Evening star., 1915-03-09
LIMIT TO INQUIRY
|NTOD c. AFFAIRS
Joint Committees Work Con-
fined to Fiscal Relations.
Its Members Think.
NO EXTENSIVE HEARINGS
ARE LIKELY TO BE HELD
Effort Will Be Made to Obtain Bulk
of Information Desired in
Form Of Briefs.

Probably every phase of the fiscal re-
lations between the United States and
the District of Columbia will be taken
up by the joint select committee when
it undertakes to get all the facts in the
case.
Members of the committee said to-
day that inasmuch as every fact that
had ever been asserted on the floor of
the House concerning the District Of
Columbia had been denied on one side
or the other. the possibilities for a
complete study of the case were great.
Il imagine" said Representative
Rainey, that the main discussion will
come on the subject of taxation, but
every other phase of the financing of
this District will be thrashed out.
Would Bar Outside Issues.
"As far as I am concerned, however,
question of representation of the Dis
trict on the floor of the House. and no
introduction of any of the other ex-
traneous subjects which are discussed
in this city from time to time.
AOOpeI Silu LoOdS lila |
one of the most interesting details of
the investigation would be to ascertain
the exact truth concerning the 3.65
bonds.
1t is doubted that a full meeting of
the committee can be held March Is. as
suggested by Senator Chiffon. Repre-
sentative Gard left for his home in
Ohio today. leaving word that he had
legal matters to attend to there. which
might prevent him returning by the
18th.
Limited to Finances.
The committee will confine the inves-
tigation to matters closely relating to
the nscal affairs of the District, ac-
cordIng to Senator Salisbury of Della
ware, one of the members.
.'As l understand it," said Senator
salisbury today, under the wording
of the resolution the committee will be
confined to certain limits in its con-
sideration of District affairs. l do not
think the committee will have the
power. or will undertake, to investi-
gate any change OF form OF government
tor the District, or proposal to have
the District represented ir Congress
by delegate. Nor do 1 think the ques-
tion of suffrage for the District in any
form, including a referendum, can be
considered by the committee under tine
law creating it.
In the opinion of Senator Salisbury,
the hearings before the committee
should not be very extended. He said
today that he thought most Of the ar
guments should be put in brief form
in writing ane submitted to the COM
mittee. a great deal of information,
he thought. could be obtained from the
District officials which would have .
bearing on the question to be investi-
gated.
Work for Summer Months.
Il think that the committee should
make its request of the District Com
missioners for such information in
short time, so that the Commissioners
may have this information in readiness
to submit to the committee at an early
date. Members of the committee could
give this information their considera-
tion during the summer months, and
before the hearings begin in the fall,
if necessary"
Senator salisbury said he thought
the investigation undoubtedly would
include the method of taxation in the
District and whether it should be
changed. particularly as to whether
bonds, etc, should be taxed. He sad
he thought the committee would make
every effort to report a plan to Con-
gress which could well be operated
without change for the next twenty
five years.
Il VIII be disappointed" said Sen
ator salisbury, IF we are not able to
recommend a plan which will be work
able for many years to come"
Meeting Monday Probable.
Senator Saulsbury said that he had
heard nothing further from Senator
Chiffon, the chairman OF the Senate
branch of the committee, but that his
understanding was that meeting
would be held at Senator Chilton's
office next Monday at IL o'clock. SenA-
tor Chiffon is out of the city.
Senator Worka the third member Of
the committee from the Senate. is to-
day in Providence. r. L., where he Will
address a joint session of the legisla-
ture in favor of woman's suffrage He
is expected to return to Washington
Thursday and will be here for the
meeting Monday.