Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-11

IL Is matter of Indifference to him wheth-
er the United States pays half or not Of the
District expenses. He believes the govern
ment should pay half of the ordinary ex-
penses of the District for reasons which are
simple enough. But in this bill a door is
opened to possible abuses in the future. II
a clvll pension list is started there may
come a time afteTward when others will
ask 70 be pensioned. Mr.. Reed spoke OF
the departmental service as furnishing a
strong probability of this. The question is
The head Of each department Is now con-
fronted with the alternative. in the cases of
old men in their departments Of continuing
these clerks as useless appendages at full
salary or throwing them on the charity of
the world As a rule. government employees
spend all they make. and these old men
are virtually objects OF charity.
rans.,i Resd said the whole plan Of COM
pensation - wrong. Instead of starting
clerks at 100 they should be started at
zoo. and instead of stopping at $3.50 or
s2,Oo should reach $500 or $4,000 Then
from this salary a superannuated fund
should be provided. If these clerks won't
save enough from their salaries to support
them in their old age, the government
should save IL for them. In the revenue
marine service the spectacle Is now pre-
eented Of force OF old and disabled men
drawing full salaries and retarding the pro-
motion OF younger men. There is a certain
propriety In pensioning policemen. but the
present plan Is the proper one. namely,
that the policemen themselves should sup
port the fund.
Other Speeches.
Mr.. Hutchinson OF Texas made a speech,
which he intended as humorous. in which
hs referred in an alleged sarcastic vein to
an aristocracy Of pensioned policemen.
Mr.. Hepburn agreed with Mr. Coombs
that the police fund should not have any
connection with the liquor license revenues
and there should be no relation between the
policeman and the saloon.
What Mr. Cannon Thinks.
Mr.. Cannon favored amending the bill 30
that the fund should be supported by the
policemen. He would not oppose increas-
ing the pay. IL necessary. He would vote
against the bill to enable the committee to
bring in a more complete bill Mr.. Cam
non feared that II this fund Is diverted
from the District revenues II will be twice
as easy to become a policeman, and twice
as easy to get on the pension list. Mr..
Cannon said the time will come when Con-
Gress must examine the question of depart
mental service and salaries, the problem OF
men growing old and useless in the service
Now, however. Congress can stop this in
road upon the District revenues.
The Bill Recommittcd.
After some further discussion Mr.. Heard
asked unanimous consent that the police
fund bill be recomnitted. The consent was
given and the bill was returned to the COM
mittee.
The w. and G. R.R. Charter.
Mr.. Heard then called up the bill to amend
the charter OF the Washington and George
town Railroad Company. The object OF this
bill Is to secure the extension of the George
town tracks Of the Washington and George
town Railway Company to a point near the
Aoueduct bridge. and the establishment at
such terminus OF a union street car pas
senger house. Mr.. Heard moved that sec
ton 8. providing for a passenger house at
Pennsylvania avenue between the tracks of
the navy Yard and the Baltimore and Ohio
depot branches OF the road near the Peace
monurnenU. be strick en- out from the bill
Mr.. Cannon thought that there sh 1uld be
provision for passenger house at that
point.
4 Passenger Shed Provided For.
Mr.. Cannon offered an amendment re-
quiring the railway company to mailtain a
passenger shed on the south side of the ave-
nue. att the Peace monument. which was
agreed to.