Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-07-24
D. c. VIEW ON $3.50
WILL GET HEARING
House Committee Will Hear
Residents Discuss Half
and-HaIf Principle.
OTHER LOCAL MATTERS

Spokesman for the District of Co
lumbia are to have an opportunity
to present their views in regard to
the proposed measure abolishing the
half-and-half principle of financing
the District government at hearings
before fhe House District committee.
This was decided at a meeting of the
committee today which, took under
consideration the Mapes bill to abol-
ish the half-and-half system.
These hearings may start next week.
but the probability is that they will
be postponed until after Congress has
taken the recess which was agreed
to at the republican canucus last
night.
Lengthy Hearings Opposed.
Representative Romjou of Missouri
made motion instructing the chair
man of the committee to make ar
engagements for the hearings after
consultation with Henry B. F. Mac
farland and others interested in pre-
citizens. There were but six men,
bers present when this matter was
under discussion with Chairman
Mapes and Representative Romjou in
favor of making an early start on the
hearings. The general opinion was
that the hearings should not be
lengthy.
Representative Wheeler of Illinois
was much opposed to holding any
hearings during the warm weather
and made a point of order that there
was no quorum present to block
motion granting early consideration:
He withdrew this, however, and
agreed to the motion to have the
hearings subject to the call of the
chairman
1t was expressly agreed that there
should be no hearings during the
recess; that the hearings should not
be held at any length; but that the
chance to submit any statements
bearing upon the question. Previous
to the meeting the members of the
committee discussed writing into the
bill safeguards which would prevent
lowering of assessments or the tax
rate in the District, and thus forcing
the federal government to pay more
than so per cent of the cost of up
keep.
MI. Netherlands Statement.
H. B. F. mcfarland, chairman of
the citizens committee, said today
with reference to the action of the
House District COMMITTEES:
I'VE shall be ready to present the
facte. when the. time comes. We ap-S
preciate the opportunity, the first we
the Joint ss4etesEsanmltsses Of Com
Exe .1gagyxAfs4As sure
that We sfian have . Pull and fair
hearing"
Retirement Bill Amendments.
Two committee amendments were ap-
proved for the teachers retirement bill.
which is expected to come up for con-
sideration on the floor of the House
One of these is that two
thirds vote Of the board Of education
shall be necessary to retain in the serv-
ice any teacher after she reaches the
age of seventy. The bill as reported to
the House requires three-fourths vote,
and az there are nine members of the
board this would not figure out. The
other committee amendment was to in
clude within the accident clause any
teacher having had fifteen years of con
secutive service in the schools Of the
District. This clause as it now appears
in the bill makes any teacher eligible
at the age of forty-five years. The pro-
posed amendment makes eligible any
teacher forty-five years of age or who
years.
Market Company Not to Oppose.
The Johnson bill to annul the lease
of the Washington Market Company
will not be opposed either in the
House or Senate by the Washington
Market Company, Chairman Mapes told
the committee. Attorneys representing
the company are now in conference
with Chairman Mapes and Represent
alive Ben johnson, father Of the meas
ure, suggesting minor changes in the
bill. Representative johnson expects
soon to reintroduce the bill with the
proposed changes incorporated. Chair
man Mapes told the committee that
the principal change asked provides
for payment by the government on
valuation at the time the property is
taken over by the federal government.
He said that the bill as now drafted
provides for the government to take
over the property and then make the
appraisal. He estimated that this
would make a difference of about six
months in a settlement with the pres
ent occupants Of the property.