Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-01
PRAISE FOR THE DISTRICT
Senator Sherman on the Duty o the United
States Toward the People.
He Thinks Appropriations Should Be
Made More Liberally-Great Future
of the Capital City.

The political debate that was inaugurated
In the Senate yesterday afternoon on the
District appropriation bill continued with
undated force after The Star went to
press, and speeches were made by Senators
German, Plat, Chandler Sherman, Alli-
son, Aldrich and others. The republicans
took occasion to criticise the financial pol
Icy Of the democrats, and tainted them
with the condition of the treasury. The
only fact of local interest in the debate
was the admission Of Mr.. German, chair
man of the subcommittee in charge of the
bill, that, in his opinion. the District Is not
given enough money. He went on with en-
thusiasm to praise the future of the city,
and to declare his faith in it's becoming the
most magnificent place of residence in the
country. The appropriations for streets,
sewers and schools, he thought, ought 10
action should be taken upon the bond issue
bill for the extension of the sewer sys-
tenn. His own life, he added, had nearly
been sacrificed last winter by a defective
sewer, and he sure that the same has
been true, at one time and another, of
other Senators.
Senator Sherman Praises the District.
Mr.. P,att made a long speech, based
wholly upon general political lines, and
was followed by Mr.. Sherman, who sup
ported Mr.. Germans contention that the
bill does not carry enough money for the
Districts needs. He thought there was no
occasion for alarm to the state OF the
finances in connection with this bill. as
there is in the treasury a surplus of Dis
trict money amounting to $2,OOU,OOO After
praiSing the nOn-partiSan character of the
BOARD of Commissioners, and declaring
that their estimates should be highly re-
garded, Mr. Sherman said:
Il believe a larger appropriation should
be made The tax LEVIED upon the
people of the District of Columbia and
upon the United States together amounts
to $1,UUU,OOO. They appropriate now In this
bill, with the amendments of the Senate
committee only about $6.oO0.OOO. 1t would
leave surplus in the treasury, including
the amount paid by the government, of
about million dollars. 1t seems to me.
changed, else the appropriation should
be made more literally. That is the view
l take. Then, besides, it is to be remem-
bered this city is growing in marvellous
proportions not quite so rapidly as Chi
cago and some of the great cities of the
west, but it is growing phenomenally.
1t was not so many years ago since
Washington was a poor kind of a town or
village. l remember very well that at one
time there was no street paved in this city.
except one, and that was Pennsylvania
avenue, with cobbestone There were no
street railroads at that time. 1t was the
most ungainly city that l knew of-vast
regions vacant. Now it Is being beautifed
and extended over the District, extended
far over, and l have no doubt in short
period of time it will extend to the borders
of the District.
Duty of the United States.
Under these circumstances, we are not
dealing with our money; We are dealing
with the money of the people of the Dis
trict; with the contributions made by the
at fer of
but because the United States owns more
than one-half of the property of this Dis
trct. 1t has thousands Of acres of land
over to the south of us; 1t has great lands
to the north of us. We have the mall and
all the vast property. together with this
building, and all the public buildings be-
longing to the United States of America.
The United States, therefore, ought to pay
its proportion of the cost of maintaining
this District. The United States Is the
great chief owner of the property of this
District. and therefore it pays one half
That is not gratuity to the people of
this District. They would naturally resent
such a suggestion, and say they asked no
gratuity from the government. 1t Is paid
because the government Is the great prop
erty holder of this District. The people
pay the other half, over s3,OOO,OOO of taxes
Now, there never comes a complaint TO
us that we are appropriating too much.
We have never heard Of a petition or
complaint made by any citizen Of Wash
ington that Congress is too liberal In eX-
pending their money, and I have heard
many complaints made about the refusal
of Congress to do work of public improve
ment here that ought to be made; that
ought to have been done long ago; that
was postponed, not for want of money,
but for want of disposition, because some
body in the Senate or somebody In the
House would say: We will knock that
street out. We will not do this; we Will not
extend the sewers now not because they
have not the money, but because they
think 1t amounts to a little more in the
appropriation bill than it was last year.
Future of the Capital City.
Every year ought to add to the amount
of money invested in improving the city.
because every year there are added to 1t
not less than 5000 people, and the business
of this District is growing The class OF
buildings that are being erected Is con-
stsntly improving. Besides the amount OF
money that is expended under the opera
ton of this bill, the citizens of the District
are themselves making improvements about
their own property to large extent. Many
streets in this city have been paved by
voluntary contribution. Many of them
have been graded by the adjoining pro-
prietors; many Of them have been inl-
proved in many ways without asking the
District for any appropriation.
Il leave this matter, for do not wish
to interfere with the progress of the bill
at all. l think a liberal spirit ought to be
shown to the people of this District. They
take pride in this city, and we ought to
take pride IN it. The people who come here
to the city from the state of Ohio want to
visit every public building because they
feel 1T belongs to them in a certain sense
They have their partnership in it. They
go around this vast building and admire
it, 1 never heard man complain that it
was too expensive or too grand for the
people of the United States of America.
Everywhere this city is becoming matter
of pride to the north and south, the east
and west, and to the men who come from
abroad. The other day we had a member
Of parliament admitted to the floor here,
and he expressed his amazement at the
grandeur of our capital, at the beauty of
our buildings and the location Of the city
Of Washington. Everything excited him
with surprise. Now we want to continue.
1 trust that some of you at least may
live long enough to see this capital, though
rot the most populous. yet the most beau
tiful the most grand, the most pleasant
of all the cities of the world
Mr.. Allison corrected Mr.. Shermans
statement about the District surplus in
the treasury, which, he said, does not
amount to s2,OOO,OOO. He argued that the ap-
preparations should be made more literally
as the people Of the District are entirely