Evening star., 1936-05-28
D. c. UNITS URGE
HOUSE TO SPEED
RED RIDER REPEAL
Sisson Accuses Byrns of
Misrepresentation in Re-
ply to Protests.
LETTER OF SPEAKER
TO KEENAN, QUOTED
Rules Committee Asked to Vote
Sisson Act Before Ad-
journment.

Demands for action before adjourn
ment of Congress on the SiSSon bill
to repeal the so-called red rider" to
the 1886 District appropriation act
were made on House leaders today by
delegation representing organized
labor and various educational and
parent-teacher organizations.
At the same time, Representative
Sisson, Democrat, of New York. au-
thor of the red rider" repeater,
charged Speaker Byrns had mis-
represented the facts" in replying to
protests over repeated delays in acting
on his measure. He said the Speaker
was attempting to shift blame for
inaction on himself and the District
Committee.
Produces Copy of Letter.
Sisson produced a copy of a letter
Byrns wrote to r. C. Keenan,. presi-
dent of the Illinois State Teachers
Association, in which the Speaker said
the District Committee had several
hours on May II in which to call up
the bill, but ''for some reason" failed
to do so.
On the contrary, Sisson declared,
Byrns told him and Chairman Norton
of the District Committee, as well as
Chairman Kennedy of the Subcom-
mittee on Education, which conducted
hearings on the repeal bill, that the
District Committee could not have its
regular day May II because the House
on that date would act on the Frazier
Lemke farm mortgage bill.
I'm not going to have that impu-
tation resting on me-" Sisson declared.
Sisson disclosed his resentment
when he accompanied the delegation
to the office of Chairman O'Connor
of the House Rules Committee to urge
that he laid -~bringingzstife Sisson
bill to a vote.
Explains Failure to Call Bill.
O'Connor said failure to call the
bill up May II was not due to neglect
on the part of its proponents, but to
an agreement among House leaders.
He also declared he had done every
thing possible" to help the Sisson bill.
The delegation went from O'Con-
nor's Office to the Office of Speaker
Byrns. where Miss Selma Borchardt
of the Teachers Union. acting as
spokesman, pleaded with him Ito get
the Sisson bill through"
Byrns said he couldn't do anything
about it." He pointed out the bill
was not placed on the House calendar
until several weeks ago, and said he
did not see any chance" of action on
it until the next regular District
day." June 8. The tentative ad-
journment date of Congress is June g.
Byrns explained that the only way
the bill could be brought up in the
meantime under House rules is under
a unanimous consent request.
"Ill give my consent" he declared,
'but you had better go see Blanton."
Bianton to Fight Repeal.
Representative Blanton, Democrat,
Of Texas, sponsored the ''red rider"
and has served notice he will fight
vigorously to prevent its repeal
Miss Borchardt left with O'Connor
a letter from Frank ]. Coleman, sec
Tetary of the Central Labor Union,
appealing for special rule to per-
nit consideration of the Sisson bill
before adjournment.
In addition to Miss Borchardt, the
delegation was composed of Mrs. Car
oline Hogan and Mrs. Edward Chaplin
of the American Association of Uni
versity Women; John Locher, Central
Labor Union; Rev. George johnson,
Catholic Teachers Association; Mrs.
j. w. Saunders, National Congress of
Parents and Teachers; Mrs. William
Kittle, D. C. League of Women Voters;
Mrs. Sina Stanton. Society of Friends;
Allan Davis, High School Principals
Association. and Miss Elizabeth East
man and Mrs. Esther Danley. There
also were representatives Of the Ma
tional Education Association and the
National League of Women Voters