Evening star., 1921-02-13
What Congress Is Doing
The House.
ny WILL. p. KENNEDY

The conferees for the House will
report tomorrow the agreement that
they can reach with the Senate on
the District appropriation bill. 1t
will remain for the House to vote
on each item of legislation put on
the bfll as amendments by the Sem
ate. which would have been sub
ject to a point of order il they
mad originated in the House. 1t
is hoped to get the conference
agreement approved by the House
tomorrow.
The unfinished business for to-
morrow is to dispose of the naval
appropriation bill which carries
$395.5O4,44423, which has been un-
der consideration since Thursday.
Late tomorrow or Tuesday the
appropriations committee expects
to report the last of the big regu-
lar appropriation bills--the forti-
hcations billion which hearings
nave been in progress all week.
This will be for ABOUT $15.O00,000.
This week the District committee
will probably make a favorable re-
port on bill calculated to induce
merger of the two street rail-
way systems in Washington. This
Will pIODdDiS TcuuCc lut
franchise tax of per cent on gross
earnings to per cent. and then
levy an excess profits tax of so
per cent on earnings over per
cent net and possibly rs per cent
on earnings over per cent net.
The right of the Potomac Electric
Power Company to consolidate
with the Washington Railway and
Electric Company is given in this
l. l. L..
panies merge or not.
The House conferees on the sun
dry civil appropriation bill are to
hold a hearing tomorrow on. the
item of $10,000.00O for the Muscle
Shoals dam which was inserted by
the Senate.
Tribute to Abraham Lincoln was
paid in the House yesterday by
Representative Richard Yates of
Illinois. whose father was a warm
personal, professional and political
friend of Lincoln.
During the last three or four
days. Arthur Bullard, chief of the
Russian division, State Depart
ment. and 4. w. Kliefoth, econo-
mist on Russia, have been advising
the foreign affairs committee re-
garding the resumption of trade
relations with the soviet govern
ment Of Russia
The special committee investigat-
ing the Shipping Board has practi-
cally finished taking testimony and
Chairman Walsh has promised to
make his report before the close of
this session. Edward N. Hurley.
former chairman of the board, was
examined yesterday.
The ways and means committee
has about finished hearings on
tariff schedules. Makers of violins
and xylophones had their inStru-
ments played for the committee on
Thursday. fish interests were heard
on Friday and the free list was
under consideration yesterday.
Assistant Secretary Gilbert Of the
Friday before the public buildings
and grounds committee regarding
the need for a storage vault to cost
$2.O00,000. This new building is
needed in Washington on account
of the vast amount of bullion, coin
and specie being accumulated here
through the closing of the sub
treasures.
The first deficiency bill passed the
House on Thursday and was. sent
to the Senate. 1t carries $2O3,-
293,476.72, of. which more than $73,-
100000 is for the District.
The Army appropriation bill,
carrying $32S,S61 ,123 and providing
for an enlisted force of $50, 900 men.
was passed by the House and sent
to the Senate on Tuesday.
After having been temporarily
defeated on Monday, the Winslow
bill. authorizing the payment to
railroads of the money due them
under the six months guarantee by
the government. was passed On
Tuesday.
The bill providing for expendi-
ture Of $12.500,O00 on five hospitals
for world war victims was pa ssed
by the House under suspension of
the rules on Monday.
The bill authorizing expenditure
of $100,000,000 during the next
fiscal year for good roads work in
cooperation with the states was
passed Monday.