Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-06-05
HOUSE REFUSESTO
LEG|SLATEF0RNEW
EDUCATION BOARD
Congress Passes Deficiency
Bill Without School
Rider.


tion through Congress providing for
immediate reorganization of the board
of education of the District of Column
ba definitely failed early this morn
ing when the House OF Representa-
tives refused to accept the amend
ment to the third deficiency bill. pro-
vidins for the appointment of a new
hoard of six members appointed by
the President and confirmed by the
Senate.
The fight of Senator Harrison,
democrat of Mississippi. to get favor
able action in the Senate and to force
the House to accept or reject the
measure at times approached the
spectacular and after he had con-
Quoted a filibuster for almost an hour
against acceptance of the conference
report without the amendment he was
successful in having the bill returned
TO conference. He acknowledged de-
feat only when Chairman Warren of
the Senate appropriations committee
announced at > O'Clock this morning
that the House had refused to accept
the amendment. and III brief but
caustIc statement characterized the
action as an outrage. the onus of
which rested entirely on the House.
The last action of the Senate before
adjournment this morning was to pass
the deficiency bill, shorn of the school
amendment. carrying appropriations
amounting to s5S.00o. 600. OF that
amount s14,0o0.Oo0 is to meet the
deficit incurred during federal con-
troll of telegraph and telephone lines.
Representative Byrnes Obdurate.
Representative James F. ByrneS of
South Carolina is the one conferee who
defeated the Harrison amendment.
The conference last night was a con-
test between Representative Byrnes
and Senator Underwood. the two mi
nority members. The attitude of the
republican conferees was to save the
deficiency bill. and they spent their
time endeavoring to reconcile the
disagreement between the two demo-
cratic conferees.
In explaining today why he had led
the contest defeating the Harrison
amendment, Representative Brynes
said:
Legislation on an appropria ton
bill is always bad and especially
vicious in the closing hours. when no
\one has a chance to examine it close
iy. In the closing hours this propo-
sition came up which provides for a
revolution in the appointment of the
school board. in qualification for APP
pointment and in appropriation of
money for another survey and other
propositions which have never been
considered by any committee of the
House or by the regular District COM
mittee of the Senate. Such precipi-
tate action is unfair to the House. I'M
fair to the interests involved. who
never had an opportunity to present
their case.
One Reason for Opposition.
Personally. i am opposed to the
Pre- sident appointing the school board.
i believe some one in the District
more intimately acquainted with To-
cal conditions should have the APP
pointing power. and that it should be
removed as far as possible from
political influence"
Mr.. Byrnes argued that the judges
who make the appointments never
had an opportunity to present their
views to either branch of Congress.
Il see no harm to come from legis-
lating in the regular way. but great
harm might result through the adop-
tion of the amendment presented to
the House at midnight. when few
members had the chance to read.
much less to consider carefully. this
provision" said Mr. .Byrnes.
school Situation Discussed.
Discussion of the local school situa-
ton was resumed last night at 9
O'Clock. when Senator Warren an
nounced that the anne ndment in ques-
ton had been dropped in conference
because of the opposition of the House
members. and asked that the report
be accepted and the bill passed with
out the amendment attached.
II am sure that the Senate conferees
We're strongly insistent that this
amendment. which has received the
approval of the Senate. should remain
in the bill" said Senator Harrison,
but ] hope the senator from Wyom-
ing will not object to the measure
being returned to conference and an
effort made to get the House con-
ferees TO lay the amendment before
the House.
Il have learned that two of the
House conferees and all three of the
Senate conferees were in favor of the
amendment, and that only one con-
fierce, a House member. was opposed
to II. and he succeeded in having 1t
stricken out ! am anxious that the
House have the opportunity to ac-
cept or reject this niece of legisla-
ton. The school situation here is
very critical. and il would be an out
rage for the Congress TO adjourn now
and leave ii without remedy until
next December"
senator Warren's Response.
Senator Warren replied that he
would cheerfuily abide by the wishes
OF the Senate if the bill were sent
hack 10 the Senate. but said that as
one of the conferees and as the mem
her submitting their report he could
hardly ask that the report bes re-
jected
But if the senator will only say
the word. persisted Senator Harri-
son. Il know that this report will be
rejected. / know he has the interests
of the schools of Washington at heart
and ] am making this appeal in their
behalf"
Il would like to ask the senator
from Mississippi if the situation here
is not very critical in regard to the
public schools asked Senator Hok o
Smith of Georgia
1T is very grave. indeed" replied
senator Harrison. and if Congress
everything will be up in the air. The
school board does not appear inclined
10 meet. and the term of the present
superintendent expires at the end of
this month
First Vote, 2S to IL.
The motion to accept the report of
the committee. shorn of the school
amendment, showed IS ayes and IL
nays on the first roll call which did
not show quorum. Repeated calls
failing to indicate quorum the SER
geant at arms WAS instructed to find
the missing members and bring them
into the chamber. y second roll call
showed ." in favor Of accepfiup the
report. with but 10 III favor of send :
Ing II back to conference. though the
official count included the vote of
Senator Harrison III the affirmative
he having changed his vote SO that
he would be in a position TO move for
q reConside ra ton
Getting the floor by virtue of the
motion TO reconsider, Senator Har-
rison announced -i.at ne was so i'm :
pressed with the gravity Of the situa-
ton and the dire need of something
being done for the schools that he IN
tended to talk on the measure until
'the small hours of .be morning"
Il shall confine my discussion to
the school Situa ton IN washington -