Evening star., 1933-02-19
HOLIDAY SAYS D. G.. FUND BILL
MISSED SUBCOMMITTEE ACTION
ResentS BIanton's "Abuse."
Denies Any Attempt to
Delay Measure.
Cannon Voices Surprise at
Allegation Made by ILL.,
n0iS Member.

Representative Holiday of Illinois
ranking Republican member of the
subcommittee on the District appropri-
alton bill, charged in the House yester-
day that, after hearings, the District bill
was marked up" and the report writ
ten without its contents being conSid-
cred and acted upon in meeting OF
the subcommittee.
There had been a similar procedure
only once in the history of Congress, he
told his colleagues, and when the mat
ter was brought to the attention OF
Representative Madden of Illinois, then
Republican chairman Of the Appropri-
ations Committee, he sent the bill back
to the subcommittee, and the chairman
of the subcommittee resigned, not only
from the subcommittee, but the full
Appropriations Committee.
II feel the continued abuse the gentle
man from Texas Representative Blan-
tom has heaped upon me warrant me
day. II had hoped it would not be
necessary, but he has undertaken to
create a false impression. I am not
attempting to delay the progress of the
BILL Representative Simmons of
Nebraska also took the floor to deny
that he had any intention of filibuster-
ing as had been charged, but both said
they had not had the opportunity to
study the bill and have changes made
in committee before it was brought up
on the floor Of the House.
Offers Several Amendments.
'T have offered some half dozen
amendments, taking five minutes on
each one. have one or two more
amendments, said Mr.. Holiday. 1.-The
subcommittee conducted the hearings as
usual. At the conclusion Of the hear
ings in other years it has been the
practice for the subcommittee to meet
in executive session and mark up the
bill. A meeting was called for that
purpose. think perhaps that day the
chairman was some place else. We met
time or two. The chairman-and he
and are very good friends-asked me
If there were any items in the bill that
I was especially interested in. I gave
the chairman and the clerk some nota-
tions OF changes thought it might be
well to make. Then, without being con-
suited further, and so far as I know
without any further meeting of the
committee, the report was prepared. I
knew what the feeling and the judg-
ment of the chairman was as to some of
the changes that were made. AS to
others, knew nothing about them.
This particular item, with reference
to the Jefferson High School, I had no
idea would ever be cut down. The
amendment submitted simply brought
it back to the budget figures.
"It Is my understanding that pro-
cedure such as have outlined has only
occurred once in the history of Con-
gress, and that was during a Republic
an administration when chairman
prepared the bill without consultation
with the minority members. When it
was reported to Mr.. Madden, who was
then chairman, he Immediately sent
the bill back to the subcommittee and
had them reconsider it, whereupon the
chairman OF the subcommittee resigned
from the subcommittee and from the
full committee.
Denies Efforts at Delay.
"Now, I am not attempting to delay
consideration of the bill. In the case
OF many Of the amendments have
offered I did not know there was any
question OF the items being changed.
I knew nothing about It, Therefore,
am not willing, and do not want, to
be held responsible for the report of
this committee containing many items
I think cannot be justified and are
entirely wrong. I have introduced
amendments to change some Of these
items. have two or three more which
I believe are justified. I made a full
and frank statement about the facts
as understood them with reference to
the Jefferson High School. The gentle
rxy{I I,o
never at any time discussed the merits
Of my amendments, but has persisted
in personal attack upon me-"
Cannon Makes Reply.
In reply to Mr.. Holidays accusations
Chairman Cannon, in charge of the
bill, said:
IT am very much surprised at the
statement made by the gentleman from
Illinois. This committee has on 1t two
members of the gentlemans party, the
gentleman from Nebraska, who, in my
opinion, knows more about District ap-
preparations than any other member of
the House, and whose counsel and
advice you are very anxious to have;
and the gentleman from Illinois. Mr..
Holiday, who has always given this bill
a great deal of attention.
Throughout the hearings, which
lasted for many weeks and over a
month or two, not only had the clerk
call the gentleman from Nebraska, but
I personally called his office. and his
stenographer would always say: I will
will give you his message But he
never came throughout this entire ses-
sion; he never at any time attended
any meeting of the subcommittee.
Simmons Defends Absence.
Representative Simmons explained
to his colleagues that the Congressional
Record shows he was absent on mis-.
sion Of the House during the time hear
ings were held on the District budget
II have twice stated, and want
to again repeat to my friend from
Missouri. Mr.. Cannon, that I think
no one on the floor Of this House know.
better than I do the volume Of worl
involved in writing one of these bills
and presenting 1t to the House, as wei
as conducting the hearings, and
know, Just as the gentleman knows
how unthankful this task is. I am no
criticising
It have told ON the floor Of the
House two or three times, and it neee
not be repeated. why was not present
at the hearings. Had the gentleman
wanted me at the time the bill wa:
written up, he could have gotten me
without much difficulty, because We
have seen each other day after day
The gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hol.
aday) tells me the bill was not writer
up by the committee and that he wa'
not notified: but this has nothing tC
90 with the matter.
Disclaims Filibuster.
ct have been accused here by tn,
gentleman's own words today Of flli
clustering. Let me direct my remark
just a inmate to that statement. W
until the time took the floor right a
this minute 7 have consumed on tht
hill "A y,o{p,1tee If tho time of tht