Evening star., 1941-05-13

prolonged debate on the Overton
bill with an appeal that the formula
1t contained for settling the peren'
NAL dispute over the fiscal relations
controversy between the Federal
and District governments was de-
serving of Justice"
st have confidence in the BILL
he declared. II expect the House
will perform a simple act Of deserved
Justice to the District by passing II
and settling once, for all time, the
basis of the Federal contribution to
municipal maintenance OF the seal
of the National Government"
He pointed out, too, that President
Roosevelt was interested in the pro-
posed legislation and had suggested
an amendment the District Com
mittee adopted providing that ap-
preparations for Capital improve
ments should at least equal the
amount of the Federal payment.
Nichols Questions Quorum.
Debate on the bill had progressed
for about so minutes, when Rep
resentative Nichols, Democrat, OF
Oklahoma, a former member OF the
District Committee, quickly surveyed
the House floor and observing that
comparatively few members were In
attendance, made point OF nc
quorum, forcing a roll call OF the
entire membership, to which Bic
answered.
"It is unfortunate he said, that
every time we meet to legislate
either for or against the District, no
interest is taken. No one cares TO
be present and the District suffers.
When Mr.. Nichols made his point
of no quorum Representative Whit
tington, Democrat, of Mississippi
presiding at the time, counted 10
members on the floor. Two hun
dred and eighteen members consti-
tute quorum.
Representative Hebert, Democrat
of Louisiana, a member OF the Dis
trict Committee, told the House the
real purpose" of the Overton for
mula was to fix a definite plan for
the Federal Governments participa-
ton in municipal expenses here.
I'VE must realize and recognize,
he declared, that the District be.
longs to all the people of the United
States and as such we must con.
tribute to its support. Congress has
always recognized that obligation
but there has been a conflict over
the amount and method of the Fed
eral payment. This bill would re.
move all that controversy"
"Filibuster Spirit" Charged.
Chairman Randolph of the Dis
trict Committee, who had sought tc
limit debate on the bill to two anc
one-half hours and was overrulec
because of an objection by Repre-
sentative Tarver, Democrat, oi
Georgia, took the floor a few min.
utes later and charged that "a spirit
of filibuster existed"
The District Committee" he de.
clared, "is entitled to better treat.
ment of measures it brings before
this body"
Representative Sauthoff, Progres.
sive, of Wisconsin, another member
of the District Committee, also criti.
cised the House for It's unfair
treatment of the District. He made
his attack after the point of NJ
quorum by Mr.. Nichols
Calls for Fair Play.
IF your legislative council a
home legislated on the affairs O
your city with only one-sixth of tn,
membership present" he said, ''hov
much criticism would result? Ye
we are attempting to legislate on tn
fiscal affairs of this city with onl,
one-sixth of its common counci
present. That's unfair to the TOO,
900 residents here.
I'm the spirit of fair play,
would like to ask the membership
to do the square thing for those VIII
live here and have no voice in thei
affairs-those who must depend OF
us to represent them"
Chief opposition to the bill wa
led by Representatives Mahor
Democrat. of Texas, chairman of tn
Subcommittee of the Appropriation
| Subcommittee in charge of the Dis
trict supply BILL and Dirksen of Illi
nois, ranking minority member o
the District Legislative Committee.
During Mr.. Randolph's criticism
of the House for 'ilibustering
tactics, he read excerpts from al
editorial in The Star of last Sunda,
emphasizing the responsibility of tn
Congress toward the District, ant
said:
Il am firmly convinced that tn
Federal payment toward the Distric
at the present time is inadequate