Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-10
DIST RICT NEEDS
Further Discussion of the District
Appropriation Bill.
SEVERAL GOOD AMENDMENTS ADOPTED
The $43,OOO to Be Immediately
Available for Suburban Streets.
A TALK ON GAS LIGHT

The House today resumed consideration
or the District appropriation bill. with Mr..
McRae Of Arkansas in the chair
Mr.. Cogswell offered an amendment ap-
3ropriating 5000 to replace sidewalks and
curbs around public reservations He said
this amendment is urged by the Cominis-
Sioners and there Is great necessity for it.
He cited as instance the dilapidated
pavement around the reservation in front
Of the National Theater, which, he said. is
dangerous as well as disgracefuL Mr..
Compton said he thought the state Of the
surplus would not warrant the appropria-
ton at this time. Upon a rising vote the
amendment was agreed to. yeas IS. nays 43.
the republicans and DR.. Everett of Massa-
chusetts voting with Mr.. Cogswel and the
democrats voting against him.
Mr.. Talbert of South Carolina offered an
amendment providing that rhe cost of I'M
proving county roads shall be paid one-half
by the city and one-half by the owners Of
abutting property. Mr.. Compton opposed
tne amendment vigorously. on the ground
that II changes existing law. 1t was de-
feated by vote of 30 yeas to 81 nayA the
republicans. with two or three democrats.
voting against the amendment.
To He Immediately Available.
Mr.. Compton then offered an amendment
making Immediately available the appro-
prfation of $4,000 for improving streets
on Meridian hill. 18th street, Pennsylvania
avenue extended. Sherman and Grant ave-
nues and NJ street This is the proposition
which 1t was sought to pass last December.
MI kilgore raised the point which he has
heretofore made that the Improvement of
these streets should be In conformity with
the street extension law of 1892. This point
Was disputed by Mr.. Compton and Mr..
Williams of Illinois.
Mr.. Baker of New Hampshire objected to
spending $4,000 upon suburban streets at
this time. Mr.. Compton replied that they
are not really suburban streets. and he read
the letter from the Commissioners, which
has been heretofore published. explaining
the status of this proposed improvement
Mr. Talbert asked IL Mr.. Compton thought
II right to improve private property ort-
side of the city limits without the owners
Of the property contributing their pro rata
share.
"Unquestionably not" replied Mr.. Comp
ton; but such is not the case In this in
stance These are public highways, already
opened to travel. and it Is not proposed to
open new streets"
Mr.. Henderson Urges the Appropria-
tion-
Mr.. Henderson said the Commissioners
have asked for s1Os 900 and the committee
has cut the estimate to s43, 900. Mr.. Hen
derson explained the act requiring the uni
form extension of streets. This appropria-
ton is not affected by that act. This appro-
priation applies to streets already laid out. 1t
would be exceedingly unfair to discriminate
against these streets by applying that act
TO them Mr.. Henderson explained that this
appropriation of $4,000 was omitted from
the bill IN making IL Up, because il was car
ried in a bill reported last December. and
upon which favorable action had been
asked. II the House denies this amend
ment II Will prevent any improvements out
side of the city.
Mr.. Holman contended that while II was
all right for the government to bear its
snare of the ordinary expenses of the Dis
trict government, when 1t came to i'm
provements of this sort the District should
bear all the expense
Mr.. Baker of Kansas opposed the amend
ment- He objected to so much being ap-
prOpriated for work outside the city limits,
and criticised the apportionment made be-
tween the sections of the city Of the ap-
propriations for improvements.
Mr.. Williams advocated the appropriation.
Jerry simpson Objects.
Mr.. Simpson spoke in opposition. He said
that IL appeared to him that while the pro-
fessions were made that this work was to
give employment to the unemployed, some
designing persons We're trying to take ad-
vantage of it to benefit speculators. He
was opposed to taxing the people to bene-
fit spe-ulators
Mr.. De Almond discussed the legal status
of the proposition. in connection with the
law for the extension of the streets out
side the cities of Georgetown and Wash
fngtOn. He contended that money could not
be spent in the improvement of outside
streets until after the adoption Of a gen
eral plan for the street extensions
The Amendment Adopted.
Mr.. Compton said that the work Of street
extension is to be done under the superyis-
ION of three United States officers, named
In the act In reply to a question from
SIr. Simpson Mr.. Compton said that the
streets proposed to be- improved by his
amendment are not strictly suburban N
streets The amendment of Mr.. Compton
was adopted by vote of IS to go the re-
Publicans again coming to the rescue OF the
District.
More and BETTER Light
Mr.. Compton secured the adoption of an
amendment providing that street gas lamps
shall burn not less than 5000 hours 1t was
amended by Mr.. Outhwaite to the effect
that the light furnished shall not be less
than twenty candle power. This was ac-
cepted by Mr.. Compton and adopted.
Mr.. Outhwaite then offered an amend
ment reducing the price to be paid for street
gas lamps from 5000 per annum to SIS
per annum for each lamp. He said that
the District committee has decided that the
price Of gas should be reduced to 81 per
LOCO feet and this amendment Is 10 bring
the cost Of street lamps to this reduction.
Mr.. Compton said the city Is really getting
It's street gas for $l6 per lamp. for OF that
s2Q-5O now paid 81. 30 comprises the cost of
taking care Of the lamps
Mr.. Outhwaite said other cities are fur
nished gas at prices from s13 to SIT, in
Guiding the cost of taking care Of the lamps.
Mr. Outhwaite said the gas company can
furnish gas and make a profit at SIS per
lamp.
Ny Co-sweII said the gas company fur
-.iS u the city at wholesale prices.
.itu2,ns added that when the price
l. i-- -.-- l o3dy reduced ii is not fair
70 make "a -t.- --r- reduction because the
Price 70 the citizens is !S.uce1.
AssaiiiisG the t;as Company
Mr.. Outhwaite replied that his fund
mental proposition is that the city be not
compelled to pay more for its gas than it
ought to-
idr- Outhwaite said this gas company has
tne most magnificent franchise of any cor
poration In the country. 1t has increased
us capital stock 100000. every cent of
Wnlch was out OF it's earnings: II has is
sued SoOO,OOO worth OF certificates out of
the earnings The company has paid an
nuaL dividends Of 10 per cent, and now has
= surplus or S2S1,OOO invested in stocks and
bonds.
r. ~. fichardson suggested that the $500,
w issue extended over a period OF years,
anu Ihat the 10 per cent dividend was de-
SAaFeu on the par value of the stock, and
IN