Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-03-03
DISCUSSING THE DISTRICT.
More Debate on the Appropriation Bill In
the House.

4
| the House.
| EXCESSIVE CHARGES FOR Gas AND ELECTRIC L1oH1
! CaARGED-So EXTENSION OF THE FREE TEXT
BOOK sYsTEM-THE COLUMBIAN HosPrTAL--rHE
GIRLS REFORM SCHOOL PROJECT OBJECTED 70.
In the House yesterday, after THE Stars re-
port closed consideration OF the District up
preparation bill proceeded Dir. O'Neill of Mis-
| souri, called attention to what he termed the
| excessive charges Of the Washington Gas Light
Co. lie said: Il intend to present a bill and
intrust it TO that sturdy champion OF the rights
of the people Of the District Of Columbia. my
friend from sonth Carolina (Air. Hemp hlli) and
| see whether or not his committee will stand up
for the people here and try 70 give them some
relief from this most gigantic monopoly that
i today is robbing them. In my city, ST. Louis.
Ne get gas at less than sl.25 per thousand and
| there we have extensive outlying districts. in
! voiving the laying ofpipes over a great amount
| OF ulOccupied territory. Here IL compact
solid. built-up city, and think il is an outrage
that the people OF this city have borne TOO
/ long"
Mr.. Powers asked Mr. Dockery why the city
| is paying so cents per night for each arc cleo
| trlc light, or Sls2. so per year, when the same
service is furnished in New England cities for
| $50 to $50 per year!
I MI bothtis ftpiisu tHtst TIC CITY oubhotihcs
here are tied up by contract, which expires
| July /, 1893.
| TO EXTEND THE FREE rEXT-BooR SYSTEM
| Mr.. Henderson offered an amendment to ex-
! tend the free textbook system to the 1rst SIX
| grades Of the public schools and increasing the
| appropriation from sl2, 600 to s35 900.
| Mr.. Bynum OF lndiana said tina: II the Dis
| tEict committee and the committee on appro-
| priations had devoted some time to investi-
1 49,
| and the enormous prices that are charged in
| tbis city for school books this appropriation
| would be wholly unnecessary and that tine
| people would be saved this expense and a great
| deal more. The enormous price charged for
school books in this city ia en- evil that ought
| to be renIeded.
| Mr.. Simpson of Kansas favored the amend
ment and hoped that members who favored re-
| trenchment and reform would not apply it to
| an amendment intended to increase the school
facilities in the great capital city CT the nation
1 When vote was taken on Mr.. Henderson
| amendment the ayes were AZ, noes 10. The
point OF no quorum WAS made anu teliers were
demanded They reported ayes ", noes lii,
| and the amendment was rejected.
| POLITICAL COMPLEXION OF TIE VOTE.
During the vote by telers Mr.. Henderson
stationed himself near the tellers and counted
each member. He asked TO be recognized. aud
said: Il do SO for the purpose of stating, SO that
committee of the whole, and thore is no way of
| having q yea-and-nay vote upon the propo-
| sition which has just been submitted to the
| committee; and to state further that OF the
81 gentlemen who voted in the affirmative 8
! were democrats and the remainer were repub-
licans and alliance men, and of the III voting
| against II every one was a democrat
THE COLUMBIA HOSPITAL FOR WOMEN.
When the paragraph appropriating $4,000
for the Columbia Hospital for Women was
reached Mr.. Grain, who is one of the congress
sionai trustees of the institution. moved to
strike ont the paragraph, either, he said.
in the original charter which was granted by
Congress. or In the statute which organized
this institution as am informed by the clerk of
the committee on appropriations IA reliable
| authority in such matters) and as j know by
the practice that has obtained in connection
| with the institution. it was provided that Con-
gress should have the appointment of three of
| the trustees, one Of them being Senator and
the other two members of the House.
A singular anomaly exists in relation to the
| character of this trusteeship. happen to be
one of the members selected, in connection
with the gentleman from New York (Mr.
ketcham), to represent the House on the board
| of trustees for the management of this institu-
| ton and the disbursement OF the appropris-
| tons made for its support, Senator Blackburn
| representing the Senate in the same capacity.
/ Upon one occasion the question of the selection
| OF certain officers Of the institution arose at
/ meeting of the board of trustees. The outside
| trustees outnumbered us in the proportion of
about twelve to three, and We requested per-
mission from the other trustees to cast our votes
| by proxy during the interregnum of Congress.
| That request was granted by a unanimous
vote OF the board Subsequently the same
/ question came up before the board for con-
| sideration, and We were denied the right to
| vote upon the pretext that as the Congress to
| which We belonged no longer existed we had
no right to vote even if present, and that there
| fore our proxies were not valid. Since that
| time, MIR. Chairman, have received numerous
| invitations, by card, signed by the proper OFF,
cial of that institution, asking me to be present
| at its meetings.
l AN AMENDMENT THAT WAS ADOPTED.
Now, the question is, is Congress properly
represented in the board of trustees of this In
| stitution or not? If it is intended that both
houses of Congress shall have representation
| upon the board of trustees controlling the dis
bursement of these appropriations then the ap-
poiutees should hold their office until their
| successors are elected. but according to the
Judgment Of this board it was determined that
when we were not needed we should not be
| allowed to vote, although when We were needed
We we're called in to Cast our votes and to prop
erly represent both houses Of Congress
make these remarks in order to call the atten-
ton Of the chairman Of the committee on the
District of Columbia and the chairman of the
1 committee on appropriations to the anomalous
| condition Of things existing in connection with
this institution. i withdraw the amendment
| and offer the one which now send to the
| desk: After line II insert: Provided. That as
| vacancies occur among the trustees other than
| members OF Congress they shall be filled by the
| District Commissioners"
| In connection with that amendment want
| to state that, as am credibly informed, and as
\ ! believe can be substantiated by competent
| evidence, this board OF trustees Is ring" so
| that when vacancies occur in it they are tiiied
/ by the appointment or election of the very
same persons whose terms have expired Ii is,
| in practice, a perpetual trustee organization
| For instance, il the terms of three members
! expire, tie other members of the board, exer-
cising the power Of election to ill vacancies re-
| elect the former incumbents. who have lust
| gone out by reason of the expiration of their
term, thus reinStating them III office and Gre
atin3 perpetaisy OF Office among a limited
number of gentienea.
There was no objection and the amendment
| was adopted.
| ST. JosEpH's ASYLUM.
| Mr.. O'Neill OF Missouri moved to increase
the appropriation for st. Joseph's asylum from
! 500 10 5000. There WAS a long debate on
this question extending over the whole matter
| of charities, and the amendment was then ro-
iected.
An amendment. offered by Mr.. Hemphill.
1 Was adopted providing shat Congressman APP
pointed TO serve on any charitable institutions
- the city shall hold their Offices until two