Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-02-01
The District Appropriation Bill.


Mr.. COBB EXPLAINs THE BILL
MI CobO explained the provisions OF the bill.
He Said:-The bill Is substantially the same as
the corresponding bill passed year ago, eX-
cepl that as TO streets and sewers the amount
is cut down very considerably below the aporo-
priaItons then made. we provide in this bill
Tor the construction of four school houses, one
more than We provided for a year ago We
propose TO appropriate In certain way SO, 900
more than we app, oprfa1ed year ago TOR
school purposes This additional approrra-
tion grows out OF necessity for high school
building in this District. There are already
inteTmt diate schools; but the demand, as I
understand-and have given the question the
best consideration l couid-is very great for
what may be termed a high school. This bill
provides how this building stall be constructed.
There are certain school bonds growing out or
an old lottery system which was provided for
by law. The money arising from that scheme
was converted into bonds which this bill now
proposes to pay off, and devote the proceeds TO
the erection OF high school building. che
location OF which is fixed upon square 4fG,
what IS known as "COrc0ran Square"
NR. BUNTON OPPOSES TAXING THE MONEY NEEDED
fOR STREETS To BUILD SCHOOL HOUSES.
Mr. Hunt0n said: "Slr. chairman we are met
in the outset OF the consideration OF this queS-
ton by what appears TO me to be most re
markable. and. IL the gentleman from Indiana
Will excuse me, l WIN say most vicious
change. The amount appropriated fOr the re-
placement OF the wooden paVements OF this
District is reduced from 500 900 for the present
fiscal year to 500 600 for the next fiscal year.
There are, Mr. chairman, seventeen miles of
rotten wooden pavementS IN this City. These
pavements are rapidly becoming impaSSabIe
for the vehicles. They are rapidly Gecaying
and unless they are replaced as speedily az
possible not only will 1t Gepreciate the value OF
property along these avenues: but may and
possibly Will. spread disease throughout the
whole District. So that the first great duty on
the part OF the Congress Of the United States Is
10 enable the District Commissioners TO replace
these worthless, decayei wooden pavemanIS
now IN existence III this city with some SUD-
stantial and seryceaole substitute. | need
Dof remind the committee that under the man
agemenJ OF the Old board OF public works,
once In charge of the improvements In this city,
vast nnmbtr OF the streets were paved With
WOOD. or this work there still remain seven
teen miles OF wooden pavements or the re-
mains OF that amount or wooden pavement,
which, as | have said, is I'm a dilapidated aud
dangerous condition. This pavement has De-
come Ia some places impossible, Is rapidly de-
cay Ing In all OF its parts. and Is in such condi-
t1CD That there is absolutely great danger oil It's
spreading disease throughout the city. AS
have said. sir, the first great duty of the Con-
gTess OF the United States is TO see that these
streets are taken up ana good. permanent pave
ments put down in their stead Ir the appro-
pIiatiOn in this bill for the replacement OF these
streets Is all that Congress Will allow for that
purpose during the next fiscal year, then Major
TWining. the engineer OF the District In charge
OF This work, informs me that 1t VIII take six
long years to take up the wooden payementS
anu replace them with rock or concrete. | take
ii. sir. that this committee Will not agree that
work OF so important character, SO absolutely
necessary TO be accomplished as this in a short
time. shall be carried on through long series OF
years and In so slow a manner as this. The rea-
son why this sum of 5000 900 FOR the present s Al
year Is dwarred TO 100000 Is because the apprO.
priatiOLs committee. at the instance of the gen
1Iemdn from Indiana. has devoted $40 600 for
NE purpose OF building school houses Now
Mr.. Chairman, | Will not yield to any other
gentleman on this floor in my zeal for educa-
ton and for the erection OF a sufficient number
OF school houses for the children OF tnts CITY:
but | do think that it Is improper TO take tne
money which should be expended uoOD tha
renewal OF these streets and appropriate 81 20 O.p
or 1t for the building OF school houses. | need
not remind the committee OF the fact that last
year, l believe, we appropriated money TO puid
lDree or 1our school houses, and the year pre-
Ceedlrg to build two, and now we not only pro
pose by this bill to devote $40 90 to build three
school houses. but one OF these is TO be erected
at cost OF $4,000. ! fully agree with the gen
tltman from Indiana that this $4,000 In 800
bonds shall be devoted to the purpose OF build
1rg school houses in this District; but an IN .
vi Ing that any more than the sum OF so O1s
embraced in these 365 bonds. Shall be alloWeI
for that purpose. or be devoted In the presenr
conGllion or District affairs 10 the building OF
school houses.
