National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-02-17
FORTHWITH CONGRESS.
District Matters Discussed in the
Senate.
Passage of the wnter-Rate Bili-A Better
Supply for Capitol Hill-Tho Chinese
BiI Passed rs Amended--Iniernat
Revenue Bill Taken Up-Tho
Legislative Appropriation
Bill in the House.
SENATE.

reported GlvOrably on the resolution to print 700
extra copies of certain documents relating to the
improvement Of the sewerage and sanitary condi'
ton of Washington ID. G. Agreed to.
Mr.. ALLISON introduced bill to provide sink
ing fund for the bonds issued in pursuance of the
act of Congress Of June 20, 1874 known ms the 36b
District of Columbia bonds. Referred to the Dis
trct Committee.
Also resolution TO print 10000 copies of the pro-
ceedings OF the Paris Monetary Conference held
last year. Referred.
Mr. MORRILL, called mp the resolution recently
submitted by him providing that on and after Mon
day next the Senate shall meet daily at eleven
o'clock n. IN. Agreed to.
Mr.. MCPHERSON presented petition Of the New
Jersey Historical Society In favor of the erection of
n monument to Christopher Columbus by the Re-
publics of the Western Hemisphere, nnd that the
United states shall take the initiative. Referred TO
the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds.
Mr. RoLLISs called upSenatc bill TO authorize the
Commissioners of the District OF Columbia to adjust
and fix the water rates within said District not to
exceed 30 per cent, also authorizing the District
Commissioners TO borrow SIS 900 from the Treasury
OF the United states TO improve the water supply OF
Capitol Hin.
Messrs. EpNuNps and HERMAN objected to the bill.
Mr., ROLLINS said the District of Columbia had not
had ten minutes OF this session. Here was all i'm
portant matter, and II should be disposed OF.
Mr.. KERNAN moved to strike out the second sec
ton of the bill authorizing the Commissioners TO
borrow $4,000 from the United States Treasury. He
without any loan from the United States, and he
did not see why the people of this District should
not do SO as WELL
Mr.. RoLIINs said no one could lose n cent by this
loan. The money was TO he returned, as ample pro-
vision had been made therefor
Mr.. HERMAN snid there had been large advances
made to the District from the United states Treas
ury, and he Ind been told none of them were re-
turned.
Mr.. DAVIS Nv. Va.) said very few times had
the money taken ont of the Treasury of the United
States by the District been returned. There was
Ing used for some other purpose Congress had
agreed to pay onehalf of the expenses of the Dis
trict Tint was right and JUST but the District
should not come TO running to Congress for money
from the Treasury every time some littlo improve
ment was needed.
Mr. ROLLINS said the Senator from West Virginia
should mention an instance when money Dor
Towed by the District was not returned to the
Treasury. II had been returned In every instance
Mr.. EDMUNDs said the experience of the District
had been such that IL was thought that Congress
should not govern ii; therefore, ten or twelve years
ago Congress allowed the District 10 govern itself
Ailer two or four years of this experiment, during
which the District was made bankrupt, Congress
passed a law iorbidding The District authorities to
contract debts. The people of the District had bet
Ter bear the evils they labored under now than re.
sort to loans. Itwoud be an injury 10 the District
for Congress to authorize this loan. The water
taxes were payable IN advance: The fact was that
the wafer affairs OF this District ought to be paid
for and could be paid for under proper admins
tration by the people who use the water
Mr. RoIIiNs mid If this temporary loan should
ferng for water, would get II six months sooner
than any other way,
Mr. TmURMAN said water was the only chenp
thing in the District of Columbia. He believed the
water rates we're cheaper here than anywhere else
and he would like to preserve one thing, cheap;
the water rates must be increased he would not OBJ
ject.
of the people of Capitol Hill to get WATER they hay
ing paid their taxes, but had not baen able to gel
any water. Most of the money expended for i'm
nfCtp tah
that section where the Senator from Vermont (Mr
Edmund9 resides Very little had been expended
section of the city which had been oppressed, b,
the legislation Of Congress Capitol Hillj he asked
that this bill be allowed to pass
lected portion of the city. The nayy-yard wa
abnndantly supplied with water, but on Capito
Hill they could get none. His servants had TO com,
to the Capitol fountain every morning TO get drink
ing water. lfsome means were not devised to civ,
their people water, and Capitol Hin should be lief
condition of that part of the city would be yer.
bad, lie would moi live ON Capitol Hill next sum
ner II any one would give him house, unles
some provision be made for water.
