Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-13
CHAIRMAN EDISON TALKS.
The Dimeulties Of the Citisens' committee In
0eteiag the Apprsprisstes.

The Dimeulties Of the Citisens' committee On
Getting the Apprsprtssies.
TER rorSr INVOLVED II rHr pascrssaox -
sIyouLAR MisAppRKuKNSroN AMONG uKuDKRs
or TIE Housx A. 10 yuE RkLArIoSs on TEE
DISTRICT wrfH TER oxxEnAL GOVERNMENT
MORE SUBSCRIPTIONS IRON crrrrExs YIELDED.
In speaking Of the break In the deadlock
over the GrsAd Army encampment appropria-
taon Mr.. John Joy Edison. the chairman Of the
citizens' executive COMMITTEES, and who hiss
represented the committee in the Eight, said to-
day to STAR reporter,
THE contest has been . long and tedious
one. What would seem 10 be sn unnecessary
delay In Anal sction 10 regretted and
has embarrassed the citizens execu-
tive committee in making seasonabie proper
arrangements. No contracts Of any magnitude
could even be contemplated or entsred into
before We knew ohst the funds we're actually
available. The uncertainty - 10 the action OF
Congress % 10 the amount that would finally
be appropriated, If any, and the conditions that
might be prescribed also prevented any sction.
THREE POINTS INVOLVED.
There were three points involved In the dis
pute in Congress. One was whether the APP
preparation should be made from the
municipal funds under the conditions of
the act Of 1878 or from the District
revenues alone; second, a. to the amount that
should be appropriated; third, Few took the
ground that such an appropriation uncon-
/ stitutional and illegal Tho last point how
ever. was the least Formidable. The
Senate subcommittee maintained that the
amount should be tl00.000 and that il
should be appropriated under the act Of 1878,
and il seemed that they would adhere 10 this
position until the last In the House the friends
OF the measure, after IL had been discussed,
| we're satisfied beyond o doubt from a scrutiny
OF the vote that IL would be impossible for the
| oal TO pass appropriating any part OF the
amount from the treasury OF the general gov
ernment and were fearful that not more than
! $4,000 could even be obtained
WHAT rhE cos1xfrrEH had TO CONTEND wrrg.
The citizens committee had 10 contend, In
the first place, with House which has taken
the position politically as democrats that the
aggregate amount Of appropriations by Con-
gress should be largely reduced. Then there
was a difficulty arising from the want Of .
proper understanding on the part Of members
rs to the true relations OF the local TO the
general government Therefore the idea con-
tinued in the minds Of the MEMBER that the
| national government was being called upon to
defrsy the expenses Of this encampment Of the
Grand Army which had decided TO meet here
| on the invitation of the citizens OF Washington
This misunderstanding is more general than
rbefore owing 10 the fact that the hrge major
| ity OF the members Of the House are serving
their first term in Congress.
ASKED FOR BY THE PEOPLE.
at is rather q curious fact" continued Mr..
Edison, ''that the appropriation Of 800 600 was
asked for by the people Of Washington, and
notwithstanding. as Mr.. Dockery stated on the
hoor Of the House, there was not single protest
from citizen: against this appropriation
and the Commissioners of the District, after
due investigation, had recommended this APP
preparation and the President Of the United
States, BY special message to Congress had
commended it, still the House, in
their wisdom, felt constrained TO de-
cline the necessary amount asked for,
and that. too, after they had concluded to take
the full amount out Of the money paid by the
people OF the District into the United States
treasury.
WHEN THE seo, 600 WILL BE AVAILABLE.
"As the bill passed the so. 900 is Unavailable
until the citizens OF Washington have first sub
scribed and paid in and the citizens
committee have expended the sum
OF $4,000 for proper expenses incurred
| Tor the reception and entertainment
OF the veterans attending the cncsmpment.
There ARE now something over eco 600 which
have hitherto been subscribed. A little over
SSs.000 Of this amount has been paid in cash to
the committee. Ii is, therefore. necessary now
! 70 secure the subscription Of $4,000 more
/ and the payment of $1,000 more. The
citizens executive committee viii not be war
ranted in entering upon large contracts until
the subscriptions have been completed and the
entire amount IL available. Beyond this there
should be 10000 additional paid in to make
up for the reduction in the appropriation by
Congress-.
| THE COMMITTEES ESTIMATE.
"Three months ago." continued Mr. Edison,
| when the committee YVES called on by q COM
mittee Of Congress to explain how this
money was to be used, our estimates
then amounted to sIH.000. The bulk
Of this is for arranging quarters and
establishing necessary sanitary conveniences,
which are expensive. Many people do not
understand why quarters are furnished Az
these annual gatherings have been held In vari-
Gus cities the attendance has steadily grown
until of late years II has become necessary TO
| supply quarters. This was not due to the
poverty of the veterans, but to the fact
that the sleeping accommodations Of the cities
FOR posts as bodies were exhausted and therefore
temporary quarters had TO be arranged for.
Along with this the hospitality OF the various
cities was made manifest by opening these
quarters to the old soldiers free Of expense.
Washington now finds itself called upon 20
entertain the lsrgest number several times
over that has ever attended an encampment,
and no doubt she will prove equal to the task. I"