Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-01

should be paid, as other appropriations Of the
District of Columbia are paid, out of the general
funds Of the District.
This committee. il would seem, the executive
committee. made mp Of large number of the
best citizens Of the District Of Columbia. are
reflected upon because they dare to ask Con-
gress for any apr opriation, and il is adverted
to that they did not think Of that when they
went before our convention at Detroit, asking
for this meeting to be held here. I think that
is unfair to the citizens Of Washington. No
city on this continent stands 80 constantly,
with such open and generous arms extended to
the people Of the entire nation, bidding them
welcome, and making welcome every conceiv-
able convention that can be held here; and In
no city on this continent are there SO manv
public gatherings held a. in Washington. All
who come here 60 away delighted with the gen.
erous hospitality that has been accorded to
them.
The citizens Of Washington went, as other
committees have gone to the different national
encampments, rendering their city as the place
for the next gathering Boston was a candi-
date at one time. Cleveland, ST. Louis, Mil
waukee, New York and, I think, San Francisco
and other places sent their committees. That
was not preceded by any legislative action, mu-
nicipal or state. Like public-spirited men, they
went to open their arms to the old soldiers and
said 'Come," and holding forth the usual in
ducements to make them comfortable and to
| attract them. So did the citizens Of Washing
ton; and as they said before our investigating
committee, the matter Of the details was
matter to be determined after il was settled
| that the encampment was to come here.
| When that was determined by a close vote at
| the last encampment at Detroit, then the citi-
gems organized thoroughly and well, and went
| to work to properly provide for this coming
encampment. On the 18th of April the execu-
tive committee appealed to the appropriations
committee of the House Of Representatives.
No appropriation for any sum was put upon the
District bill as it passed the House. Their
prayer was respectfully heard and respectfully
denied.
Mr.. Henderson then had the clerk read the
message of the President on the subject.
Thus, he said. spoke the executive of this
nation on both propositions, first TO the
amount and secondly as to what fund il should
come from.
THE DISTRICT AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
In order to judge Of the true merits of the
questions involved, namely, from what fund
shall this be paid, and secondly. what amount,
we must understand our relations as legislators
to the District Of Columbia and the city of
Washington.
| Prior to June II. 1878, no aid was given by
| the general government to carry on the ex-
penses OF this District. Indeed, prior to that
date the citizens CT Washington had played the
benevolent part. giving large donations of ter
ritory to the general government. Your streets,
| your parks. your reservations, the one where
the White House stands today, we're donated
| by the citizens.
Nearly $50, 900. 900 acres Of the public land
| have been given to the states for public pur-
poses, for railroads. for universities and other
educational purposes. Some S25,0O0.OO0 In
round numbers of surplus cash in the treasury
up to 1885 were taken and distributed to the
states. But up to 1873 the general government
never gave one dollar to aid this city. while
| their donations amounted to over $50 900 900
to aid In putting up public buildings, to say
nothing of the donations Of land that 1 have
spoken OF. But on June IL. 1878, bill became
law changing the whole system Of the District
government 1t is known the Blackburn
bill" Mr.. Blackburn Of Kentucky, then a
member of this body, was the author of the
bill which became then and is now the law
governing this District. That law provides that
the expenses of running this city and District
shall be paid one-half out of the District and
One-half out of the federal revenues.
Why this was done should not properly enter
into this discussion. because we have to deal
only with the law, but / will here pause a
moment to refer to the principle upon which
| it was DONE because that principle in a meas
ure touches the merits of this debate. This
city is filed with public buildings belonging to
the federal government. with vast reserva-
tions, millions and millions of dollars Of
property piled up here in vast edifices.
This is the capital Of great nation, and in
1878 the people began to realize what a nation
it was, and it was discovered and realized that
this city a place for the convenience of the
nation. Your schools patronized by the
children Of over 10000 American citizens who
are not citizens OF the District of Columbia.
During my term in Congress my children have
attended the public schools, as have the chill
dren OF most OF you. Your lights light the
pathway of those who come on here on public
business. am afraid that the police even have
l l. IL q
| others than citizens of the District of Column
bia.
At all events. the principle was that inasmuch
| as this government was not taxed single cent
| to carry on the expenses of this government,
| and every year the footballs of a million feet
| outside of the citizenship are wearing ont your
streets and children Of other cities occupying
your schools and creating the necessity for the
vast army Of teachers, the Blackburn policy
was deemed the thing we ought to have. The
United States government under your law pays
one-half of the salaries of the Commissioners of
the District and Of every judge, the recorder of
wills and every official connected with the Dis
trict 1t pays one-half Of your entire police
force and one-half the expenses Of all your
teachers in the District. 1t pays one-half the
expenses of your fire department, including
the building of the engine houses, the purchase
OF the fire engines and their equipments. 1t
pays onehalf Of all the expenses of all your courts
here, including your jurors. 1t pays one-half
of the expenses of the market master and of
lighting your city and sweeping and cleaning
kyOur streets. At O'Clock every night a little
army of men are at work cleaning your streets
and carrying away the dirt: and when you rise
in the morning the streets look like the waxed
floor of a kitchen.
My city of Dubuque. the city of my friend
from Missouri. and every federal taxpayer in the
country, help to pay one-half Of all these ex-
penses. They help to pay for the erection of
your schools, to carry on your schools. to pay
tyr your educators, and to buy all the text
books for the poor children. They pay for the
sewers. and in most cases a large part Of the
chaAties. The federal government supports
the parking commission. They pay for the
plan1 ing of trees, and pay the expenses of fur
nishiGg the tree boxes and iron strips around
them, and for attending to them. They paw for
your public pumps, for your bridges, and for
the telephone service of the city. They help to
pay for the health department. and to keep up
!. your prisons and reformatories to take care of
the insane. the deaf and the dumb. and to sup
port the militia of the District of Columbia
Everything that this municipality has today in
Its government the federal government pays
-one-half Of it.
THE CITY COUNCIL.
Now, there is no city council here, as Com
ma1der-in-chief Palmer says, to make these APP
prd1riations This is the city council. The
citizens have no other legislative body to turn
70 frp- fhesa apprOpria fiops ba ,,x,a