The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-03-17
SCORING THE HEALTH OFFICER.

The District Commissioners and DIR. Ham.
NETT, the Health Officer of the District re-
ceived vigorous scoring in the Senate on Fri
day, March II, at the hands of Senator Black
burn, of Kentucky. The occasion was the
consideration of the Sundry Civil Deficiency
Appropriation Bill, to which the Committee on
Appropriations had tackled an amendment ap-
propriating $4,000 for the removal of garbage
from thu City OF Washington. Mr.. Blackburn
opposed the amendment and denounced the
management of the Health Office in the most
vigorous terms. He said that the Commission
ers had appeared before the committee and adj
mitted that during the past three years there
had been expended more money than ever
before in the history of the City Govern
ment, and that the garbage service had never
been poorer, aud at tho same time they begged
for this appropriation, which they said was
needed to keep pestilence and disease from
Washington during the coming Summer He
also said that never before had it cost more
than $4,000 to operate this department. aud
thoroughly and effectually remove the garbage;
that the Health Department. by its gross mis-
management and the incompetency OF its head,
was primarily responsible, but the Commits
sioners of the District, who had placed him
there, were to blame as a matter of fact, because
they forced the resignation of an honorable
and competent official and put in such an OFF,
Ger as now fills the position. Every voucher
that was drawn by this officer, said the Sena-
tor, was approved by the Commissioners, and
they were therefore equally responsible with
him for the wasteful expenditure of the public
money aud the condition of affairs which now
exist. He exonerated the Engineer Commits
soner from any part in this mismanagement,
saying he had but recently been appointed and
the harm had been done before he became
Commissioner. Senator Hale, of Maine, cor
roborated Senator Blackburn as to the facts
stated by him relative to what the Commits
sioners had said before the committee and sug-
gcsted that before the item was passed pro-
viso should be inserted that the Commissioners
take French leave of the Health Officer, and
Mr.. Blackburn heartily Endorsed the suggestion.
Tho amendment was finally adopted and the
bill passed, but during the day Senator Black
burn introduced q resolution asking that the
District Committee of the Senate be instructed
to inquire into the reason why deficiency OF
nearly $4,000 exists in the Health Office OF
the District of Columbia for the current fiscal
year.
@*x
Representative Harter, of Ohio, the leader of
the anti-fre coinage Democrats of the House of
Representatives, proposes to mako Senator
David B. Hill, of New York, show his hand on
the silver question. Consequently, he has
written Senator Hill letter requesting him to
give his views publicly on the subject az the
Senator is an acknowledged candidate for the
Democratic nomination for the Presidency of
the United States. Mr.. Harter says in his lettor
that he thinks in view ofthe present situation all
the people are entitled to Mr.. Hi's views on the
silver question: as he (Harter), having read all
his tHill's) public utterances on the question,
acknowledges that he is unfortunate enough
not to be able to grasp Mr.. HIPS convictions
upon the subject. Mr.. Harter says that at first
he supposed that this was due to deficient IN
derstanding on his part, but having counseled
with friends of Mr.. HIPS, who are members OF
the House of Representatives he finds that they
are as much in the dark regarding the sena-
tors views on the silver question as he is him
self, and that one Of these friends told him that
the Senator was in favor of free and unlimited
coinage of silver at the present ratio, while
others think the Senator does not favor such
coinage Mr.. Harter thinks that under these
circumstances Mr.. Hill will gladly put his
views on the subject clearly, briefly, and IN
mistakably before the American people, and he
asks him squarely whether he " favors or op-
poses the outrageous measure of class legisla-
ton usually called the Bland BILL which is now
pending in the House and which has the sup
port of all the Republican bonanza Senators of
the silver ring, the lobby, of Dir. Bland of Mis-
souri,, and. it is said, of number of other Dem
ocrats" Mr.. Harter thinks Senator Hills
views will have great weight with many able
and worthy men, honest gentlemen and sound
Democrats, who happen just now to be wor
Shipping the silver calf but, aside from this,
he thinks Senator HILL as prominent candl-
date for the nomination of President by the
Democratic party, should give his views on this
vital question publicity, and he feels that he is
doing the Senator favor in enabling him to
promptly express his views to the Democrats of
the country at 8 time when such expression
of opinion will be of incalculabls benefit to
them That Mr.. Harter had little doubt in
his mind that New YOrk's willy Senator would
take the trouble to answer his letter is evil
| denced by the closing paragraph, when he says
that in order to do the Senator complete justice
and have his views as widely known possible
he takes the liberty of giving his letter to the
United Press, and hopes that he will DO per-
mitted to give the same publicity to the SEN
ator's reply to his communication. Mr.. Harter.
however, will get no answer from the New
York Senator, for he has declared that Mr..
Harter is only seeking notoriety, and he will
not assist him.
~.
If the cheese pairing policy inaugurated by
the House of Representatives does not inter
fere, in few years the United States will have
the most formidable navy afoat. A bill was
reported by Senator Hale, of Maine, from the
Committee on Naval Affairs of the Senate on
Wednesday, March g. providing for q further
increase of the Navy. The bill authorizes the
construction of three battleships of $500 to
10000 tons displacement; two armored coast
defense vessels; five gunboats of 800 to 1900
tons displacement, and eight frst.class torpedo
boats and approprates 100000 toward their
construction and 81 ,000,0 600 toward their arma-
ment. Premiums are also provided for in
creased speed of the ships If the Secretary of
the NAVY cannot contract for the building of