The Washington times., 1924-02-21
CHARACTER
ASSASSIN,
HECALLS
OH|OAN
Bay State Congressman in
Bitter Attack at Insur-
ance Hearing.

Charging attempts by Congress
man Roy G. Fitzgerald of Ohio, to
"assassinate his character" Con-
gresham Charles L. Underhill of
Massachusetts,, today made one of
the bitterest attacks on the Ohio
Congressman that has been made
during the present session of Con-
gress.
The attack came during hear
ing on the Fitzgerald and Under
hill workmen's compensation bills
for the District of Columbia be-
fore q special subcommittee of the
House District Committee.
Reads Press Clipping
Underhill charged Fitzgerald with
inspiring newspaper articles reflect
Ing on his character. He read a
clipping from a Dayton, Ohio, news
paper regarding an affair in a New
York Russian cafe m which Con-
gresham Underhill and his wife
were listed as being the guests of
F. Robert Jones, the alleged head
of an insurance lobby now working
for the defeat of the FITZGERALD bill,
The inference made in this ar
tlcle was that / was doing an i'm.
proper thing" Underhill said.
Il don't know whether it is the
atmosphere of Washington or the
indecency of the gentleman from
Ohio which caused him to stoop to
this kind of an attack on me-"
Underhill explained that he had
gone to New York to be with his
daughter and son-in-law for the
first time since they were married,
and that the party went to The
cafe as the guest of Mr.. Jones in
purely social manner He denied
that the affair had anything to do
with the insurance bill now pending
Illustration of Perfidy.
He cited as IAN illustration of the
perfidy of action Of the gentleman
from Ohio" the fact thar Fitzgerald
had assisted him during his cam
paign for election by furnishing him
with documents and other materials
contemplate action OF muci
raker and attempts to assasinate
my character" shouted UnderhiIl
Congressman Ralph Gilbert Of
Kentucky, a member of the con-
mlttee, jumped to his feet and de
ciared that he would not atten,
any future meetings of the con,
mtttee unless the members re
frAIna6 from
succeeded in Quieting. the distu.
Dances caused by UnderhilI's r.
Fitzgerald made no attempt I,
reply to Underhill's charge:
During the course of his attacl
Underhill was frequently applaut
ed by more than a hundred men
bers Of the Washington Insuran,
Club, whom he had invited 10 a
tend the hearing.
UnGerhilI Defends Bill.
Underhill spoke in defense of H.,
bill which would permit the private
insurance companies to administer
the District workmen's compensa
ton fund, while the Fitzgerald bill
provides that the fund shall be ad
ministered by the Federal Govern
ment. Underhill declared that no
Government department can oper-
ate more cheaply than a private
concern, mot even excepting the
Postoffice Department"
He criticized the government EN-.
ployes for their inefficiency,. &C.
cusing them of loafing on the job
in certain Instances and Of hanging
on in the Government service until
they dried up. He declared that
1t would be easier for the employer
under the Underhill bill than under
the Fitzgerald plan. He denied
charges that under the private plan
private employers would escape
their responsibilities by failing to
take out insurance to protect their
employees.
To-day there is not the arbitrary,
heartless feeling that there used to
be on the part of employers" he
said. They are more interested in
the welfare of their employees. The
old idea that you can let human
machinery go to waste or replace
it has gone"
He praised the manner in which
the Government is treating it's in.
jured employees in Washington.
through the public health service,
declaring that "it is carrying on a
very effective. fair and decent plan
of treatment" He charged how.
ever, that all Federal bureaus "are
surrounded by red tape" and de.
clared that this condition would
also operate to hinder the carrying
out Of Government workmen's
compensation program.
III. p. Janisch. representing sew.
eral mutual casu"ltv compan'ea,
also attacked the Fitzgerald bill
declaring that 1t would "legalize dis
elimination against world war vet.
ernns and that In this respect It is
a contemplate thing"