Evening star., 1916-01-07
CHAIRMAN JOHNSON BEGINS
FRAMING SUCH A MEASURE
Self-Government and Representa-
tion Issues Held to Need Only
Vigorous Pushing. q
FORMAL COMMENTS RESERVED
Senate Members Think Fact That
Joint Select Committee Was
Unanimous in Findings Will
Have Great Weight.

At least one bill. and, perhaps
two. embodying the recommends
tons and the sense, OF the report
from the joint select committee
OF Congress on the fiscal relations
between the United States and
District OF Columbia, printed in
he Star yesterday, will be intro
duced Ill the House. Among
members OF the Senate the opin-
ION was expressed that first al
frmative action will be taken bv
the House and that the fiscal
plan outlined in the report will
be enacted into law.
Chairman Johnson OF the House
District committee already has
started work on measure which
will follow without deviation the
joint committees report, includ-
ing the abolition of the half-and-
half principle of appropriation.
providing for the retention of that
system for the purposes of paying
the interest on the sos bonds.
and outlining an inheritance tax.
At the same time, the three
members of the joint select COM
mittee from the House, Repre-
sentatives Rainey, Gard and
Cooper. after consultation with
Representative Page, chairman
of the subcommittee in charge Of
the District appropriation bill,
have decided that in order to put
the finishing touches to their
work of compiling the report
they should collaborate on
measure for introduction in the
House-such measure to put into
concrete Legislative form what
they believe should be enacted
to change the present relations
between the District and the
United States.
Prospects for Action Bright
Along with the question of a change
in the relations which have existed for
forty years there runs the extremely
interesting proposition to change the
form of the government in the District
and also to give the National Capital
representa- ton on the floor of the House.
Every member of Congress questioned
as to the general situation today
touched upon these subjects. and in the
present state of affairs ii would appear
that all that is needed TO get action on
The self-government and representation
question is for some one in Congress
to push the subject vigorously.
Rut first and foremost comes the joint
select committees report and the gos-
sip and possibilities concerning enact
ment from it.
The District is most overwhelmingly,
Representatives johnson and Page or
North Carolina-read the report care
fully. Neither of them would express
at this time any opinion for publlca-
tfon although it is quite evident Mr..
Page is heartily in favor of the find
ings and already has gone to work 10
find way to frame the Forthcoming
appropriation bill on the lines suggest
ed in that document
Representative johnson was asked
for an expression of opinion, and with
chara cteristic lmihopihtS oi couhee
y - do not care to make any comment
at this time as ] intend TO make a
sneech on the subject of the report at
some opportune time. ihtehd also 70
read the testimony before the commit
Zee 1 have not read any of ii up 10
this time.
To Introduce other Bills.
What Mr. johnson will say undoubtedly
will be of great interest. Furthermore. it
g possible to deduce that there viii be
;ome criticism in his speech, as he said
od,v that in addition to framing a bill
-olIowing exactly the lines of the commit
90 report he intends to Introduce other
ills on matters corollary to the general
ubiect involved. He also said he would
introduce these bills withc-t regard to
he appropriation bill. which now is in
,rocess of formation behind closed doors.
md that he proba bly, would allow his bill
o take the regular course.
There also is strong probability that
johnson will push his Dill
o tax intangible property within the Dis
rict of Columbia. This would be met
With the opposition of the single tax
members of his committee. Messrs. Cros-
er and Bailey, in addition to whatever
pposition would come from other MEM
ers who believe such tax neither neces.
AIRY nor just.
Now that a change in the relation
hip may be made" Representative
Johnson was asked, what about the
proposals that always are before this
committee to allow self-government
nd a representation on the floor of
Il always have favored self-g ern-
lcontinued on Fifteenth Pags