Mr.. HUNTON OPPOSES THE INSANE ASYLUM AND
JAIL APPROPRIATIONS.
Touch1Dg the provisions OF the bill to make
lhe DISTRICT pay In part the expenses OF the
insane asylum, MIR. Hunton said: NOW, think
gentlemen will ind upon consulting the stat
utes that this government hospital Ior the In
sane In the District or Columbia is a federal
institution, not belonging to or controlled
and If that De the case, then the Commissioners
OF the District aDd the Secretary OF the
Treasury have no right to include it In the e5tl-
mates OF appropriations for the District of Co
lumo1a. And take IL neither the gentleman
from Indiana nor any other gentleman On the
floor OF this House can show anywhere In aHy
OF the statutes that this was an establishment
owned by or controlled either wholly or in part
Dy the District OF Columbia at the date Of the
passage OF the organic act. Ii that be the case,
MI. Chairman, 1t is not within the power Of
thlS House, according TO the law as iU
stands, 10 appropriate anything for the ndi-
gent insane In this government hospital. But
II the committee should Think otherwise, then
! say, 20 not raise the appropriation from
s"',0GO. the amount agreed upon II
conference between the Two Houses at
tie last session OF Congress, TO $4,000
which Is greatly beyond what ought TO be paid
by TIE District Tor this purpose under any cir
CGmstaICeS. Then, Mr.. Chairman. there is an
appropriation In this Dill for maintaining The
jail, Which is not embraced within the Organic
act at all, and which | believe can say with
soIDe degree OF certainty has never been intro
Quced INTO an appropriation bill OF the District
OF Columbia. Well now, what IS thus Jail:
Does IL come within this organic act? Unques-
tIonably not. The jail Is federal institution
regulated entirely by federal laws, AID with It's
government the District or Columbia has norn-
ing whatever 10 DO. IL gentlemen OF The com
m1'tee OF the whole VIII turn TO page 124 or the
Revised Statutes OF the District or Columbia
they VIII Ill., that the jail Is entirely under the
control OF the federal government The District
government has no part or lot IN controlling or
owning the jail in This District. Unless il ts
embraced In the terms Of the organic act The
appropriation for It's support Caunot properly
De embraced In the Dill making appropriations
Tor the support or the government for the Dis.
trict OF Columbia. l call attention to these
things to show that the committee On apprOpri-
ationS depart from the law when they under
take 10 make The District of Columbia pay its
part FOR the support OF the INDECENT insane In
the government hospital and Tor the support
and maintenance or the prisoners in the gov
ernfntnt Jail.
ACTION on THs BILL.
The bill was then read by sections for amend
meLtS.
Mr. Hunton moved to increase the approprla.
tion for the replacement OF pavemenJS from
= %, 600 to $500 600.
MIR. RobesOn advocated the adoption OF the
amendment. Was the House willing for Sl50 900
10 90 back On the regular estimates of the
District commissioners, who had neither per-
sonal or political interest on the question, and
TO leave the citizens OF Washington without
remedy, simply because those citizens had no
vote?
The amendment was adopted-S9 to 59
Mir. HaWley offered an amendment providing
that or that $500 600, S225 600 shall be pad Ou,
or he Unlte0 States Treasury. Ruled ouo on a
point OF order.
Mr.. Hunton offered an amendment decreasing
the appropriation for the support OF the ia
digenL insane OF the Dis Tict In The Government
Hospital from $4,000 TO SS1, 900.
Mr. Neal advocated the amendment. 1t
would be gross abuse upon the people OF the
District II more than S3I, 900 were apprOp OprlAted
frI1x,o lr,nv a%,l 90 IN