Evening star., 1927-02-16
House Committee Acts on Ap-
preparation for Michigan
Avenue Crossing.
WIDENING OF C STREET
INCLUDED IN QUARTET
Remainder Of Time Used in Free
for-All Wrangle Over Sunday
and Insurance Proposals.


ordered a favorable report on four
bills and then devoted the rest of its
regular meeting time to free-for-all
with proponents of the Dis
trict insurance code and proponents
of Sunday closing legislation dead
locked as to which should have right
Of way. A filibuster resulted which
prevented action on either measure.
The four bills reported were favor
able action on the Senate bill for
widening c street southeast as the
main entrance to Anacostia Park: the
Senate bill authorizing an appropria.
ton Of 1855, 900 for elimination of the
Michigan avenue grade crossing: a
general bill for elimination of all
grade crossings in the District with
an authorized appropriation of $4O5,-
600 and the Senate bill granting relief
to the Lucy Webb Hayes National
Training School for Deaconesses and
Nurses.
Sunday Bill Report.
Representative Blanton, Democrat.
reported to the committee that the
judiciary subcommittee had by a.
vote of 4 to l last night ordered a
report on the Landlord Sunday clos
Ing bill with two amendments. One
of those exempts domestic servants
II they are allowed one full work
day of rest each week. The other
amendment permits paid amuse-
ments. suhc as theaters and SUNDAY
base ball, from 2 to Z o'clock on Sun
days.
Representative Gilbert, Democrat.
of Kentucky. emphasized that the
real purpose of the bill is not to close
places of amusement, but to provide
rest 1or BARRIERS and others who have
been clamoring for IL.
When Mr.. Blanton moved that Rem
resentative Houston. Republican, Della
ware, be instructed to write the favor
able report, Representative Underhill,
Republican, OF Massachusetts,, called
to the attention OF the committee that
the District insurance code had been
made the special order OF business for
today's meeting. Representative
Rathbone, Republican, OF Illinois. SUP.
ported Mr.. Underhill's contention that
the insurance code should first be dis.
posed OF.
Bloom is Criticized.
Chairman Zihlman first ruled that
the committee has right to decide
what 1t should take Up for considera-
tion.
Representative Reid. Republican. of
Illinois. then discussed the hearing on
the Sunday bill and said:
"One Sol Bloom of New York
came in and attempted to run our
committee. Mr.. Blanton took care of
himself and of the committee and the
action taken last night in fayorably
reporting this bill was a direct result
of Mr.. Blooms interference"
Mr.. Houston. one of the subcom-
mittee who last night voted to re-
port favorably the Sunday bill, asked
Mr.. Reid If he was not referring
in a rather disrespectful way to the
gentleman from New York. Mr.. Reid
replied. 'He is one and not two.
take exception to another member of
Congress. attempting TO run our
committee"
Wrangle Over Witness.
The committee then INDUCED in a
lengthy wrangle as to the length OF
time granted to DIR. Longacre. repre-
the Seventh Day Adventists.
who protested that although he had
been promised one hour as a witness
he had not been allowed to offer any
statement on the bill now under con.
Mr.. Reid. in facetious way, told
the committee that a steam roller run
by the gentleman from Kentucky, MIR.
Gilbert, and with Mr.. Houston as CO.
worker, had ''f1attened out" Mr.. Reid
and Representative Mcleod, Repub-
lican. of Michigan, who opposed the
Lankford bill
Mr.. Houston made a statement re.
garding the hearings on the Sunday
closing bill, and said it was all non
sense to put the Government to the
expense of making a record on testi-
mony that had been repeatedly made
before the subcommittee.
Reid Moves to Recommit.
Mr.. Reid moved to recommit the
Sunday bill to the subcommittee and
MIR. Hammer seconded the Blanton
motion. Following this. both Mr.
Hammer and Mr.. Reid were talking
at the same time. Representative
Gibson of Vermont rose from his seat
Mr.. Hammer said, II refuse to Yield
Mr.. Gibson said. 'I have not asked
you to yield" Mr.. Gibson then asked.
May / stand?" and Mr.. Hammer re.
piled he would prefer to have him
take his seat.
Chairman Zihlman. after consulting
the rules, ruled against Mr.. Under.
Mills motion and in favor of Mr.. Reid's
motion to recommit the bill. Mr.. I'm.
lerhill seconded Mr.. Reid's motion
and so got the floor. He explained
hat for three years the people in the
District had been asking protection
n laws governing insurance, particu-
arly in regard to life insurance, and
ne reviewed the law and careful work
II a special subcommittee in drafting
he insurance code.
Then. in reference to the Sunday
bill, which he wanted sent back
10 the subcommittee. Mr.. Underhill
said: 1.-THE impression has gone abroad
that the city of Washington is an
rreligious city: that the people here
10 not observe the Sabbath. There Is
no church in the city that has a va.
ant seat There is no city anywhere
n which the people are more regular
md constant church attendara"
Sees District Abused.
He served notice that neither the
[ankford bill, nor the insurance code
,ill would come to a vote. Mr.. I'm
lerhill said that his opposition TO the
sunday closing bill is because IL is
.silly and ridiculous" He said that
,is mental attitude toward such legis-
alton is that whenever any notion OF
his kind occurs to any group they
,ring it to Washington and usually to
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