Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-01

1t Is surely an i'll wind that blows no one
good The political debate that sprang up
In the Senate yesterday afternoon over the
District appropriation bill as part OF the
republican program of delay may have the
effect of postponing final action on the
measure but that is of no consequence. as
the budget will certainly be passed before
the money is needed. There are. to be sure
certain items that are made Immediately
available. and. in view of the stress OF cir
Gums tances among the poor of the District
at present. every dollar that can be re-
leased for public works will do wonders of
good at this season. But the speeches OF
Senators German and Sherman viii be of
great benefit to the District in the future.
Such talks as these draw more than fair
interest In later years. They indicate a
most wholesome spirit of liberal justice
toward a class of citizens who are abso-
lutely dependent upon Congress for their
funds for public works. Mr.. German
painted a picture for the future Washing
ton that was an appropriate companion
piece for Mr.. Sherman's sketch of the
Washington of his earlier recollection. and
both agreed that the capital has most
glorious prospect. If the policy of appro-
priation can be regulated by the broad and
sensible sentiments of these two men,
uttered in the Senate yesterday. the Dis
tricts beautiful future would be much
nearer at hand than it now appears to be.
Such words - these that follow, culled
from Mr.. Shermans speech. will surely
find fertile growing soil after time:
II think the course of both the Senate
and Hous, of Representatives is constantly
to restrict and NEEDLE with matter In
which the people of the District are more
deeply Interested than are the members of
Congress. 1t seems TO me that
both the Senate and the House have been
nigsardly in complying with their requisi-
tions. i believe that now larger appro-
priation should bs made. The amount of
tax levied upon the people of the District
OF Columbia and upon the United States
together amounts to about SIoOoUOu. There
are appropriated in the pending bill, with
the amendments of the Senate committee.
only about S6.0OUOoo which would leave
surplus in the treasury. including the
amount paid by the government of about
SlOoDoo 1t seems to me that the tax rate
ought TO be changed, or else appropriations
should be more literally made
Sir. every year the amount of money ex-
pended In improving the city ought TO be
increased because every year not less han
5000 people are added to the population of
Washington ard the business of this Dis
trict is growing.
Mr.. German took an even more decided
ground against parsimonious legislation,
and this the more significant and
cheering because of his position chair
man of the subcommittee in charge of The
bill. tie said many things that should be
spread abroad by the citizens of the Dis
trict. There golden words of encour-
agement to be found in his brief talk. as
these few selected sentences will Indicate:
IF the appropriations were Increased
twice the amount that We nave provided
for in these amendments, it would be doing
II al 10
District. from whom You ana L have taken
away the right of selfgovernment. VINO. II
they had the right. would DO more than We
have provided. We have turned ourselves
into u common council to leSislate for this
District, and L say, 10 both parties, We
have been too economical We ought to
have gone beyond the appropriations which
have been made There Is not
man, woman or child within the confines
of the Union who has not great pride in
this capital. L know of no man poor in
my State who would hesitate to appro-
pirate enough to educate the children in
the District of Columbia. L know of no
man woman who has complained be-
cause this town has been beautified: and 1T
can not be done without money. They
have pride in it. 1t is one of the things
that they come here and see and enjoy,
and they think more of their Governln INT
and of their representatives in Congress
for having made a fair provision for the
city. They ought to complain, 1 have no
doubt they do complain, that there has
been too much parsinony here"
The District can not be very badly
treated much longer with such staunch
friends in the Upper House. 1t Is to be
hoped that the spirit shown by Mr. Cor
man. backed. as it is, by the sentiment
of one who is a foremost figure tine
opposite side, will result in very gene raj
sustaining of the Senates figures in the
conference that is to take place between
the two Houses.