Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-31
Appropriations for Local Govern
ment Discussed in the House.
MIR. PICKLER GETS Things TANGLED Up
The Change in Regard to Street
Lighting Explained.
FEATURES OF THE DEBATE.

| lioh pili lhlS afternoon Mr. Grout, chair
mar OF the subcommittee that prepared the
BILL was recognized to explain the meas
| ure.
| Mr. Grout sad the bin explained itself to
large degree, being an explanation by
figures. He said the total amount recon-
mended to DE appropriated for the general
| expenses of the District of Columbia for
the fiscal year 1897 in the bill is, exclusive
Oh the water department, s., 225, ,365.97, of
Which sum the general government is re-
quired to pay s2,6l2. 6S2 9S that being one
half of the whole. The former amount is
| 2G3,991.50 less than the estimates SUBJ
| mitted.
lie amount appropriated for the general
expenses of the District of Columbia for
The current fiscal year. 1896 Qncluding
| sla,9p in the sundry civil and urgent de-
hciercy acts), is s.. .5J9. a63.97 being SS33 s9S
| more than Is recommended in the bill for
\ 1887, and the whole amount recommended
| In the BILL including the sums for the wa
| Ter department, is S343 422 sc less than was
| appropriated for the current fiscal wear
| ine amount recommended for the water
department all Of which is payable from
| the water revenues, is 1892 594. A. The
| amount appropriated for the water depart-
ment for the current fiscal year is s202,-
les being reduction of S9.5a4.S6
| Mr. Grout then read to the House a sum-
mary OF the report on the bill, which was
published in The Star yesterday afternoon
| Some New Provisions.
Mr.. Henderson asked if there is new ieg-
lslation in the bill, to which Mr. Grout re-
| phed that there were some provisions that
mad never appeared in previous bills but
Whlch would not oe susceptible TO a point
| of order Among these is the following:
That hereafter all rents, fees and income
derived from the markets herein appro-
| priated for shall be paid to the collector OF
| taxes; and no person employed by the Dis
| trict of Columbia in or about the said mar
! kets shall receive any fees or compensation
OF any kind in addition to the salary pro-
| vided by law"
Mr.. Blue of Kansas. a member of the
| committee, said the provision as to gas and
| electric lighting might come under the
point of order
Mr.. Hepburn of Iowa asked if the pro-
4 vision authorizing competing gas and cleo
| trio light companies to lay underground
conduits and pipes is not new legislation
MIR Blue was about to reply, when the point
of order was made and sustained that the
| paragraph in question is not under con-
| sideratiop.
No Revision of Salaries Now. =.
In defense of the bill, Mr.. Grout said that,
| with the treasury depleted, the cost of living
| reduced and other considerations led the
committee to take the ground that the
| appeal for the revision of salaries should be
laid aside at this time. There are discrim-
| nations in salaries, he said, but they cannot
| be remed:ed now.
| Mr.. Dockery of Missouri said that while
| this bill is S330,o00 less than the current
law, it is at the same time $4,000 greater
| thar. the bill which passed the House at the
last session, and that this statement should
| be made in justice to the committee.
MIR. Picker TanaIes Things.
The proceedings at this point were tan
gIed up by Mr.. Picker of South Dakota
| who wanted to have read a petition relat-
| ing to the employment of charwomen in
the departments. Although there is moth
| ing in the bill relating to charwomen, Mr.
| Grout offered to yield to Mr.. Pickler to
| have the petition read. Mr.. Pickler refused
| to take advantage of this courtesy and in
| sisted on being recognized in his own right.
| Mr.. Grout declined to give up the floor en-
| tirely, and Mr.. Pickler commenced 10 fill
| buster.
Picker Gets His Way.
| Half an hour was consumed in a parlia-
mentary tangle, during which wide varie-
| ty of motions were submitted, and the
| House finally found itself tied up into a
hard knot, with Mr.. Pickler having hold Of
the knot. The knot was finally cut by MIR.
| Stone of Pennsylvania asking unanimous
consent for Mr.. Picker TO speak fifteen
| minutes, which was granted. The char
| women'S petition was read in Mr. Pickler's
time. They ask that their pay, which is
| now $40 per month, be increased to So per
| month. They say that the majority are
! women with families to support; that the
| work is very severe and taxing, and
| quires so much time and effort that they
| cannot work elsewhere at the same time.
Mr.. Pickler said there are about 800 of
| these deserving women in the city, and he
| hoped the committee appropriations
would give their petition, a worthy one in
| every respect, favorable attention.
Lighting the Streets.
Mr.. Pitney of New Jersey explained the
new clauses relating to lighting the streets.
He said the bill will reduce the cost of the
service about $4,000, while increasing the
| value of it at the same time. He said the
committee had thrown open to public
competition the lighting of the streets for
reasons considered good and sufficient"
| In order TO do this it was necessary to
| grant the right to establish new plant il
| competition cannot be obtained any other
| way.
Mr.. Pitney said if this is done a new
company will lay down pipes and b. ready
to light the city at the beginning Of the
fiscal year.
'.They will bond to do it," interjected Mr.
| Livingston of Georgia
Yes, they will give a sufficient bond"
continued Mr.. Pitney. He said it was "a
| serious question whether under existing
| conditions competition in street lighting
can be obtained. He said the Commits
soners had taken into consideration the
| question of tearing up the streets, and he
| would assure the House that the streets
would not be torn up for any other pur-
pose than to establish a new plant. He
said Congress carnot make the existing
company accept any price that Congress
| chooses to offer. If the lighting companies
do not want to take the price they can
refuse and put the city in darkness.
| Mr.. Bakers tfon.
Mr.. Baker of New Hampshire recon-
mended striking out the entire provision
of the bill opening the street lighting serv-
ice tc competition.
Mr. Pitney said the passage of this clause
would not only reduce the price to the city,
but would help the general public by re-
ducing the cost
Mr.. Babcook said it would not he neces-
sary to pass this bill If Congress would do
its duty and require cheaper and better gas.
Another company should be chartered.
Mr.. Baker feared that this bill would
throw open the doors to enable any one. to
come in here and tear up the streets OF
the city.
Mr.. Pitrey denied that they would have
the right to tear up the streets at their own