Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-02-26
CLASH OVER BILLS
FOR DC. WORKERS
Representatives Fitzgerald
and UnderhiII Differ on Com
penSation Measure.

There was another bitter personal
clash between Representative Roy G.
fitzgerald of Ohio and Representative
Charles L. Underhill Of Massachusetts,,
rival authors OF workmen's compen-
sation legislation for the District of
Columbia, at the heraing today before
q subcommittee Of the House District
committee, with Representative Fitz-
gerald presiding.
Representatives of the Massachu-
sets state branch Of the American
Federation Of Labor testified indors-
ing the Fitzgerald bill. These labor
representatives were William Walsh.
president; Martin j. Joyce, secretary
and treasurer. and Frank X. Nc
Carthy, New England representative
They were called in to refute
statements made by Representative
underhill that organized labor In
stass fand or hop ps of Il nda h.
trial insurance.
Endorsed Unanimously.
Mr.. Joyce declared that the Mas
sachusetts branch had Endorsed the
Fitzgerald bill ''in it's entirety"
through action of the executive
board a week ago. He denied that
tue any CO.
ercion on the part of the American
Federation Of Labor, and was cross
examined closely by Representative
Underhill, who inquired if the Massa-
chusetts branch at it's last conven-
ton had not refused to indorse the
Ohio plan.
Mr.. Joyce then explained that the
Massachusetts branch always has sup
ported state fund insurance, but op-
posed provision in the Ohio plan
to allow employers to- put into effect
self insurance under state super
vision.
Representative UndehilI asked Mr..
Joyce If he did not realize that the
Fitzgerald bill makes provision for
self insurance. The witness admit
gerald bill but had been told that it
is all right by those in whom he had
confidence.
MIR. Fitzgerald's Query.
Representative Fitzgerald then
challenged Representative Underhill
to show that his bill contains pro-
vision for self insurance and declared
Representative Underhill did this.
The latter replied with heat that
he could not be coerced by Mr.. Fitz-
gerald. and that Mr.. Joyce could read
the bill himself, but that if 1t did not
contain such a provision 1t differed
fore the last Congress and differed
also from the Ohio plan.
Representative Fitzgerald then ac-
cused Representative Underhill of
constantly misrepresenting his bill
Representative Underhill responded
with the charge that Representative
Fitzgerald's conduct of the hearings
had been plainly one-sided and I'M
fair. Mr.. Fitzgerald vigorously as
serted that he intended to smash"
Underhill in the latter's alleged false
statements about the Fitzgerald bill
and that he would EXPOSE" him.
Representative Underhill retorted
that Representative Fitgerald's eff
forts would have no better success
than in the past.
Views Of Federation Member.
Edgar Wallace, a legislative rep
resentative of the federation, told the
committee that while the federation
might revoke the charter of a sub
sidiary body which had Endorsed
communism or otherwise had taken a
position opposed to a fundamental
stand of the parent body, the Nation
al Federation never attempted coer-
cion in cases where there was only