The Washington herald., 1920-12-18
Raises Quorum Point
When Blocked on
Amendment.
EXPECT TO PASS
MEASURE TODAY
School Centers Raped in
Discussing d. c. Ap-
preparation Bill.

BLOCKED at inc pOlhI VI Pe~eS
by the lack of a quorum the District
of Columbia appropriation bill. con-
sideration of which was completed in
Committee of the Whole, was held
over in the House yesterday for a
final vote today.
The point Of no quorum was
raised by Representative Joseph
Walsh. Of Massachusetts,, following
an unsuccessful attempt to eliminate
an item in the measure providing for
minor improvements to the Court
of Appeals Building. Representa-
tive Charles r. Davis. of Minnesota
who had the District measure in
charge. moved adjournment rather
than submit to the delay incident to
a roll call.
The few changes made in the
measure by the House were all on
points of order raised against legis-
lation in an appropriation bill. Since
all appropriating power has been
lodged in the Appropriation Commit
tee as a part Of the budget program,
the other committees which surren-
dered appropriating powers are ex-
tremely sensitive about legislation
in appropriation bills.
Points of Order Prevail.
Even though Chairman Davis and
other members OF the committee ex-
planned that the few legislative
riders in the bill were put there for
the purpose of saving money. the
Lofnts OF order were insisted upon
ard Representative Hicks, presid-
ing, sustained them.
One of the ftems thus stricken
cut provided for the elimination of
grade crossings on the Baltimore
and Potomac Railway in Washing
ton and authorized the District
Commissioners to bring suit in equi-
ty in the District Supreme Court
against the railroad company for
taxes which would constitute a lien
against the. property of the COM
pany.
Another such item appropriated
$4,000 for payment of expenses for
community forums and civic CEN
ters in school buildings. including
salaries of janitOrs.. teachers, secre-
teries and clerks.
Kills District Bonus.
Walsh also knocked out a para
graph providing that District po-
licemen and firemen and the United
States Park Police shall continue
to receive the s120 bonus.
1t was brought out during dis
cussion that appropriations provid-
IN la
combination chemical hose wagons,
one aerial hook and ladder truck,
a city service truck and a water
tower for the Fire Department, was
part of the original program to
completely motoriZe the District
Fire Department. These items were
retained as they were not subject
to a point of order.
Walsh severely attacked the civic
centers and community forums, say
ing that there was no warrant for
the Federal government carrying
items in the District bill to pay
teachers and others for the work
which these centers are doing. The
Federal treasury. he said, could not
hold enough money for such pur-
poses
Defense of school Centers.
Representatives Davis and James
T. Mann, former Republican floor
leader, rushed to tho defense of the
community centers, Davis saying
the community center movement
had become universal and that ap-
proximately $4,000 persons in the
District had been educated and en-
tertained during the past year by
the work. Mann said 1t was part
of the school work and should be
continued.
Chairman Hicks, in sustaining the
point of oxder. declared he was in
favor Of community center activi-
ties. but could ind no authorization
in law for the appropriation.
Favors One DAYS Rest.
Representative Thomas L. Blan-
ton, of Texas. made a strong plea
for an amendment granting to Dis
trict policemen and firemen one day
of a week.
Policemen and firemen in the
District" he said, ARE the only
government employees who do not
have a day of each week, and I
understand also that they are not
granted full vacation leave enjoyed
by other employees.
when the question of doing the
right thing by the individual is in
volved," persisted Blanton over the
objection of the chairman, there is
no excuse for failing to do it merely
beacuse 1t costs money. There is
not a day nor a night that some of
these men do not risk their lives in