Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-04-08

pal functions. the duty Of hospitality. In every
case the fund for such entertainment, as has
been stated by the Senator from Missouri MIR
Vestl has been made up in part by the sub
scriptions Of citizens and invariably in part bv
contributions from the municipality and from
the state in which the encampment is held,
This year the invitation has been extended
BY citizens Of Washington, il has been accepted
by the Grand Army Of the Republic and their
| encampmentis to be held in this CITY, So we
| are met by this question under the particular
exigencies Of the government Of this city, We
have taken from the people of Washington the
| right OF self-government. We have will not
say usurped, but we have absorbed that
| authority and that duty. This call comes upou
us with precisely the same force and is of lust
the same character as the call which has been
cities and to the legislatures of the states
where this encampment has been held In other
cities The constitutional authority that we
have Is precisely the authority which the legis-
iatures OF the states have, and our duty is no
larger nor other than their duty.
MUNICIPAL HOSPITALITY.
shall it be said that it does not belong to
'ne municipality to exercise the function of
hospitality? Have the legislatures of the states
no power to make snch appropriations? II they
have. certainly we have. SO, Mr.. President. il
comes to the other question as to what the
amount shall be. The committee. in the first
instance. placed the amount at SIS COO the
representation having been made to the com
mittee that the citizens would raise $50. 600.
and 100000 having been asked for from the
government
The committee first racomr,ordoa n,
amendment to the bill placing the amount of
the appropriation by Congress at $3.50 of
course one-hali OF that sum to be paid. like
all others raised by taxation, from the revenues
OF the District and one-half from the revenues
Of the general government But that has elected
anu called forth from the committee of citizens
lie ,,vs .na, 81 VI tlis matter and from the pub
opinion and tbose Ia W. obon.. Vi PUN.
the claim that 800 900 is needed for the nrnper
| exercise OF the function of hospitality in this
instance.
Il wish to ask If this government is going to
put narrow limit upon the amount that will
properly be appropriated for this patriotic
subject II is perfectly clear that the occa-
sion of the meeting of the Grand ARMY of the
Republic in this capital and historic CITY is 60
ing to call forth larger number of visitors, a
larger encampment than has ever before been
held in the history of that organization or in
the history Of the government. l shall not ex-
pect that Congress. representing the people of
the United States will stint their allowance to
less than the exigencies Of the occasion NAV re-
quire.
Neither can see that this appropriation
differs from any other as to the fund from
which it should be drawn 1t falls upon the
municipality properly and how are all these
oOhSations met upon the principle by and
large that the government, owning one-haf of
the property, shall assume one half of the taxes
! obligations and duties that fall upon the DIS
trlct.
~ seems to me. therefore, that the amend
nnah. ~ sSos.eu ny ,ne commlttee Is Just ana
amendment Offered hx the Sane,nr sro,, 70 M ,e
souri, Just before rose to subnit these remarks
should not be adopted"
Mn. yrsT .srs o,,vsr,ov
' ,es'-Mr PRESIDENT II the proposition
OF the senator from Delaware be correct, then
both, as a matter Of law and equity, our wards
in the CITY of Washington should assume the
position Of wards. and not undertake to bind
anybody. The fallacy of the arpument il that
when the people of Washington nronose to ex-
ercise the functions of a municipaI government
they do SO and then come to Congress to make
good the liability they assume themselves.
The Senator says that an enormous encamp-
ment will be held here. Every soldier or ex
| soldier who comes here will paw so much money
to the people of Washington. Every one of
them who spends dollar here will pour it into
the Golfers Of the people of this city Why do
the cities of the United States scramble for This
encampment year by year exactly as they do
for the conventions of the great political
parties? 1t is to put money in their pockets.
and for no other purpose.
When the Senator SAYS that we occupy the
matter would be glad for him to show me the
custom that has sprung up in this country of
the state legislatures paving the expenses of
these encampments invited by cities.
AND "a .Sswrnrn nv Nm n,wrs
Mr. Dawes-Tbe encamnment ,as b.,a ,os.
wear in Boston. The sta te legislature annronri-
ated ESQ .OOO the city of Boston s25. 600 and the
citizens raised thirty odd thousand dollars
Mr.. Iest-Exactly, and that was the state of
massachusetts, Nhen THIS encampment was
neid In the state OF MISSOURI the city OF ST.
Louis PAID the expenses, as 1t ought to have
done, ana the general assembly OF Missouri
PAID notning.
Mr. DaWes-lhe legislature OF Massachusetts
paid $50. 600.
Mr.. Nest-I understand, and they had the
right to do it; and do not question that; and
| If this was the legislature In that sense Of the
people OF the city of Washington. if We had
authorized them to extend this invitation, if
we were at all responsible for it, a matter of
course it would be in the nature of contract.
The legislature of Massachusetts represented
| the people of the state. The Congress OF the
United States represents the people of the
whole Union, not Of the District OF Columbi
alone.
say no such custom has prevailed. 1t NAV
have been done in the state of Massachusetts.
1t was not done in the state of Missouri. and If
there are other states in which the legislature
has been called upon to do it it furnishes no
nrecelent for ma The wboie thing re.ts .t
T.. ~. A.,