Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-04-23
OVER SIX MILLION DOLLARS.
The District Appropriation Bill Passes
the Senate.

THE AMENDMENTS MADE IN THAT BODY INCREASE
THE TOTAL OVER HALF A MILLION DOLLARS
SALARIES, STREET RAILROADS, STREET Ex-
TENSIONS, SCHOOLS, ETC, DISCUSSED.
The Senate yesterday evening passed the Dis
trict appropriation bill. The total amount ap-
propriated is S6,0I9 1884, IS. The bill as it came
from the House carried an appropriation of
S5,332, 93415. Several amendments other than
those offered by the committee were accepted
by Senator Plumb. The first one the ap-
preparation of $4,000 for condemnation Of
rights of way for the construction, maintenance
and repairs of public sewers.
Then Senator Sherman moved to increase
from $4,000 to $4,000 the appropriation for
| grading and regulating North Capitol street ex-
tended. in accordance with the estimates of the
District Commissioners. The amendment was
agreed to.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOL CLAUSES.
When the public school clauses were reached
Senator Cullom moved to increase the salary of
superintendent of the first six divisions to
$500. 1t was 92,7OO N the bill. Mr.. Powe ell
was characterized a gentleman of fine Gull
ture and education.
! Senator Plumb suggested a compromise at
$4,000 and accepted the amendment. after SEN
ator Reagan had ectured the Senate on extrav-
agance as to salaries.
SALARIES IN WASHINGTON.
Senator Plumb said that salaries paid to gov
eminent employees in this city were necessarily
larger than those earned by persons perform
ing similar duties in private life elsewhere.
There Is thing" said Senator Plumb,
(which partly reconciles me to 1t in this Dis
trict. During the thirteen years that have
been in the public service i'll this District
have observed that the cost of living has been
very considerably increased. l greatly
surprised when friend of mine who Is at work
IN the Government Printing Office, getting the
usual compensation there, a very economical
young man, with no bad habits, told me of the
struggle he had to make both ends meet upon
| the compensation which, i'll the country town
he came from, would have given him the oppor-
| tunlty to save very considerable sum annu-
ally. While l agree that this grows by what it
feeds upon and that when we increase these
| salaries we to some extent contribute to this
increased cost of living, we cannot shut our
eyes to the difference in conditions which act
ally exist, nor can we by legislative provision
turn things backward and establish here that
economical condition which may have existed
as 1t did twelve or fifteen or twenty years ago."
THE DISTRICT LAWS.
The paragraph providing for the appropria-
ton of 81 900 to complete the compilation of
the laws of the District brought forth a
question from Senator Spooner as to when the
compilation might be expected, and to this
Senator Plumb replied that it would be done
during the present summer
Senator HOar said there ought to be a code
FOR the District because there was not place
IN the United States where the unwritten law
(Which here comes from the ancient Maryland
law Is harder to discover.
Senator Plumb said the compilation would
be followed by codifcaton.
Senator Dawes wanted $4,000 for the Ger
man Orphan Asylum instead of the $4,000 al
lowed by the committee and the increase was
made.
Senator Plumb, by direction of the commit
| tee. offered an amendment providing 80. 900
for the erection and completion of a building
for the Central Dispensary and Emergency
| Hospital, and it was agreed to.
| STREET RAILROADS.
| Senator Plumb, instructed by the committee
on appropriations after conference with the
committee on the District of Columbia. offered
an additional section which, after amendment
| by Senator Dawes was agreed to- 1t is as fol-
| lows: THAT any street railroad company in
| the District OF Columbia now authorized to
run cars drawn by horses, which shall change
! Its motive power on any of its lines to cable or
| electricity, in accordance with the provisions
| OF law. shall have the right TO issue stock for
an amount equal to the cost OF making said
| change, said amount to be approved by the
! Commissioners of the District of Columbia"
EXTENSION OF NORTH CAPITOL STREET.
| Senator Sherman then moved to strike out
the appropriation of 5000 for the condemna-
ton of streets, roads and alleys and insert in
| lieu thereof the paragraph. For condemnation
of streets, roads and alleys, including the
opening of North Capitol street through the
| Prospect Hill Cemetery, $4,000"
| Senator COckrell opposed the payment of a
cent for the right of way which the Commits
| siOners were empowered to condemn. The
opening OF the street through the property
would greatly enhance its value. The bcne-
fits to be derived from the condemnation
would be equal to the damage done.
Mr.. Sherman-lf this was the property OF a
private individual would not vote TO appro-
pirate one cent to open up any street or
| avenue through II. l think all the private
persons owning land i'll that condition ought
| to give land sufficient for the street; but this
! Is an exceptional case of a corporation. COM
posed of great number of persons, managed
by trustees and organized by law
| Mr.. Cockrell-Is not that greater reason
why no exception should be made in their
| favor!
Mr.. Sherman-They have no power to give
| the land. Ii / were trustee of the CORPORA
ton would not give it, The government of
| the United States Is able 10 pay this poor Gene
| terry association all the land is worth 1t is
| taken from them, dedicated to Il certain pur-
pose, and the government ought TO pay what
ever that land ID worth, and II were on a Jury
| would award the owners or trustees of this
! cemetery reasonable compensation for that
! land They cannot convey ii. They are not
benefited by the street However, | will con-
sent to an amendment in almost any form so
| that the street may be opened.
Mr.. COckrell-I think the reason the Senator
from Ohio gave, that this property belongs to
a corporation, is still better reason whv we
should not pay them cent. The corporation
Is better able to give this land than individuals
| Mr.. Bair-How much will it take TO settle
this? tLaughter.] l move that the Senate
proceed to the consideration of executive BUSH
ness.
The motion was temporarily withdrawn and
| Senator Piumb's amendment to the amend
/ ment was agreed to. 1t is follows: and
! authority is hereby given the proprietors OF
| Prospect Hill Cemetery 10 open the extension
! of North Capitol street extended through their
grounds and TO convey to the District of Co.
| lumbia the land necessary therefor"
On motion OF Senator Chandler the north
east schedule was amended so as to include an
| appropriation OF $4,000 for the grading and
regulating of the roadway of 18th street east.
from street north to Pennsylvania avenue.
| That made the total amount appropriated for
streets and avenues S7i9 000 and the bill was
then read third time and passed without
| division.
Stanley at Laeken Palace.
Henry NJ. Stanley attended a garden party