Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-06
Fact-Finders for the House.


q. In the course of the protracted dead
lock between the House and the Senate
over District appropriations during the
session lust closed efforts were made
providing for the creation of a fact
finding committee or commission to
determine the equities of Federal con-
tribution to National Capital main
,tenance. A measure to that effect had
been introduced in the House by Rep
resentative Moore of Virginia, contem-
plating a study of fiscal relations
between the District and the Govern
nent by representatives of both houses
and others. Similar resolutions had
been introduced in the Senate. None
of these was acceptable to the House
managers of District fiscal legislation,
who demurred to the sharing of any
fact-f1nding inquiry with others than
members of the House.
Immediately after the adoption of the
conference report on the District bill
on Thursday Representative Simmons
chairman of the District appropriations
subcommittee, called up and secured
the adoption of House Resolution 285,
which provides for the appointment by
the Speaker of a select committee Of
seven members of the House whose
duty it shall be to investigate the vari-
GUS elements, factors and conditions
ant
essential to the accumulation of data
and information bearing upon the ques-
ton Of fiscal relations between the
United States and the District Of
Columbia" This select committee is
to recommend to the House what
amount In their Judgment the United
States should contribute annually to-
ward the development and maintenance
Of the municipality.
During the session much was said in
the course of the House discussions Of
the District bill about referring the
question of fiscal relations to packed"
committee. Not unreasonably the House
objected to any reference to a commits
the end the House, refusing to accept
any form Of joint commission or COM
nnittee, proceeded to name one Of its
own, which even If not packed" is
likely to be Influenced by the persistent
procedure of the House during the last
several years Of lump-sum appro-
priation.
-u This is far from being the sort Of
ct-finding joint committee that the
District hoped would be named. far In
deed from the sort of advisory body that
the House itself should wish to create
in order to determine the equities, If
equity is the object of the lower branch
of Congress in dealing with District
matters.
There is no particular objection to
the House informing itself through its
own membership for its own edification
or entertainment. But there is objection
to the House naming a committee of
this sort ostensibly for the purpose Of
determining equities and then resting
upon its report if favorable to continu-
ance Of the arbitrary lump-sum pro-
oedure in justification Of further limit
ing Of the Federal contribution. Indeed,
the case Is not changed at all with
strictly House committee functioning.
-, It may be that the House committee
of seven will be so constituted as to be
capable of making an inquiry quite in
dependent of the preiudices generated
by previous procedure. 1t is possible
that the Speaker will choose seven
members with fully open minds on this
subject. A report from such a body
In favor of a return to the substantive
law would be more effective, indeed,
than If rendered by joint committee.
That is the possibility toward which the
Districts hopes now turn.