Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-12-19

we're crowded on us If this city was 20 remain
me capital Of the nation When be fEst came
mere there Was not ons. third the pop ulalon that
carry on the plan on which 1t was laid o "a. or
I that plan must be abandoned. -
! THE PbAEe weRs NEoRssITY, 3 Il
and should be carried out rs fast as possible
consistent with economy. He had fiyht 70
/ fail back on the committee on appropriations,
whose duty II was to investigate as TO the mat
ter OF economy, and lie took their assurance re-
/ spe ctibg the economy Of the work. He mad no
evidence Of sxtravsgancs or wanton expen di-
tufe to lead him to hesitate IN voting for the sp
prcpriation. As 10 the proposition TO pay i've
\ slSths, ne would have favored different plan
and treated each party as private individual
and ask what would be proper sam for the gov
eminent to pay for general improvements Ie
might. however. be fmpractcah able to ascertain
definitely, and be therefore adopted the sugSes-
tiohs OF the committee, as It reached about the
same END, andhe saw no objection to it. As to
POWER OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS,
ne had no doubt Of it. Ii it attempted to ex-
Of
its pr0priety. No man could bind the govern
ment for q dollar not appropriated. Not even
the Capitol could bind the House 50 that IL
could not look into the propriety OF an appro-
priation required by a treaty. -
Mr.. Farnswortb said IL seemed strange to hear
me Chairman of the committee on WAYS aul
means, and the leader of the House, stand no
ard argue in the face OF solemn statute that
bo Anah sDaH tApenu<oQOney In advance An
appropriation, simply meant that such an ex
Eenditure should be subject to an approval by
Congress. ~
Mr.. Niblack (Ind.) asked If Mr.. Farnsv,rth
did not vote for an appropriation to pay for the
extension OF the Capitol grounds.
Mr.. FsTnswOrth said he did, and was rra iv
now to vote money to beautify the CApitoi.
which he was proud OF, but not to imprors
around circles and parks.
Mr.. Niblack said il was the same principle.
Mr.. FarnswOrth.-NO,i 1t is an addition to that
principle.
Mr.. Garfield said that the law put the streets.
avenues and alleys under the control or the
board of public works, which was appointed by
the President and confirmed by the Senate, and
authorized them to disbdrse whatever money
was appropriated by the District or by Congress.
ana assess An amount equal to one-third upon
the property adjoining the improvements be-
longing to private citizens. The board had
called in an advisory board, composed OF emf.
neht engineers, of which Gen. Humphreys and
Gen. Meigs were members, and had complied
The plan had been approved by the District
legislature, and four millions of dollars. raised
on loan authorized by Law, were appropriated
to carry 1t out. Under that act they proceeded.
and streets fronting government properly wers
Improved with others. The gr ade could not be |
left unchanged or the work undone. In going
by the property Of the government they had |
ongress had the power to refuse the payment, |
but would 1t be right, just and equitable
MI. Beck (ky) claimed that the board had |
eAptbueu SDCO,VUu more than the limit fixed by |
law, and that the amount should be reduced by |
the purchase of the District bonds.
Mr. Chapman denied that the board had ey-
ceeded the limit, having had other appropria- |
tiODs from the District.
Mr.. Beck.-Then, why this deficiency?
Mr.. Chipman.-Becauss at our expense we |
have improved your property. |
The committee then proceeded to vote on the |
pending amendments; which were severa!ly |
rejected.
Mr.. Storm pa offered one similar to that |
proposed by Dir. Holman; pending the consd- |
Grafton OF which the committee, ON motion of |
MIR. Beck rose.