Evening star., 1924-05-07
SPECIAL RULE URGED
FOR INSURANCE BILL
Lampert Instructed to Ask House
for Right of Way on
Fitzgerald Measure.
VOTE TAKEN IN CONFUSION
Kung, Underhill and Blanton Make
Objections.

After Il spirited argument in the
House District committee today, Acting
Chairman Lampcrt was instructed to
ask the rules committee for special
rule making the Fitzgerald work
mems compensation bill order of
special business on the next District
day, Monday to lac disposed of in one
day.
Tho vote asking for y special rule
was faken during considerable con
fusion. when some Of those opposed to
the Fitzgerald bill were protesting
that the committee should adjourn
because the hour of II had arrived.
Had Planned Amendments.
Representative Stanley II. Kunz,
Democrat, Illinois, told the commit
tee that he had been induced to sign
the report on the Fitzgerald bill as
a member of the subcommittee which
conducted hearings on compulsory in
duStrial insurance Legislation after
Il promise had been made to him that
he would be given an opportunity to
offer an amendment throwing the
field in Washington open to compe-
titiOn. so that employers could insure
in private insurance companies if
they so desired, but that if they did
not. they would be compelled to in
sur" under the state fund.
Representative BantOn reminded
the committee that they did not need
any rule, because all that was nccrs-
sarN was for the COMMITTEES to in
struCt the chairman to call up on
the next District day whatever hill
the mem herS desired should have
first ConSid ration.
Repre- sentative Kuhz warned the
committee that his amendment has
the backing of n majority Of the
committee and that if he is not given
an opportunity to offer it before the
bill is called up in the House, the
the floor of the House and Il real
fight will he waGed against the FftZ-
gerald measure.
Injury to business.
Representative KunZ said that tho
committee and the House ought to
feel the same obligation regarding
Legislation for the District rs for
their home states and that they
should not attempt to put anything
over on the District He reminded
the committee that Congress has lit
tie confidence in the District commit
tee because it does not agree among
it's own membership.
1T is 4 wrong step at this time"
ne said, ito put private business out
of business You propose 10 do this
first with the insurance companies
and then similar action will follow
with regard to other lines of indus
try"
Representative Charles I. Underhill.
Republican, Massachusetts, uathor Of
rival legislation which seeks to
make industrial insurance compul-
sorry. but leave the field open to com
petition. reminded the committee of
the way in which the Fitzgerald bill
had been reported out of the com
1nittee when all of its supporters were
mustered in and Some of those op-
nd 70 y he hnf a
believed that other matters in the
regular order of business were being
considered. He emphasized that if a
special rule was granted 1t would
give the Fitzgerald measure prestige
on the floor, where there was no need
for asking a special rule.
whether l. special rule is granted
or not. this bill is bound to be
defeated" Representative Undcrhill
said, "and by this action YOU are
going to take time from non-con-
troversiaI matters of Importance to
the District"
He emphasized that but for dom
ineering tactics there would be a
workman's compensation law OPP
Grating in the District now. ''You
are trying to force something on the
District that Congress doesn't want,
that the people of the District do not
want and that the nation does not
want
Representative Underhill warned
the committee that they will be in
a sorry spectacle because, having re-
ported out the Fitzgerald BILL he
proposes to file a minority report
which will be signed by d majority
of the committee.
Representative Blanton emphasized
that if d special rule is granted
neither the rights of Representative
Kunz nor of Representative Under
hill will be given consideration