Evening star., 1939-07-11
Remarks on D. G.. Bills
Randolph, Nichols and Drksen Give Views
On Plight of Washington

The full tert of the remarks of
Representatives Randolph, Mich
ols and Dirksen In the House
yesterday after refusal of the
members to consider tpo District
OF Columbia bills tolloDs:
Mr.. Randolph-Mr. Speaker and
members of the House, am sure
that none of you would envy an in
dividual who serves as a member of
the District of Columbia Committee
OF the House of Representatives.
Ours is not an easy task, as we
listen to the pleas of voteless citi-
zens of the District of Columbia,
study the problems here and at
tempt to propose legislation for the
City of Washington.
want to pay tribute to the men,
bers OF that committee, men who
give much time, a certain amount
OF that time naturally taken from
other important duties in this body,
to the consideration of legislation
which that committee desires to
bring to- the floor of this House.
am sure there is no member of
this body who is easier to get along
with than myself. I believe that in
my seven years here that statement
is predicated upon fact. What shall
say now is in no respect criticism
OF the House but simply statement
OF my very deep feeling about the
legislative situation for the District,
a feeling which is accentuated by
what has just taken place this aft
ernoon.
Certain bills were considered by
subcommittee of the House District
Of Columbia Committee, with hear
lngs held upon the measures run
ming not one or two hours but 60
ing through days and days. Yet we
did not consider these measures to-
day. Some $50 witnesses were heard,
and the hearings consumed weeks
of time. Now, I am sure that no
member of the District Committee,
at least myself, would have any
argument with any member of this
body if, after discussion of the
bAilo dPoAl llllo AAool VII 1loLl lCG ddy ~,
he would. after considered judgment,
vote down the proposals. I do be-
lieve, however, that this House-and
I say this now in a very kindly way,
and I am certain my remarks are
temperate and spoken in good spir-
it-I believe this House fails to play
fair with its own Committee on the
District of Columbia when the men,
bership will not allow that commit
tee to bring measures upon this floor
and have them either passed or de-
feated after debate and considera-
ton. I believe this is the regular
procedure that should be followed
in this body, not alone from the
standpoint of bills from the District
Committee but from all legislative
committees. Certainly we would
have no quarrel If you would vote
the bill down or if you would vote
the bill up, but We feel it should be
considered on its merits.
Try to Iron Out Controversies.
hold no feeling against any men,
Der who, as I understand it, failed
today in mis- obligation to allow
orderly procedure here in the House
on District legislation. I do, how
ever, feel very strongly as chairman
OF the House District Committee
about the manner in which the bills
were disposed of this afternoon. We
do not bring in SO many measures
that are controversial We try very
hard to iron out controversies in the
committee. I feel we do pretty we'll
on that score. In the consideration
OF approximately so measures for
the District of Columbia this session
there has been only one or two
which were controversial and about
which you as members have heard
back home from your constituency
We have held up the consideration
OF certain measures trying to iron
out the difficulties in the District of
Columbia Committee before bringing
those bills to the floor.
In presenting the bill which would
have regulated, and we believe i'm
proved, the practice of optometry in
the District of Columbia, doing away
with certain evil practices in connec-
ton with advertisements in the
newspapers, and in bringing before
you the xicab-limitation bill. know
ing that in the District of Columbia
the number of taxicabs far exceeds
the number in New York City or
Chicago, and that real traffic and
safety problem exists here, we of the
District Committee would like to
have had the opportunity of having
this House consider these proposals
upon their merits and vote them up
or down. I trust now that you will
forgive me as chairman for having
| taken this time in defense of the
committee, and that in the future
there may be perhaps a little more
kindly attitude on the part of the
membership of the House In the
consideration of District of Columbia
legislation about which there is con-
troversy. (Applause)
(Here the gavel fell.)
Mr.. Nichols. Mr.. Speaker, I ask
unanimous consent to address the
House for S minutes.
The Speaker pro tempore. With
out objection, it is so ordered.
There was no objection.
Mr.. Nichols. Mr.. Speaker. the
members have responsibility that
they probably are not responsible
for; but under the law as it now
exists, or under our procedure in this
body and the body at the other end
OF the Capitol, governing the District
OF Columbia, when you assumed your
oath OF office, as part of that oath
you agreed to take your portion of
the responsibility of carrying on
orderly government in the District of
Columbia. BY a vote of this House
this afternoon you just refused to
do that thing which you said in your
oath you would do. agree, of course.
with the gentleman from West Vir-
ginia CMr. Randolph; no one would