Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-10
The District Appropriation Bill Now
Under Consideration.
APPEALS FOR GREATER LIBERALITY
Gen. Henderson and Others Urge
More Money for Schools.
STRONG REASONS GIVEN

| morning business in the House was clear
| ed away, and Mr.. Williams of Illinois Sc
| cured the floor and called up the District
| appropriation bill. He made short state
| ment to the House, reviewing the report
OF the committee in explanation of the to-
| tai appropriation carried by the bill. He
| referred to the reduction made in the
| price to be paid by the city for gas and
electric light for the streets, and to the
| appropriation for cleaning the conduit fur
nishing the water supply of the District
He said this appropriation will bring about
an increase in the water supply of the
| city from 80 to GO per cent. The commit
| tee was unanimous, he said, in support of
| the appropriation for removing and cre-
| mating the garbage. -.--
| DR.. Everett of Massachusetts asked ft
| the question Of repairing the Georgetown
| High School had come before the COM
| mittee. ----.-4-.-.- 49, -
Mr.. Williams said this matter had been
| brought to the attention of the committee,
| but 1t was deemed best to let that matter
go over until the next appropriation bill.
Gen. Henderson Against the Cut.
Gen. Henderson of Iowa called attention
| to the fact that after the expenditures au-
thorized by this bill are made there would
| be an apparent surplus in the District
revenues of about sS34,342, but the COM
mittee has learned within the past twenty
| four hours that the reduction in property
assessments recommended by the board OF
| assessors would reduce the revenues about
| $3Oo,OOO. That would leave about $3.50 900
| surplus. Under this bill 500 0oo of the sur
plus goes to the DISTRICTS debt to the gov
ernment. This would leave S242, 3i2 avail
able, and multiplying this by 2, the share
| of the United States would give an availa-
| ble surplus of about half million.
| 1T seems pretty hard that in view Of
this fact the necessary appropriations
| should be withheld from the District" said
| Gen. Henderson.
Gen. Henderson said the appropriation foc
| the increase of the water supply was made
| be cause in the summer moaths the con-
sumption of water is l5.0o3,OOo gallons a
day greater than the supply. This appro-
pr1ation Will bring the supply up to 16,O00,-
700 gallons DAY, while the present supply
| is only 45.O0O,Oo0 gallons day and the con-
sumption G0,000,VJO. He heartily Endorsed
this appropriation.
Referring to the garbage question Gen.
Henderson said there is at present no legal
| method for tie disposal Of garbage. The
bill proposes to permit the Commissioners
to cremate it.
Suburban Needs.
Gen. Henderson criticised the treatment
of the District outside the city limits.
He said the tendency Of appropriations
has been to treat Washington as meaning
only that portion of the District lying
within the city H-rits whereas Washing
ton also takes in the suburbs.
The health of Washington requires the
building of sewers outside the city limits
Outside the boundary the taxpayers have
paid s50OO0O in taxes more than have been
appropriated for them.
Overc-Owded Schools.
Gen. Henderson then spoke of the public
schools. He said the schools Of this Dis
trict are not only full. but are densely and
shamefully crowded. They are packed to
overtiowing, and an army of 1850 children
can only go 10 sehool one-half of the time
The police records show that 5367 colored
children are not enrolled on the school
lists, and there are as many, if not more,
white children in the same condition
The Commissioners asked for practically
fourteen new school buildings, to cost
100000 The committee gives practically
four, costing $4,000.
Gen. Henderson said Congress has ap-
propriated an average of $4,000 a year
for the last three years for new school
buildings against an average of S2;W,000 a
year for the previous four years. 1t should
be borne in rli,id that there is a compul-
sorry school system in use here, and yet
there is not accommodation Cor the chill
dren. Crime is on the increase here. Last
year 1880 children were brought into the
Police Court.
1t would be cheaper TO send children to
school than to appropriate for the punish
ment of them when they become crimi-
nails
Money for Schools Should Be Given.
Mr.. Coombs Of New York said in q conn
try like this, depending upon the education
of its citizens the appropriations for public
schools should be the last to feel the toucn
of economy. This House is taking large re-
sponsibility in cutting down appropria-
tions for schools. Congress should not only
provide for tie necessary means OF carry
irg on the schools from year to year, but
should make wise provision for the future.
Buildings and teachers should he ready
for the generations of children as they
come.
DR.. Everett of Massachusetts said that
small sums should be paid when they are
needed or it will be necessary to give large
sums later. The committee has cut down
the estimates of the Commissioners and
IL will lie necessary later to eNpend more
money in order to provide the necessary
accommodations. One building. the West
err High School, is in condition to rem
der it Of doubtful safety for the children,
and he proposes to offer an amendment
providing for the repair of this building.
Mr. Dockery said that In making up this
bill the committee had to consider the
state OF the treasury. The high school
toned last in the order of Importance by
the Commissioners. Congress has never
given the full estimate of the Commis-
sioners for repairs.
False Economy.
DIR. Everett said It Is false economy to do
this because every year the need of re-
pairs will be more pressing If the repairs
are neglected by Congress.
Gen. Henderson said the committee had
cut the estimates for repairs 5000. He
read a statement from the Inspector OF
buildings urging more money for repairs.
One of the school trustees told the commit
tee that 100000 sh ,uld be expended in re-
pairs on buildings, and that this would not
be too much.
Mr. DfnElc!'s Appeal.
Mr.. Dingiey OF Maine read from the tes-
tirnony taken at the hearing before the
subcommittee statements to show the
pressing necessity for repairs. He said 1t
would be exceedingly unwise not to give
enough money for repairs. 1t is not econ
cmy to refuse 500 for repairs today, and
then two years later have to pay $500 for
the same thing, which had grown worse
in that time. This closed the general de-
bate upon the bill, and 1t was read by Sec
tons.