Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-06-14

course. Is not liable 10 taxation.
This, Mr.. Speaker. Is question OF pressing i'm
portance. Why, the report says that in this very
building the water supply is so weak that 1t re-
to force 1t through those portions or the building
where 1t is necessary. Hundreds OF little children
in the public schools sicken for want Of suffici-
ent water supply. The public health OF the city IA
endangered, and this is not the first report OF
committee coming to Congress In support OF this
measu whhy this report has printed IN It an
sixth Congress. Several committees of different
Congresses have reported In favor of this and SIM
liar bills; and hold that questions OF this charac-
ter can be better examined in committees than in
the House; and when a committee, after full,
prudent and careful examination OF the matter,
unanimously report their views to the House, that
report should have great weight and commend it
self to the Judgment and consideration Of the
House.
1t is confessed that the water supply Is grossly
Inadequate even to the wants OF the government.
Inc Immense and numerous departments, with
Their multitude OF clerks and other officials; the
!1sh ponds, covering acres OF ground and contain
Ing millions Of gaIlons the fountains and fire de-
partment, the sewers, and all of the vast and COM
plicated sanitary arrangements Of a great city
make exhaustng demands on the water supply.
IL Is wisdom and true economy to provide fer q
ourselves, but for those who viii live after us
Every gentleman on this floor is, under the law
and his oath, not only the representative of his
district, but OF all the people, and every one of
Is the individual representative Of the District Of
Columbia, and whenever necessity and duty alike
command Il, as In this case, am sure we should
OF our great republic.
Mr.. Holman.-The American people feel patr1-
meet the necessary expenses for its proper i'm
proVement, and even establishment; but they
ought not to bear expenses for the mere benefit
and convenience OF the citizens of this District
and to relieve them from reasonable taxation.
The government has been most considerable in
tine supply Of water for this city The sparkling
not dependent upon the water works. 1t does not
come from the Potomac, but from a more salts
from mother earth, and carried along the line
traced out by the eye Of the Father OF his COun-
try, from that bubbling spring to the Capitol The
engineering eye OF the Father Of his Country
traced out this line q century ago, and the pure,
fresh, inv1gOrating water from that spring still
flows freely as it did then. 1t is very different
My. friend from Georgia (Mr. Blount) and the
gentleman from Texas tAfr. Reagan) have called
attention to the fact that the federal government
has already expended the sum OF 1874, $40 72 in
the construction OF works on the Potomac river
and and OF these mains for the purpose OF bringing
incurred an expense OF 81 313 IL, and has been
reimbursed of that sum to the extent of s, 1O4,-
956 So, as stated by the report accompanying this
government has been reimbursed almost the en-
tire sum 1t has expended by means OF tax upon
government Of course has realized nothing at all
1t Is now proposed that this additional expense,
liked at the beginning at one and half million OF
DOLLARS and which 1t may be reasonably assumed
will reach at least s. 600 0O0-it is proposed that
this entire additional expense shall be borne by
the federal government while the District gov
ernment may so on year after year imposing its
water tax ON the citizens for the water used,
which tax goes into the treasury of the District
government Now, does any gentleman say that
that is right?
MIR. Hoge.-what Is that tax used for7
MT Holman.-For the purpose OF relieving the
people OF the District from taxation, even to the
mild extent to which they are now taxed for
the purpose OF carrying on the District govern
ment.
Mr. Hore-Ts II nor usod tn defrav tho avnons.e
OF the water department, while the government OF
the United States does not pay a sixpence of that
MIR. Townshend, QIL)-Much that has been said
by both of the gentlemen from Georgia (Mr. Blount
ana MI speer) as wen as by the gentleman from
Texas {Hr Reagan) meets with my appreciation.
do not rise for the purpose OF juStiyng any wrong
acts when have been done In the past In the adj
heretofore recorded my views in condemnation OF
the maladministration which existed in this city
such discussion now. We have since then, now
ever, had a vast improvement and good admins
tratlon OF affairs Indeed, the present manage
But my purpose now is TO discuss the question d.
rectly before US, which is whether the water sup
ply OF the District Is sufficient or not and If 1t Is
not sufcient what is needed in order to bring In
SUFFICIENT supply OF water.
AS Is we'll known, there IS no other way by
creased than by action of Congress. There is no
local legislative government The District has
been stripped OF all local governmental powers or
machinery. By the law now in force, and as 1t is
interpreted by the Treasury officials the District
government Is considered merely as bureau OF
ton the District of Columbia is.solely and exclu-
siVely within the jurisdiction of Congress, much
SO as the territory which lies within the limits Of
any OF the forts OF the United States There Is no
other power TO legislate for the District Hence,
1t Is part OF our duty to look at this question as
which may provide sufficient supply 81 Wster
I0r the city OF Washington. II the only purpose
OF this water supply was that the fountains might
should certainly oppose any such appropriation as
Is asked for. But for what purpose is this water
1eeded7 For sanitary purposes, for extinguishing
nreS Tor supplying the needs OF families, and for
public use In the governmental departments
II Is admitted On every hand that in the higher
water. understand from my Colleague INF
Springer), who happens to reside ON Capitol HILL
that In his house he cannot obtain a supply of
water until about SIX O'Clock in the evening, and
then only few hours during the night Residing
as do on one OF the lower levels experience no
such difficulty. have an abundant supply at all
times. But there is no d pute of the fact that on
the higher levels OF this city, as on Capitol Hill
and elsewhere, there Is an Inadequate supply Of
localities should be left In such an unfortunate
condition.
mention, would favor the suggestion of the gem
tleman from Indiana {Mr. HoInan) and the gen.
tleman from Texas Qdr: Reagan) and insist that
works should be paid by the District.
do not propose to go into any discussion OF the
question whether the bill passed In former Con-
greSS for dividing the expenses of this city be-
tween the taxpayers of the District and the gov
eminent OF the United States was Just measure
did not vote for that act, because believed that
larger portion was assigned to the government
OF The United States than was right and just But
that IS question Of the past; 1 do not propose
now 10 discuss IL. The present method OF Supply
Ing the District OF Columbia with water originated
prior to the war. The first appropriation made
Tor That purpose was in 1850. The work was begun
under the administration OF President Pierce, and
completed under that OF President Buchanan
over $3,0O0,000 have been expended On this work
under the supervision OF the War department. But
some gentlemen insist that We should REQUIRE the
taxpayers OF the District OF Columbia to pay one
half the expense OF continuing and extending this
government work. AS have said would orIiina-
rly have no objection to that proposition. but IL
that be done In what position will the government
be? Will not the District come In and insist that
IL Is entitled to an equitable interest in this prop
erty and demand that we shall pay O water tax
for the water used In the government depart
ments? We are now asked simply to finish the
government work begun prior to the war-a work
commenced and completed under the control Of
the War department.
VIII 1t be just to the United States to allow the
taxpayers OF the city now to pay only $4,000 or
$4,000 toward finishing this work, and thereby
give them an equitable interest in the title to this
property which has cost such vast sum? They
may claim, perhaps, half Of these works. which
cost the federal government nearly $4OOO,OOl
me