Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-02-25
DISTRICT APPROPRIATIONS.
Differences Between the Conferees Discussed
Ina the House.

Mr.. N'CoNAs ExrL,ISs TIE SEVERAL FONTS At
ISSUE AND HOW TEET MAY BIZ MEr-MR- CAN
Mons PROPOSED NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
COMBINES APPOINTED.
The conference report on the District appro
priation bill, which. a matter Of fact, was no
report at all. was presented yesterday evening
in the House by Mr.. NcConas. As fully re-
ported in yesterdays STAR, Mr.. Plumb stated
the points of difference between the conferees
ana the Senate agreed to insist on their amend
ments and ask further conference. The House
took the same action, although some few new
points were brought out and it was disclosed
that a proposition has been advanced in the
conference committee to partly solve the liquor
question by raising the license to Il 600 and
glsO to raise the rate of taxation from S1.75 to
g. Such propositions, however would clearly
be subject to points OF order in the House.
THE ASSESSMENT QUESTION.
Mr.. McComas in his statement Of the points
of difference between the House and Senate
conferees remarked that there were six points.
The first was in regard to assessment
1T Is very evident" said Mr. McComas,
"bOth to the Senate and House conferees that
the assessment of property in this District is
very unequal and unjust. and that probably the
best way would be to provide, by bill such as
is on the calendar Of this House. for fair as
sessment Of the property of the District, and
thus dispose OF the first important point of
difference between tho House and Senate con-
ferees."
TEARING UP THE sTREeN
The next point, according to 1ir. McComas.
was the House proposition to stop the tearing
up of the streets for conduit purposes until the
board Of electrical experts make a report.
The status of the matter is said Mr. McComas
that the cOnferees on the part of the House
hope the Senate will eventually agree not to go
beyond the needs of the electric light and tele-
phone companies IN this use of the streets of
the city, in that way retaining the greater pro-
portion of the streets until that commission
shall report to the next Congress. 1 think the
House conferees quite hopeful of reaching
some reasonable agreement with the Senate
conferees on that subject
In regard to free school books Mr. Nc
Comas made practically the same explanation
as Mr.. Plumb in the Senate MIR. McCOmas
said the Senate conferees agreed with the main
proposition. that al of those who apply in the
lower grades may receive free school books.
He Thought an agreement would be reached on
this point. but the House eonferees would in
slst or the plan
JHE NEW WATER MAIN.
The contention in regard to the payment in
twenty-five annual instalments of the Dis
trict's half of the cost of the forty-eight-inch
main from the water fund was touched on
next Dir. McComas explained that the Senate
eonferees argued that as the half of the tunnel
was paid In installments the main which took
the place of the tunnel should be paid for in a
like manner. and also that il would add only
about 20. 900 year to the water fund expenses
which could easily be met from the first. Mr..
McComas said that the arguments of the Senate
undoubtedly had great force.
THE GEOLOGICAL PARE
n, al
Comas said: THE Senate conferees insist that
the annual appropriation of some ninety odd
thousand dollars. such as made last year for n
zoo park, should be paid entirely by the United
States, and no. paid one-hah by the District
and the other half by the United States.
II Is contention with which the
House is familiar. Personally I have always
believed it. but as conferee Of the House.
knowing the decided vote that had been here
tofore taken upon it, /. of course, felt it nv
duty In the conference to follow on: the inten-
ton of the House and declined to agree with
the Senate on that subject. They insist strenu-
ously that the annual maintenance of the living
animals Of the Zoo" Park is akin to the expen-
diture in the Smithsonian Institution for the
dead specimens, under whose charge they are
the living and the dead exhibits being in the
charge Of that institution.
THE FUNDING OF THE BONDS
The funding of the bonds falling due in 1891
III.
regard to this Mr.. McComas said:
lit is said by the Senate conferees that this
large sum Of money in annual installments is
required to be paid, and it could regularly be
paid. out of the fund of the treasury from time
20 time. without the expense of issuing bonds.
without putting them on the market. as they
would after all. be bonds OF the United States:
thar simply by paying the debt and charging
per cent We would be doing without eircGmlo-
cutlon the same thing as we would by issuing
and delivering 8 per cent bonds. which are
really government bonds after all Now the
House conferees, following the very decided
opinion Of the District of Columbia committee
have insisted that the plain way was to issue
bonds az the rate Of "a or per cent interest.
ana they therefore declined to agree with the
Senate conferees."
M MeComas then said that in regard TO
licenses. and especially in regard to liquor
licenses, the committee might take the liberty
OF raising such licenses, By which an increase
Oh the revenues would be obtained direct, plain
and natural.
NJ McComas then moved that the House
Insist On Its engagement and ask further con-
ference.
Mr. CANNON PROPOSES INSTRUCTIONS.
Mr. Cannon said il the conferees really
wanted Instructions he was willing to make
martyr of himself and instruc. them, and he
offered the following:
Resolved. That the conferees are instructed
70 illrl-t lIal as 10 the Senate amendment num-
bered l2O. so much thereof a. relieves the Dis
trict OF all expenses incident to the Geological
Park be stricken out:
mat as 70 amendment numbered 12l, they
insist upon u substitute providing for a refund
ing OF the debt OF tine District of Columbia. due
In July, 1881, In new boads bearing "a or per
cent interest;
That the rate % taxation in the District be
increased 70 Sl.l5 or 81 on the hundred dol
lars worth Of property, may be necessary;
and
That the liquor license privilege in the Dis
trict OF Columbia be increased TO not less than
Sl.ooO per ann:m-
Mr. CLEMENTS ExPLANArIoy
Mr. Clements gave financial statement In
regard to the revenues and the appropriations
Of the District. The bill, he explained, as it
went to the Senate, provided for appropriations
which would exceed the revenues by 800 OOO
The Senate had added large number of items,
still further increasing the deficit. The Sem
ate, however, had provided the remedies Of
eredlting back to the District the amount paid
Ter the water main and for the Geological Park
AID In another proposition proposed TO meet
tne maturing District bonds by an appropris-