mr.. Worthington said tina
the "Jekyll and Hyde" article following