The Washington times., 1916-01-18
VOTES TO BAR
RIDERS FROM.
D. c. BUDGETS.
House Committee Decides That
Legislation Must Be Kept
Appropriation Bills.

At It's FIRST business meeting today
the House District Committee adopt
ed resolution which virtually
serves notice upon the Appropriations
Committee that the foUlner committee
Will look with disfavor upon any leg
islative riders upon the District ap-
preparation bill. and desires to con-
slider oil legislative matter affecting
the National Capital
On motion of Congressman Lloyd,
the committee unanimously adopted
the resolution authorizing Chairman
johnson to notify the Appropriations
Committee that legislation ON the ap-
proprlation bill WOULD meet the OBJ
jection Of the District CoWmittee.
This objection will go so far as to
result in the raising of points of order
against any rider on the District Dud-
get, provided such legislation has not
been considered by the Johnson COM
mittee.
Resolution VOVted Down.
Second in Importance to this action
was the voting down, twelve to four.
Of the Mapes' resolution that all meet
Ings of the District committee shall be
open to the public. The only four MEM
bers voting for the Mapes resolution
Bailey and Mapes.
The defeat Of this resolution means
that the business sessions OF the COM
mittee hereafter will be behind closed
doors, although the hearings VIII pe
open to the public.
The same rule applies to meetings
of any subcommittee. The doors VIII
not be opened, the amendment reso-
lutior provides except by majority
vote of the District Committee.
Rejection of the Mapes resolution
was brought about by the insertion
of the word mot" Congressman Lloy !
moved that where the resolution pro-
vided for meetings to be open to the
Fubne 1t should be amended to read
not open.
The amended resolution provides.
however, that tho records or the Dis
trict Committee shall be open to IN
spectiCn at all reasonable times,
Clause Stricken Out.
That portion OF the original Mapes'
resolution which authorized any one
member of the committee to demand
a roll call or any question was
stricken II ON the resolution.
As amended the secret-session resolu-
tiCn reads:
''Resolved. That all meetings OF the
committee on the District CT Columbia
and all meetings OF any subcommtttees
thereof be not open to the public un-
the committee; that the records of the
committee or any subcommittee thereon
be open for inspection at all reasonable
timeS'
Congressman LlOyd'R motion regard
Ing the taboo on legislation carried as
riders Of the annual appropriation Dill
authorizes Chairman Johnson TO re-
quest the approximations Committee 10
offer no new legislation on their nppTo-
priation bill"
After the meeting, Congressman
Lloyd said:
"In recent years, however a practice
has developed whercunder the Dis
trict appropriation bill prepared by
the Appropriations Committee, has
contained important Legislative riders
covering matters not considered by
the District Committee.
"It was the unanimous sense of the
committee today that this practice
should be stopped. Under the resolu-
tiOn as adopted, Chairman johnson or
pembers of the District Comnlittee
win be fully justified in making a
point OF order against any legislative
paragraph in the appropriation bill
II do not refer to the present Board
has been apparently tendency on the
part OF the District Commissioners to
20 to the Appropriations Committee for
lsGislauon rather than the District
Committee. This should not be-"
The result Of the action of the Dis
triot Committee today is expected to
bton all consideration of legislative
mntters by the Appropriations Com
httee.
Chairmrn Page. Of the subcommittee
framing the District budget said he had
nnt vet beer advised officially OF tho
kttitudc of the District Committee but
that he would not attempt to load
down the appropriation bill with legis-
lptivc riders
Chairman Peu johnson and others
who opposed the Mapes publicity res
In lon kEI IR. al N1aE
District Committee Is the only commit
tee which attempts "a consider business
In omen session and that the adCption
OF this policy In the SiNty-third Con-
gresS retarded rather than expedited
business. They cOntended that tire
public necessities are met by opening
The records Of the committee after an
executive session.