Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-31
MONEY FOR THE DISTRICT
The Appropriation Bill Considered in the
Senate
Many Amendments Passed and Then q
COnstitutiOnal Debate CONSUME
ed Much Time.

priation bill today, with its hundred amend
ments made by the appropriations COM
mittee, involving an aggregate increase OF
nearly $3.50, 600 in the budget over the total
sum granted by the House. The bill was
not taken up without considerable parlia-
mentary sparring, in which Senator'S Cor
man. Hill and Chandler took part. Mr..
Chandler would have blocked the wheels
of the legislative machine by interposing a
resolution about Senator Martins right
to seat in Congress. The republicans
started filibuster. but 1t did not avail,
and the motion to take up the local budget
finally prevailed.
Mr.. German asked unanimous consent to
but Mr.. Chandler, smarting under his re-
cent reverse. objected, and the clerk started
to read the bill by paragraphs.
MIR. Chandler Gives Way.
Before he had finished the first para
graph Mr.. German made an appeal to Mr..
Chandler to withdraw his objection to what
was a most usual request. Mr.. Chandler
replied that he had merely interposed an
objection to give the "overheated Senators
on the other side opportunity to calm
down. and as that had evidently been &C
complished. and as one of those Senators
(Mr. Butler) had been called to the chair,
he would withdraw his objection.
The amendments were all accepted with
out debate in the first few pages.
Mr.. German moved new amendment,
giving three clerks at S1,2OO in the asses
sor's office, instead of two This was ac-
cepted
Must BE Practical Plumbers.
Mr.. Cullom said he hoped that the pro-
vision for the inspector Of plumbing
should be so drawn as to require him and
icfa IN ho ol nj,
Mr.. German said that these officials are
now practical plumbers. Mr.. Cullom ex-
planned that he had recently received let
ters asking that this amendment should be
made. Mr.. German said that he might ac-
cept the amendment little later, and Mr..
Cullom withdrew his suggestion.
The amendment changing the tax penalty
from two to one per cent per month was,
at Mr.. Germans request, passed over tenn
porarily.
Street Extensions.
The paragraph relating to the Olmsted
plan for the highway extension attracted
the notice of Mr.. Aldrich, who called at
tention to the authority given to the "au-
thorities'' to change existing subdivisions
to make them conform to the city system
of streets. Mr.. Aldrich asked for an ex-
PLANTATION of this authorization. Mr.. Cor
man said that subdivisions had been laid
in a very dlsjointed way. until there is
very awkward mixture. In some cases the
streets of the city will not match those of
the suburbs. The plan was to permit the
Commissioners, probably the Engineer
Commissioner, to conduct a scheme of cor
recting the evils.
MIR. Mcmillan further explained the ne
cessity of Strengthening the suburban
streets. He praised the work Of Mr.. Ohm
sted and said he felt sure everybody would
be satisfied with the work when 1t shall
be finished.
Mr.. Aldrich said he only criticised the
looseness of the language of the amend
ment. He thought 1t should be so drawn
as to specify the exact authorities" and
the precise nature Of the changes to be
made in the plans. The amendment read
such minor and essential changes" This
was too wide a power. 1t might involve
The District In an enormous expense.
Mr. German said he was willing to insert
the Commissioners by title in the place of
authorities in charge" But Mr.. Aldrich
insisted that changes should be made more
definite.
MIR. Mcmillan said that the general plan
for the extension had already been made
and approved, and the changes In question
will be very insignificant.
Mr. Faulkner declared that the changes
contemplated were all now in mind. and
are really minor, although quite essential.
There was considerable discussion when
Mr. Harris insisted that the language was
free from error. Mr.. Platt declared that
the amendment changed the highway act
of 1893.
Mr. Aldrich confessed that he was willing
to give somebody the power to make such
the beautiful and artistic plan Of the city,
but 1t was liable to involve the District in
a great expense.
Mr. German called for a vote on the
Turpie. was inclined to think that it was
lost. But on the second call he declared 1t
carried.
Schedule for improvements Passed.
The schedule for street Improvements,
with their large increases, were thus pass
ed without question. But afterward Sena-
tor Harris asked MIR. German for an expla-
ration of the amounts. Mr.. German said
that the committee had increased the total
of the bill after careful consideration, but
1t was below the estimates. He said that
the recommendations of the Commissioners
were adopted and the rule was laid down
that the health Of the city should first be
cared for. So the appropriations for sew
ers were increased. Next came the in
creases for street paving, but still below
the estimates. Then came the public
schools, for which the House has made in
sufficient appropriations. There too
many children now unable to obtain seats
In the schools.
Next came the need of the contagious
hospitaE In summing up, Mr.. German said
that sewers, streets and schools consumed
the bulk of the increases In the bill.
Mr.. Chandler Urges Caution.
Mr.. Chandler interrupted the reading a
minute later to ask for an explanation of
the great increases over the House bill.
The House of Representatives, nc said with
sarcasm. is the great guardian of the lib
critics and the money of the people, being
vested by the Constitution with the right
to raise revenue and to originate appro-
priations. Therefore the Senate should be
careful how 1t increases the appropria-
tions. 1t should confine itself to moderate
changes, and, in conclusion, Mr.. Chandler
laid great stress upon the democratic or
ganization of the Senate committees. Mr..
Harris asked Mr.. Chandler for the con-
authority for his contention that
the Senate cannot originate appropriations,
a contention that he emphatically denied.
He said that he had complete faith in the
power of the Senate to originate appro-
priation bills. This led to a debate be-
tween Mr.. Harris and Mr.. Chandler. with
other Senators joining occasionally, on the
Constitution of the United States, which
seemed to verify to some extent the rumor
that is afioat to the effect that the repub-
licans intend to prolong the debate on this
and other appropriation bills, and make
them consume time, to the exclusion of
other legislation.
Mr.. Chandler warned the democrats that