Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-02-15
EORTI-FIFTH CONGRESS.
SATURDAY, February Is.

on rl1ntlng- reported faS0rabiY on resolution TO
print 100 extra copies OF certain documents re-
latiDg to the improvement Of the sewerage and
sanitary condition OF Washington, d c. Agreed
Mr.. Edmunds. from the committee on the iu-
dietary, report ed adversely Oh Senate bill TO de-
clare the legal effect Of permits granted by the
President OF the United States, to purchase pro
ducts OF the insured uonary states: placed on
the calendar with the adverse report. He also
reported from the same committee favorably on
DlllS TO remove the political disabilities OF Jno.
randolph Hamilton, OF South Carolina, and
Jonn Mcintosh kell, OF Georgia. Placed ON the
Mr.. Allison introduced a bill to provide asuk-
ing fund for the bonds issued in pursuance of
the act OF Congress of June 20th, 1914, known as
the 800 District OF Columbia bonds; referred to
! the District committee Also a resolution to
print 10000 copies Of the proceedings Of the
Paris monetary conference held last year Re-
;ferred to the committee on printing.
Mr. Morrill, called up the resolution recently
submitted by him providing that on and after
O'Clock a IN. Agreed to-
MT. Cameron PA called up Senate Joint res
oluuon to authorize Lieut.. Francis V. Greene,
7. S. A., to accept certain decorations from the
Emperor OF Russia. Passed.
M. WaIiace presented resolutions of the Phil
adelphia Board OF Trade favoring the change of
dufy on KID and leather gloves from an ad va
mittee on finance, Also resolutions OF the
Pennsy sylVanfa legislature favoring appropri-
ations for public buildings in the principal cities
and towns Of that commonwealth. Referred to
tbe committee on public buildings and grounds.
Also. resolutions Of the same legislature favor
ing the passage Of an act granting medals to
certain Pennsylvania soldiers who marched
through Baltimore and reached Washington on
tie 18Th April. 1861. Referred to the committee
on military affairs.
Nj. Mcpherson presented a petition of the
New Jersey Historical Society in favor OF the
erection Of a monument to ChriStODhpr Cou,n-
bus by tie republics of She western hemisphere.
and thai the United States shall take the initi-
atlEe: Referred 10 the committee on publ:
buildings ana grounds
THE DISTRICT WATER TAN BILL.
NJ. Rollins called up Senate bill 10 authorize
tie Commissioners of the District Of Columbia
to adjust and 1iN the water rates within said
District not 10 exceed 30 per cent, also author
ling the District Commissioners to borrow
SZ5,cc0 from the Treasury OF the nited States
TO Improve the water supply OF capitol Hill.
MesSIS. EdmundS and herman ObicCteit0 the
bill
Mr Rollins said the District Of Columbia had
not had ten minutes OF this session. Here was
an important matter. and il should be DISPOSED
Mr. Herman moved to strike out the second
section Of the bill authorizing the Commission
erS 10 borrow s25,0Ga from tae L. 5. Treasury.
He Sald all the cities in his own state got their
water without any loan from the United States.
ard he did not see why the people Of this Dis
Irfct should not do so as Wen.
Mr.. Rollins said no one could lose cent BY
this loan, the money was TO be returned. ao
ample provision had been made therefor.
Mr.. Herman said there had been large adj
VanceS made 10 the District from the /. ;
Treasury, and he had been told none of them
Hel6 letIi1Led.
the money taken out Of the Treasury of the
! United States by the District been returned,
There was nothing in this bill to prohibit the
S:5,CC0 from being used for some other purpose
! Congress had agreed to pay one half OF the ex-
/ penses OF the District That was right and
/ lust. but the District should not come running
! 10 Congress for money from the Treasury every
| time some little Improvement was needed
! Mr. Rollins said the Senator from West Viz
| sihla should mention an instance when money
| the Treasury. It had been returned III every
/ nStaLce.
