The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-02-13
WIT SPARKLES
IN HOUSES
DEBATE
l''HorsepIay" Holds Up BUSH
ness, But Congress Fund
Bill Will Be Passed

The House is today attempting to.
recover its dignity after field day
INDUCED in by the wits and waga
Of the lower body of Congress, who.
yesterday spent an afternoon pranc-
ing around on their mental steedsi
riding hard but getting nowhere.
The House had up for considera-
ton the legislative appropriation
bill, making appropriations for theiv
own branch of the Governments.
Despite the horseplay, the bill Is
going through the hopper in record
time and should be completed today.
Congressman Thomas Il. Blant0n
opened the fun by introducing an.
amendment to reduce the size OF
the House from 4S5 to 3O4 MEM
berS.
Amid general CONSERVATION he
suggested that the names Of the
unlucky 131 members to be elimi.
mated might be drawn from hat.
Great signs Of relief went UP when
the amendment went out on q
point of order.
Guides Are Discussed
Then came q comment about the
guide service at the Capitol. under
fire earlier In the afternoon. It
was pointed out that a group Of
disabled soldiers, then in the gal
lery, were being shown through the
Capitol by the guides without
charge.
who would charge hospital pa
TENTS to see this Capito1?" shouted
Congressman Taylor OF Colorado.
II was afraid, from the rumors
that have heard floating around
about the Capitol lately, that some
believed they would even charge a
dead man. Blanton replied dryly.
CONGRESSMAN Tom Connally Of
Texas precipitated the next act in
the comedy by protesting against
the title Legislative council which
has been substituted for the draft
ing service.
ssIt Is q reflection on this House
to call them legislative counsel, be-
cause that implies that they not
only draw the bills but do cur
thinking for US, he complained.
"DislOcated'' His Remarks.
Congressman Luce Of Massa.
chusetts then got the floor to talk
about the counsel and was inter.
rupted by Blanton. who asked i
he would yield.
II win not Luce replied. ''The
last time yielded to the. genIIe-
man he 50 dislOcated my remarks
that they have never yet been
properly put together"
After q few more members had
chimed In, Congressman WinslOw
of Massachusetts,, who claims the
record Of being the stontest member
Of Congress, rose ponderously to
his feet and said:
Mr.. Chairman. hesitate TO
participate in the pastime Of these
gentlemen, two from Massach usetts
and two from Texas, who have
beenA dancing kind Of four-handed
reel around here, but my experience
with the bill drafting business leads
me to think that. ought to con-
ment and seriousness Of the occa-
sion.
Qualified on Weights.
He aroused a gale Of laughter
by remarking that when he first
came to Congress he was put on
the Committee on Weights and
Measures, for which che knew he
was qualified"
He told OF an experience while
serving on q House committee
WASEG q lSCuIlACdl al 6uIuCAI cams
up and lawyer after lawyer on the
committee was drawn into the
squabble until ''at the end Of the
second meeting we had heard from
nine lawyer fellows, no one Of them
agreeing to anything any other law
yer fellow had paid.
after we had had two sessions
during which nine lawyer members
had said that everybody else was
wrong and no one proving that he
was right, the. chairman, wise and
upright judge, suggested a subcom.
mittee and duly appointed as such
all the lawyers Iert on the com
mittee who had NOT talked on the
question. So far as know they
have never reported yet. That was
twelve years ago.
After a few more passages al
arms Congressman UpshaW, famous
dry wit and evangelist, said that II
was his opinion that somebody
fought to pass the hat and take uE
a collection for we nave had toe
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