Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-01-08

three hours before the bill was acted upon.
Mr.. McoMAs REPLIES TO INsINuATIoSs OF Ex-
TRAvAGANCE.
In reply to the inslnuation OF extravaganza
Mr.. McComas replied that the increase in this
bill was small and that the items of increase
were matters Of great importance. Ninety-fve
thousand dollars of the increase was for the per-
lection of the sewerage system for the benefit
OF the city. Other increases were for schools,
for charity, reformatories and prisons, for
lighting the streets, for repairing damages
done by the foods, DC. All these increases
were necessary. But with all this the per cent
Of increase was less than had been customary
from year to year by the democratic commit
tee. The increase Of 1888 over 1887 was 3 per
cent; of 1889 over 1888 was Is per cent; of 1880
over 1889 was 9 per cent-all this under demo-
cratic control-whie in this bill the increase
was only per cent.
Mr.. Blount made further criticism of the
committee.
Mr.. Henderson Of Iowa declared that the
bill had been drawn up with the greatest
economy. It was, he declared carefully
prepared bill as had ever been presented IN
this House.
PRICE OF CONCRETE PAVEMENT.
The reading Of the bill proceeded by para
graphs without interruption until the pro-
vision was reached relating to the price to be
paid for concrete pavement Mr.. Spinola
then objected that there was no provision for
the use Of the best material for these pave
ments and intimated that there might be.
Mr.. McComas informed him that the provis-
ions in the bill limiting the price to be paid
was one that had been kept in the bill for the
purpose of preventing jobs.
After a few moments Of breezy discussion
the matter was dropped and the reading of the
bill continued.
COUNTY ROADS.
fha OFT for try do
were reached Mr.. Compton offered an amend
ment increasing the appropriation for grading
and regulating Nayor road from Good Hope
hill to the District line from 1880 to $500.
He said that this was one of the most used roads
leading from the District and one of the
handsomest drives and that the appropriation
for its Improvement was utterly inadequate.
He complained that partially was shown to the
northwestern over the southeastern section of
the city. He quoted the items in the bill to
prove this.
Mr.. McComas said he would not oppose the
amendment, but that he wanted to call his col
leagues attention to the fact that the appro-
priation for all the outlying roads had been
greatly increased from year to year and that
in this bill there was considerable increase in
this direction.
STREET SWEEPING.
The provision in the item for sweeping
streets, which limited the contract price for the
work to 80 cents per thousand square yards,
was stricken out, as the present contracts have
not yet expired.
Mr.. Hemphill asked if there was any provis-
ion in the law requiring the street cleaning to
be done at night, instead Of throwing the dust
In the faces OF pedestrians.
i wish there was" replied Mr.. McComas
''Then why do you not make such a provis-
ion." Mr.. Hemphill asked.
MIR. McCOmas-"If the gentleman will pro-
pose one l shall not make q point of order
against it."
L alter Mr.. McComas added that by the terms
prescribed, but that with one excuse and
another, sweeping was done outside OF these
hours.
OVERHEAD WIRES.
When the clause was reached providing that
no overhead wires for public or private light
ing shall be permitted on or over any Of the
streets and avenues Of the city, Mr.. Atkinson
made a point Of order that the provision
| was new legislation. He said that he was in
favor OF putting wires under ground, but that
it should be done properly, not hastily, with
no provision as to the method Of doing it, Some
systems of underground wires, he said, were
dangerous. He thought bill might be brought
from a proper committee providing for the
District Commissioners to investigate the sub
ject and report to Congress on some plan.
Mr.. McComas appealed to Mr.. Atkinson if
| he was in favor of putting the wires under
| ground not to stand i'll the way of the accom-
| plishment of this by insisting on the point of
| order.
| Mr. Bland took occasion to suggest that the
evil of the course followed in the adoption Of
Mr.. McComas' resolution Yesterday had come
! home to plague him.
| Mr.. McComas urged that as the rules were
not adopted until after the bill was before the
] House, they did not apply to the exclusion of
matter already in the body of the bill;
that the point of order would
hold good only against amendments.
| The chair CHR. Burrows) sustained the point
of order and the provision was thrown out Of
the bill.
| Mr.. McComas then proposed to retain the
| same provision by providing that the public
wires being under ground should be "A condi-
/ ton of the appropriations. This was ruled out
of order on point made by Mr.. Atkinson.
| Mr.. McComaS then proposed to insert the
provision OF the present law, which provides
that none Of the money appropriated shall be
| used to pay for lighting by overhead wires
after the time being changed to November 80,
| 1899.
Mr.. Hemphill opposed the amendment upon
the grounds that the streets would be torn up.
! light wires were already under
[ ground by virtue of the present law,
and that the purpose in re-enac ting the law
was to keep them there and to prevent new
! ones being put overhead. He had worked hard
| to do the little that had been accomplished.
He did not want the little now done nndone
again.
! Mr.. Grain called attention to the fact that
/ Mr. Edison held that wires were as dangerous
underground a. above it.
| Mr.. McComas said that Mr.. Westinghouse had
replied to that, answering all Of MIR. Edison 5
! objections.
The amendment re-enacting the provision of
| mt law then adnntah