Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-06-29

DISTRICT APPROPRIATION BILL.
The Differences Between the Senate
and House COnferesss
Mr. Clements made a report to the House this
morning from the conference committee OF tue two
houses having the District appropriation bib
In charge. He reported that the conferee
had failed to come to an agreement
and the conferees on the part OF House
wanted the sanction OF the House 10
their persisting in the attitude authorized
py the House when the conference was
ordered. There were several points OF difference.
Three or four of them only were serious, however.
These were as to the increase OF appropriation for
construction, repairs, &C, OF streets, avenues,
roads. &C.; as TO the disposition OF the surplus Dis
triet revenues In the Treasury, ana as to the
insisted upon having the District contingent fund
audited. AS to the other points OF difference-re-
lating 10 police and lre departments. schools, &C.
there would be no dinculty ir the others were out
OF the way.
THE HOUSE CoNFEREEs OPPOSED TO INCREASED AP-
PRoPRIATIoNs FOR STREETS.
1t was the opinion OF the House conferees that
the House should agree to the large increase
In the appropriation for streets involving the
penditure OF the surplus revenues for this purpose
instead or toward the liquidation OF the water
works debt; nor to the striking out OF the provts
ION having In view the placing OF telephone, tele-
graph and electric light wires under ground and
that they should insist upon having the Commits
sioners' contingent fund audited by the proper
government on1cerS as are such accounts OF bu-
reau officers
VIEWS OF OTHER MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.
MI. Adams thought that the House should agree
to the increased expenditure for streets and for
schools. He said there appeared a demand for the
improvement OF streets and that he considered
1t wise TO make all such improvements as were
necessary. He favored the expenditure OF the sur
plus District revenues in this way.
Mr. Bayne called attention to the importance OF
large appropriation for permit work, and said
that the commissioners had informed him that II
they had opportunity they would now increase
thiS estlmale lor this purpose by forty or nifty
Mr.. Clements said he thought there would be no
dihlculty as to the Senate amendment for permit
work.
MR.. RANDALL SURPRISED.
Mr. Randall declared his surprise at the opposi-
ton OF the Commissioners to having their contin-
gent expense accounts audited by the Treasury Of
fcers. He hoped the House would insist upon
this. There was no reason in the world, he said,
why these accounts should not be audited. He
hoped that the conferees would not consent that
1t should be otherwise.
Mr.. M'coxAs' VIEWS
Mr.. McComas favored a large and liberal appro.
priation for the District but thought the increase
made by the Senate was too great. He thought
sisted upon. The appropriation made by the House
was $759,256, double that for San Francisco, much
more than that ror Baltimore, and more even than
that Tor New YORK. He did not want to discourage
liberal appropriations for the improvement OF the
city OF Washington. He thought 1t ought to be
improved and beautifed; but tine senate had In.
creased the appropriation for the streets to
81, 1S4 OOO an Increase OF more than $400, ,0O0 and
there the confereeS hung. This, he contended was
than the estimated revenues There was a sur
plus OF $3Sl,000 In the Treasury; but q
deficiency OF S3o5,OO had been appropriated for
the water works extension. He wanted 10 have
the present system OF dividing the expenses be-
tween the District and the general Government
dollar for dollar contlnued-he wanted it perpet-
uated, and he wanted the city improved and
beautifed. He feared that such an increase
IN the appropriation as made by the
wSad anS might seGsnSep saps as
contended that the House ought to insist
upon some steps being taken TO put the tele-
graph, telephone, and electric light wires undera
ground. The senate insisted upon doing noth2 ~.
ting up overhead wires, he said, there would soon
the heavens He had letter read from
the Engineer Commissioner showing that
there were 1.4O0 miles OF wire underground,
and that 1t was entirely practicable to put ali
wires, or whatever sort, Underground. He said
that no one wanted to cut OF all communication
by tearing down all OF the wires in a single day.
WHAT Is demanded is that 1nally all the wires
Shall be pc permanently underground, and that no
new wires shall be put overhead from this time.
FURTHER CONFERENCE ORDERED
Mr.. Adams asked for separate vote on streets
and schools, and as to these subjects proposed
that the House recede from its disagreement to the
Senate amendments. He was voted down on both,
and the report was adopted, insisting on the posi-
ton or the House and ordering further conference.
Messrs. Clements, Felix Campbell, and McComas
were appointed conferees.
VIEWS OF THE SENATE coNFEREEs
The differences between the Senate and House
conferees seem to be almost irreconcilable As
the Senate cOnferees put it they want to expend
for public Improvements In the District OF Colum-
bia the revenues collected. One OF the Senate
reporter to-day, said that the main
question OF difference is in regard to street
Improvements; that the Senate conTerees
propose 10 enlarge the police department. Improve
the ire department., enlarge ana extend public
school facilities and to use what remains or the
street Improvements. The House conTerees are
not willing TO go that far. They have offered by
way OF compromise to increase the District appro-
priatlons beyond what was proposed in the
House bil but are not willing to 60 as far as the
Senate conferees.
The Senate conferee mentioned above. in his
conversation with tHB STAR reporter, said further
that together with his two associates OF the
Senate he had gone over the city and personally
examined the &C condition d9nr OF the streets "The
three days in going carefully over the city in ex-
amining the streets and noting the needs Of ex-
tension and Improvement. We are satisfed from
our own observation that the money can be ad
vantageously used in street improvements The
city is steadily growing, extending In an direc-
wretched condition. the House conferees saw to
us that the people here do not want these
improvements; that they have not asked
for them. But the truth is there does
not seem to be any public sentiment here While
the Improvements are badly needed the citizens
have not taken interest enough In the subject to
come forward, to send representative building
men before the committee or the conferees to re-
quest that the money OF the District be eX-
pended in needed improvements"
This Senator remarked further that the most
thankless task he had ever undertaken was to
tight year after year here TOR proper and needed
improvements; that instead Of having the support
and cooperation OF public sentiment It re-
mains dormant, apparently Indifferent and
this non-actton is construed to mean that
the people here do not want the District
money laid out for the good OF the Dis
trict 1--WE do not" he SAID speaking OF the Sen
ate conferees, 'fnsist upon any particular method
OF using this money. We only insist that IL ought
to be employed in making necessary improvements
without defining just where these improvements
should be made or what they should consist Of
The Senate cOnfereeS-MeSsrs. Plumb, Dawes
and COckrell-are unanimous in support OF the
plan or expendtDg what remains OF District funds
after providing for all public needs, In public Inn
provements, chieny for street Improvements.
Judge Thurman Officially Notified.
HE ACCEPTS THE NOMINATION FOR vICR-PREsIDRNT.
Tue democratic national notification COMMITTEES,
appointed at the st. Louis convention to onlcialIy
notify Hon. Allen g. Thurman OF his nomination
for the vice-Presidency, arrived at Columbus Ohio,
by special train yesterday. There were forty-one