Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-01-30
DIPLOMACY BILL
R|DDLED IN HOUSE
So, 900, 900 Measure Mere
Shell at End of Flare
Up by Members.
FRAMING POLICY FLAYED
Representative Small Says IS Men
Are Doing Work 435
Were Elected to Do.

Discomfort over the new way Of franz
ing all big appropriation bills in a super
committee of thirty-five blazed up in the
House yesterday. As a result the diplo-
matte and consular appropriation meas
ure was cut to pieces by points of order
which tore out funds designed for the
conduct Of American business abroad.
The upshot of it all was the virtual
Kidding of the ght-million-d dollar diplo-
matte and consular bill, which, at the
end of the day, was mere shell of its
former self
There was no general attempt to
wreck the BILL Members simply sought
to register violent opposition to the man.
ner of it's framing Not all of the mem
bers were willing to go that far. for
many of those who objected strenuously
to some of its provisions were unwilling
to seize upon technical grounds for its
destruction.
Items Attacked in Detail.
One member. however. attacked item
after item and they went out as without
: authority of law.
The attack served as warning of
what may be expected when the House
begins consideration of the Army and
Naval appropriation bills. 1t gave lead
ers cause for serious thought as to
whether the supply measures could be
put through before the close OF the ses-
sion on March 3.
Heretofore the diplomatic bill has
been prepared by the foreign affairs
committee, in intimate touch with
needs and requirements OF the service.
The same rule applied to other COM
mittees, but under the new system
the ranking republican and democratic
members of the foreign affairs COM
mittee, for example, were transferred
to a consolidated appropriations COM
mittee of thirty-five members.
Glad to whack Bill.
This method virtually eliminated
the chairman of the committee so far
as he was authorized to take any
personal part in supply bills
preparation. The republican member
transferred became head of the par
ticular subcommittee on appropria-
more powerful figure on the floor than
his former chairman. Jealous of their
old powers, some chairmen and COM
mitteemen, it was said, made no at
tempt to conceal animosity or desire
to take a whack at the bill.
The weak spot in the new system,
according to those opposing it. was in
the fact that many appropriations
were authorized which had not been
authorized before. and which were
OpcH 10 pOlHtS Oh OFueT on the ground
of new legislation. There are ways
by which the items eliminated may be
put back. either by the Senate, in
conference, or by special rule, giving
them legislative standing.
Mondell Defends Policy.
Defending the new policy. Repre-
sentative Mondell, the republican
leader. declared it was in the interest
of economy. and that 156 members
had freely surrendered their former
rights for the common good.
Representative Small. democrat.
North Carolina, member of the SUBJ
committee which reported the diplo-
matte bill, declared the system was
wrong, and insisted. by way Of illus
tration. that members of the military
committee. who for years had given
profound study to the needs of the
War Department. more properly
should handle the Army appropria-
ton bill.
There was applause from both sides
of the chamber when Mr.. Small as
serted that by this method thirty-five
men actually were doing the work
that 1876 were elected to do.