Evening star., 1923-01-22
BILLS ARE HELD Up
IN HOUSE ON FIRST
DE- DAY IN MONTHS
Workmen's Compensation
Measure Is Again Center
of Contention. .
POLICE ARE PROVIDED
FOR SHRINE CONVENTION
Pass Resolution for $4,000, In
creasing Senate Meas
ure $29, 900.


for the first time in many months
A mass Of important District meas
ures has been held back because the
Fitzgerald workmen's compensation
bill, providing compulsory industrial
insurance for all kinds of workers in
the National Capital, from the kitchen
to the pulpit, has stood as a stone
wall in the way of all other measures.
Compensation Again Contended.
The workmen's compensation bill.
which is a bone of bitter contention
between Representative Fitzgerald of
Ohio, whose measure calls for the in
dustrial insurance to be handled by
a governmental agency, and Rep
resentative Underhill of Massachu-
setts. who favors industrial insurance
handled by private concerns. has been
unfinished business on District day in
the House.
Effort is being made today to bring
this Legislation to a final vote, SO
that when another day is granted.
probably next Monday, other impor-
tant District legislation may be
passed. including the teachers pay
and school reorganization bill, and
the proposed extension of 14th street
through the Walter Reed Hospital
grounds, and the so-called pure milk
bill urged by the District health Of
flee, which requires all milk for homo
consumption to come from tuberculin-
tested herds.
On all matters OF legislation ex-
tensive hearings have been held. The
House committee is anxious to get
these measures passed by the House.
and House Leader Mondell has given
assurance that another day will be
granted for their consideration.
Police for Convention.
Privileged consideration was given
today TO the joint resolution provid-
ing funds for police protection and
public convenience during the Shrin-
ers' assemblage here next June After
brief debate and amendments this
measure was passed. due largely to
the insistence of Representative Ell
lott W. Sproul OF Illinois.
AS 1t passed the Senate this resolu-
tion called for an appropriation Of
$4,000. Amendments offered in the
$4,000. making all the funds available
out of revenues of the District. House
amendments also changed this from a
direct appropriation to an authorization
for the District Commissioners TO
spend this amount for the purposes
designated.
FOcht Offers Amendments.
The amendments were offered BY
Chairman Focht of the House Dis
trict committee. The proposal to
make this money payable entirely
from the funds of the District was
offered to meet objection made by
Representative Garrett of Tennessee
acting democratic leader, and the
change from a direct appropriation
to authorization was made at the in
stance of Representative Cramton OF
Michigan.
The Fitzgerald workmen's compen-
Sation bill was then taken up.
Representative Underhill of Massa-
chusettS took the floor in opposi-
tends to try TO have his own bill
substituted for the Fitzgerald bill
Bill Denounced.
Bitter denunciation of the Fitzger-
aid industrial insurance bill was
voiced by Representativ W. r. Wood
of Indiana, who saidit means social
ism and nothing else.
Such socialism as has undermined
Russia and destroyed her: such as is
now undermining and will destroy
Germany; such, if We listen to the
insidious demands, as will destroy
this country.
we are Ienulne toward socialism
today faster than Germany was Ave
years ago." he said.
Declaring that this is an opening
wedge for government interference
in all kinds of business. Representa-
tive Wood said: why take over this
business. unless you are going to take
over all kinds of insurance"
Can it be that we are asked to
have this country, which is trying
to hold up all that is left of stability
aT1nh hng
policies followed by the tottering
and crumbling countries of the old
world?"
Charges Soap Box Oratory.
''The same kind of arguments that
are being made in favor Of this leg
islation have heard from soap box
orators in Patterson, ~ j., in St
Louis, and now in the Congress of
| the United States.
In arguing for the substitution OF
his bill to have workmen's compen-
sation administered to private en-
| terprise Representative Underhill of
Massachusetts said that the Fitzger-
| aid bill would produce a monopoly.
| in view of the fact that employers
must take out insurance and en-
ployes must accept it. He said that
| too great power is given by the Fitz-
gerald bill to the government COM
| mission TO make rates for premiums
and collections.
Representative Underhill argued
| that the employees compensation COM
| mission already has its hands full
now and would have to call on the
Civil Service Commission for as
| sistance to administer the Fitzgerald
bill IL 1t is passed.
Representative Roy c. Fitzgerald of
Ohio, author of the measure, COM
planned that the propaganda which
is now flooding the Offices of all mem
bers of Congress Is instituted by
foreign insurance companies, which.
he said. are getting a great return
out of this country on such business.
Representative Fitzgerald claims
that the Underhill bill would sub
sidize the private insurance COM
panies of the country up to 80 and
40 per cent.
Intended az Remedy.
Representative Fitzgerald pointed
out that his bill is intended to remedy
tDe situation arising from the failure
of Congress thus far to provide a
workmen's compensation law for up
ward of 100000 private employees in
the District of Columbia. He claims
that forty-three states, in addition
to Alaska. Hawaii and Porto Rico.
have now substituted enlightened
workmen's compensation law for the
outgrown theory of employers liza