Mr. Herman said he had been told that the pay
ment of $4,000 would create a deficit in the Dis
trict treasury, and that deficit would have to b.
made good by Congress.
Mr. DoRsEY said he did not remember of u bill
ever having been brought forward for the relief o
the people of this District that the Senator from
New York (Mr. Kernan) had not some extraordi
nary Information on the subject unknown to tn
The Washington Gqueduct was not under tn
charge ofthe District Commissioners twas unde
the control of the Commissioner of Public Build
ings and Grounds. Congress should allow the Com
misssoners to lay the necessary water-mains Z
Copito H and Other high points in the city o.
could get water above the basement II 1t require
$4,000 or $4,000 to give these people water,whic
they paid for, they should have it, There was du
the water fund of the District, payable In five al
nual ins..llments, $4,000 About $4,000 of thl
could be used for laying water,mans, the balanc
n n IA ii
other expenses
After some further discussion the motion OF MI
Herman, TO strike out the second section authori;
ing the Commissioners TO borrow $4,000, was n
jecled by rising vote-yeas, IS; nays. 81.
Mr.. ALLISON submitted an amendment proyidin
THAT said Commissioners shalt not have authorit
to direct the of meters or other devices Tor tn
measurement of water used" Agreed to.
Mr. EDMUNDs submitted an amendment glvin
the District Commissioners all authority in regar
tothe department., as was conferred upon the formt
District authorities by chapter 8 of the Revise
Statutes of the United States relating 10 the Dstrit
OF Columbia. Agreed to.
He also moved toslrike out the third section of tn
bill providing that the rates Of charges esablishe
aud lesmadeas IN this act provided shall have I'll
same force and effect in the District of Columbl
as II enacted by Congress He said this section ",
unnecessary, In view of the amendment in
adopted giving the Commissioners powers conferre
by chapter s. DC; The amendment was agreed TO.
II The bill was then read third time and passed
The Senate resumed the consideration of the III
finished business, being the bill To restrict Chimes
The bill was further discussed and amended
some minor particulars. and finally read THU
time and passed by the following vote
YEAs-Messrs.Allison Bailey, Bayard. Beck. Blain
Boolh Cameron Pa) Coke. Dennis, Dorsey, Eato
Eusts Garland, Gordon, Grover, Hereford Jon
New KrkwOOd Lamar Nc Donald MCPHERSON Ma
ey. Mitchell Morgan, Oglesby, Paddock, Patterso
rlun b, Ransom, Sargent Saunders sharon, Shield
Spencer, Teller, Thurman, Voorhees, Wallace, ~
WindOm-39
NAYS Messrs. Anthony Bruce Burnside Butle
Cameron (Wis,), Conklng, Conoye r, Davis I'LL
DAYS wv, Ya) Dawes EdmundS. Ferry, Hamli
Hi, HoRT, Howe ingalls,, Jones (fla-). Kellog
herman, McCreery, Mcmillan, Matthews, Merlin o.
morrill,. Randolph, and Wiihers-2I.
Messrs Barnum and Chailee, who would ha'
voted In the affirmative, were paired with Messl
Rollins and Wadleigh, who would have voted
thenegatiye.
Mr.. BAYARD moved to take up the bill to amen
the International revenue laws,
Mr.. EDMuNDs moved TO go into executive 81
sion. Rcjected-yeas, 20 nays, ~.
Amer various dilatory motions, all of which we
voted down by the Democrats aided by Il few X
publicans the Senate (by u vote of-yeOs Al may
~, at seven p. M took up the bill to amend the
ternal revenue laws
number Of friends Of the bill insisted that Il
Senate should remain In session and dispose of
tonight aud the reading Of the bill-a very lol
onc--began.
After u few pages had been read-many Senate
being out Of their seats-Mr. EDMUNDs said he n
tced there were not more than ten Senators pr
ent, although II had beed insisted that this b
should pass He therefore moved TO adjourn.
The Chair mir. Cameron, Wis., declared the m