! Mir. EdmundS said the experience OF the Dis
/ ti1ct had been such that IL was thought Con
/ gfess should not govern it; therefore, ten o
! twelve years ago Congress allowed the Dlstrc
to govern Itself. After two or four years OF thi
| experiment. during which the District wa
! de bankrupt, Congress had to resume the
! government thereof, and then passed law for
{ Lidding the District authorities TO contract
bear the evils they labored under now than re-
! sort TO loans. 1t would be an injury to the
| District for Congress to authorize this loan.
j The water taxes were payable in advance The
fact was that the water affairs OF t1fs District
! ought 10 be paid for, and could be paid for,
} urder proper administration, by the people
/ Who use the water,
Mr.. Rollins said il this temporary loan should
/ be made the people OF Capitol Hill, wno were
/ suffering for water would get it six months
! sooner than any other way.
/ MI. thurman said water was the only cheap
| thing in the District OF Columbia. He believed
| the water rates were cheaper here than any
! Where else, and he would like to preserve one
thing cheap; however, he would not antago-
niZe this bill, and if the water rates must be in-
| creased he would not object.
Mr.. Wad1eigh said this was an effort on the
part OF the people OF Capitol Hill TO get water,
! they having paid their taxes, but had not been
! able to get any water. Most OF the money ex-
pended for improvements in this District had
! been expended in that section where the Sena-
I tor from Vermont (NIr Edmunds) resides. Very
/ little had been expended in the vicinity OF the
! Capitol. In behalf OF that section OF the city
/ which had been oppressed by the legislation of
congress capitol HID. he asked That this bill
be allow ed to pass,
/ MI. Beck said Capitol Hill was the most
! neglected portion of the city. The navy yard
was abundaDtly supplied with water, but on
. capitol Hil they could get none. His servants
had to come to the Capitol fountain every
morning to get drinking water II some means
/ were not devised TO give their people water
! and Capitol Hill should be left throughout the
summer without water, the sanitary condition
OF that part OF the city would be very bad. He
would not live On Capitol Hill next summer if
/ aGy one would give him house, unless some
! provision be made for water.
/ Mr.. Herman said he Lad been told that the
payment OF this s25, 600 would create deficit in
/ tie District treasury, and that deficit would
/ have to be made good by Congress-.
! Mir. Dorsey said he did not remember OF bill
! ever having been brought forward for the relief
/ OF tie people OF this District that the senator
; from New York CNr. kernanl had not some eX-
/ tfa0fd1EaIS lHI.SilGdtiCQ On Hi1UJ|Ss pii-
/ Known to the District committee or the District
! Commissioners. The Washington alueduet
! was not under the charge OF the District Com
/ missoneTs 1t was under the control OF the
/ Commissioner OF Public Buildings and Grounds.
! Congress should allow the commissioners TO
| lay the necessary water mains to capitol Hill
! and Other.high points in the city. on capitol
! Hill there was hardly house where they could
/ get water above the basement. Ii it required
/ S15OOG0 or S25G,000 to give these people water
! which they paid for they should have 1t. There
! was due the water fund Of the District, payable
! in five annual inStalmentS, $4,000; about
/ $4,000 OF this could be used for laying water
! mains-the balance being required for interest
on the water bonds and other expenses.
, After some further discussion the motion Of
Mr.. Herman to strike out the second section
authorizing the commissioners to borrow S25, 600
was rejected by rising vote-yeas Is, nays ~.
Mr.. Allison submitted an amendment pro
vidng that said commissioners Shall not nave
authority to direct the use OF meters or other
devices .or the measurement OF water uSea
Agreed, TO.
I Mr. Edmunds submitted an amendment CIV
ing the District commissioners all authority In
regard to the department as was conferred upon
! the former District authorities by cnapter ) or
/ the revised statutes OF the United states feiat-
! ing to the District of Columbia. Agreed TO.
! He also moved to strike out the thlrd section
Of the bill providing that the rates OF charges
| established and rules made as In this act pro-
vided shall have the same force and effect in
! the nictriot Of Columbia ff PnantRd nv C0n.