The Washington times., 1923-02-23
GIVEN DATA
BY FOCHT
IN TALK
Meantime Women Prepare
Demonstration for Monday.
Rap MondelI and Campbell.

President Harding was today
drawn into the battle of Wash
inetonians for passage, by the
House of District legislation.
The President was appealed to
by Chairman Benjamin K. Focht,
Of the District Committee, at
White House conference.
At the same time, mothers WIS.,
tied Floor Leader Mondell and
other influential members to en-
list their support.
Mass Meeting of Women.
Plans are laid for mass meet
ing OF District women favoring
the bill and an ensuing silent
campaign in the House gallery on
Monday.
The blame is placed by. all on
Con1ressman Campbell, chairman
Of the House Rules Committee.
who il accused Of pocketing the
npeciai rule for consideration OF
the bill.
CONGRESSMAN Focht was accom-
panied TO the White House by Burt
A. Miller, superintendent OF lnsuf-
ance of the District. who presented
q memorandum to the President
setting forth the urgency OF the
ratification of the insurance laws
Of the District.
Mr.. Miller said that the INSURANCE
hill. which was drafted by the
leading experts from several Seates.
and has already been passed by the
Senate. should be- passed.
",rht Sc two features oi legisia-
ton should be enacted" said MI.
Focht, ''and>1 do not care to have
the responsibility for their failure.
I wan the responsibility placed
where it belongs, and L conveyed
that<infornia ZION TO President Hard
ing"
Rules In Hip Pockets"
CONGRESSMAN Focht said the vari-
Gus deIegat ons that had called upon
him had been told by him that Con-
gresham Campbell, chairman OF the
Rules Committee, and Floor Leader
Mondell were in absolute control OF
the legislation, and that they car
ried around the rules in their hip
pockets. He said he had yielded on
numerous occasions to the big APP
Hropriat. on bills on the assurance
that eventually District legislation
would be considered
Prospects are now against any
favorable action, said Mr.. Focht.
II was stated by Congressman
Focht that Secretary Christian had
indicated to him that President
Harding would do everything in his
power toward getting the two bills
cut.
Following discnuraging visit to
the Capitol today in the Interest
of the teachers salary bill. vii h IL
being held up also by Campbell
and Mondell, delegation of mothers
decided to spend the rest of the
time between now and Monday
notifying all women interested in
the measure to meet at II o'clock
on that morning in front of the
District building for concerted ac-
ton.
The party will go to the Capitol
and occupy the galleries in .;ilent
protest against the manner in
which the District Is being neglected
by the leaders of the House.
Women Visit barrow.
Today the delegation waited upon
Congressman George P. Darlow of
Pennsylvania. member of the steer
ing committee, to request that he
intercede for them with Campbell
and Mondell for action at this
session uri the teachers salary bill
Congressman barrow told the
sixteen special rules in his pocket
and that 1t was not possible, IN his
opinion, to bring the District legis-
Iation up in the House this week.
He also gave the discoura ging in
formation that il it was not passed
upon next Monday. no action could
be expected at this session.
deIega ton of District school
teachers also called upon Mondell
today to urge action at this session
of Congress on the teachers salary
bit
he outstanding feature of the I
Viss,, they said, was the anna zing in
timation made by Mondell that
school teachers of the District are
displaying decided opposition 10 tho
measure.
heir influence, MondelI intimated
WIS having its effect on the pros
p" for passage of the measure al
this session.
Ioudell said in defense of his
actions and that of the other mem
bers of the House Steering Com
pnlttee In preventing action on the
bill, that there were other matter,
Of national importance which must
come first.