National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-04-29
SEWERS FOR THE CITY.
Proposition to Spend Half Million to Drain
Washington.
The Old Controversy Between the City
and the Nation Again Arises,
The District Again Sandersd in The House Of Rep
resentatives
Congressman Want Warrington People
10 Pay for Keeping Them Healthy.

Several interesting questions referring 10
the relation of tho city of Washington to the
national government were brought out In
the house of representatives yesterday after
noon during an animated aud general discus
sion on the bill prepared by Mr.. iShclley for
the completion of the sewerage system Of the
District of Columbia. The bill provides that
the sum of $500, 900 be appropriated for the pur-
pose of completing tho principal main drainage
and the auxiliary sewers of Washington and
Georgetown in accordance with plans on
file in the office of the engineer commissioner
Of the district also, that notice for proposals
shall be given for thirty days, aud in add
tion to the newspapers in which notice isnow
required to be given, that said notice shall
also be given in one newspaper for thirty
days in each of the cities of Chicago, Cincin-
natl, st. Louis, Louisville, and Richmond
that so per cent. OF the amounts paid by the
secretary of the treasury upon warrants OF
the commissioners of the district shall
be charged to said district in the same
manner that the cost Of similar work
is now charged, provided that tho amount
so charged TO the district shall DO REIN
bursed to tho United States, without interest.
In annual installmonts Of $4,000, commen-
cling with the fiscal year of 1885 and 1885.
The last section of the bill was afterward
amended, on motion of Mr.. Shelley to read
that the amount shall be reimbursed to the
United States, &C.. with interest at per
centum per annum."
The committee on the District of Columbia
submitted a report favorable to the PROPOSE
ton. The report stated that tho present
system is far from being perfect and does not
protect citizens or transient residents from
the horrors of imperfect sewerage. A long
communication from Health Officer Town
shend was then read. 1t stated that the
adoption of the measure was public neces-
ity.
Mr.. Shelley, of Alabama, spoke in support
Of the bill. He said If congress would make
this appropriation the commissioners would
be able to construct additional sewers and
connect all of the main sewers. For the
benefit of the public health this work should
be done as speedily as possible. The practice
of constructing sewers by small contracts and
at intervals costs the government moro in
the aggregate than it would if the entire
work was done by ono large contract. The
amount of money involved in this bill will
invite general competition throughout the
United States.
Mr.. Holman, of Indiana, objected to the
measure. He prefaced his objection with
an anecdote about au old judge and his bank
book. He thought it was not right to throw
such an immense burden, as proposed by
tho above bill, upon the taxpayers Of the
whole country for the simple benefit Of the
citizens of Washington. The property
holders Of the district apparently wanted to
burden the United States for their own
benefit.
Mr.. Shelley replied that the bill origi-
mated with himself; that he did not own
any property in the district, and was not
influenced by any person. The only interest
he had in the matter was that the work
might be quickly and economically finished
for the benefit of the health Of his follow
citizens, including congressman.
Mr.. McMillin. of Tennessee, did not favor
heaping debt on the citizens of, Washington
which they would have to pay in the future.
He thought at the present rate of taxation
here the citizens could construct the sewers
at their own expense.
Mr.. Spriggs of Now York, said the fact
should be taken into consideration that tho
proposed system of sewerage would be bene-
fit to the whole people of the United States.
If the people of the district were compelled
TO pay all the money for sewer improvements
they would not have such perfect and ex-
pensive system. Good sewerage means
good health. The question:" he said,
arose in the committee room as
to whether the government should
stand the whole expense or not. No gentle
man who is interested in the health, the well
fare, and the beauty of the nations capital
city can object to this measure. The people
here who are interested in the government
demand that this great and necessary I'M
provement be made. |, for one, favor the
United States paying the whole amount, be-
cause the government is more interested than
the people OF Washington"
Mr.. Blount, of Georgia, said the estimates
for the work had not been submitted to the
house in the manner prescribed by law. They
should be examined by the secretary Of the
treasury and reported to the house by him,
with his recommendations They ought then
to go to the appropriations committee. He
thought that all bills which appropriated
money for the district should go through the
same process instead of to the committee on
the district. large sum was voted by a
former congress for increasing the district
water supply, and now here is another
for sewers. ave will fnd," said he ''that
when the people of Washing are not willing
to have their taxes increased to pay for i'm
provements they come to congress and ask for
loan. There arc no people in the United
States so favored as the people of Washington,
We appropriated in one item for district i'm
provoments several years ago millions of dol
lars This thing should now be stopped. 1t
is not fair to the people of the country"
Mr.. Storm, Of Pennsylvania, said: 81 am
willing that the government should pay for
trees, plants, flowers, and statues for the
Identifying of the city, but am opposed to
this measure, because it benefits private
property at public expense"
Mr.. Muldrow, of Mississippi, said in order
to make this healthy city 1t is necessary to
carry the sewers so far under the earth that
they can disgorge into the deep water of the
Potomac. The health of Washington is a
very important matter to the people Of the
entire country, and especially to the repre-
sentatives in congress who are sometimes
compelled to spend eight months of the year
here. 1t is right that congress should APP
propriate literally for the support of the dis
tricS.
Mir. Lore, of Delaware, said This is tho
most beautiful among the beautiful cities of
the WORLD. People gather hero from not
only all parts of the United States, but from
all parts of the universe. Representatives Of
foreign governments find homes here. Nine
tenths of the residents of Washington are
connected with the government in some
way 1t is is peculiarly and particularly the
seat of the national government. Congress
has seen fit to take from these people the
right to vote, and the city, therefore is
simply creature of the general government
We should take pride in it, and not leave the
sewerage system a standing disgrace, The
people of tho United States would be willing
that the whole amount should be met by the
government as we have taken it entirely
under our care"
Mr.. McComas, of Maryland, said that under
the present system there was danger of the
spring freshets backing up in the present
sewers and overlooking tho city The public
health demands the passage of tho pending
measure.
Mr.. Holman said something about malaria
and grasp on the treasury" which caused a
southern member to ask: $50 you think n
grasp on the treasury causes malaria, do