Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-20
SUNDRY, CIVIL BILL
Tho Senate Makes Many Changes in
The Measure.
HOSPITAL APPROPRIATIONS RESTORED
The Government to Continue Print
Ing Its Own Postage Stamps.
OTHER ITEMS Oh INTEREST

The Senate committee on appropriations
today completed its work on the sundry
civil bill, and the budget was reported to
the Senate with many amendments, some
of which are Of considerable local interest.
The bill, as it now stands. increases the
limit Of the cost of the city post office
building and the allotment Of this years
funds for work upon it. 1t authorizes the
public printer to secure additional ground
adjacent to the government printing office
for the erection Of new shops and appro-
pirates large sum for that purpose. 1t
makes no change in the n ethod Of printing
the postage stamps such as was proposed.
and 1t makes provision for various i'm
provements at the Capitol.
new Post Once Building.
The appropriation for continuing the
work upon the city post office building was
| fixed in the House at $275O00. The Senate
committee has increased that amount to
$4,000. and has increased the limit of the
cost Of the building to $4,000.
The public printer is authorized with the
approval Of the Secretary of the Treasury
to purchase two lots of land Immediately
adjoining the printing olhce on the west
running south from H street to Jackson
feet. and also to purchase in addition a
site within that part Of the square bounded
on the south by G street. on the east by
North Capitol and on the north by jack
son alley. containing the same amount Of
land and to erect thereon boiler house and
coal sheds. For the purchase of this land.
and also for the purchase and erection Of
two 3OO-horse lower, steel, steam boilers,
with all necessary fittings to connect them
with the printing office, 100000 Is appro-
prlated, to be Immediately available. Pro-
vision Is made that If the public printer
should be unable to purchase this land at a
satisfactory price to the owners he is au-
thortzed to secure the same by condemna-
ton proceedings as provided in the act
of June 70. 1890. and the amendment to
that act approved August 30, the same
year.
Printing the Stamps.
1t has been we'll understood that a vigor-
Gus effort was being made to persuade the
committee on appropriations to amend the
sundry civil bill SO as to prohibit the print
ing of postage stamps at the bureau Of en-
craving and printing. and to reopen that
work to private competition. The commit
tee, however, refused to incorporate this
amendment in the bill. and the only change
which 1t made in the section relating to
the bureau in the bill as 1t came from
the House consisted in the elimination of
the item of $500 for the rent of an office
for the agent of the Post Office Department
to supervise the distribution of stamps of
the bureau of engraving and printing.
The amendments recently introduced by
the committee on rules Of the Senate pro-
v1ding for certain improvements in the
Capitol building and grounds were adopted.
and as the bill now stands it appropriates
$4,000 to install an additional engine, An
electrical generator and to pay for the ad-
d1tional service required for the extension
OF the electric lighting plant at the Capt.
toll This plant is to be utilized to light the
capitol grounds as well as the Capitol it.
self, and tho item for lighting was in
creased from $4,000 to $4,000 In conse-
for the pay of the local company for the
light furnished IN the, grounds is stricken
out.
To Ventilate the Senate Wing.
The sum of $4,000 for the Improvement
of the ventilation Of the Senate wing, in
GLIDING the installation of refrigerating ap-
paratus. Is inserted In the bill by the Sem
ate committee. This work is to be done in
accordance with plans submitted by Prof.
s. H. Woodbridge to the committee on rules
OF the Senate. and Is to be done by the
architect of the Capitol, under the supervi-
sion Of Prof. Woodbridge. under the direc-
ton of the committee on rules The item
for repairs to the Capitol is increased from
$4,000 to $4,000. The sum of 81 800 is in
serted for continuing the work Of cleaning
and repairing works Of art In the Capitol
building. The sum Of $4,000 is given for
necessary repairs and improvements to the
steam-heating mad ventilating apparatus
of the Senate. and 500 is appropriated to
provide for flags for the east and west
fronts Of the Capitol building
The committee inserted the sum of SIS 1000
to pave the roadways of the east and south
sides of the State War and Navy build
ing.
In order to fence and plant children's
playground in Southeast Washington on a
public reservation the sum Of 81, 500 is
given.
For Public Lighting.
The provision for lighting the Executive
Ne nsion and public grounds was placed by
the House at 81, 500. The Senate commit
tee increased this amount to $4,000. The
House provided that for each siX-foot
burner not connected with a meter in the
lamps on the public grounds no more than
SIG shall be paid per lamp for gas, and that
such lamps shall burn every night on thu
average from forty-five minutes after sun
set to forty-fve minutes before sunrise
The Senate committee amended this pro-
vision by increasing the amount to $50 80
per lamp and by fixing the period Of H.
Elimination at not less than 1900 hours per
annum.
White Lot the House allowed 20 cents per
light per night, and made the total appro-
priation SILL The Senate committee in
creases the amount to 30 cents per lamp
item to $7665O.
The Senate committee also increased the
price to be paid for electric lights I'm La
fayette Franklin, Judiciary and Lincoln
parks from % to 30 cents.
Separate Sums for Hospitals,
The House bill omitted the provision
making a direct appropriation of $4,000
for the support and medical treatment of
destitute persons in the District of CO.
lumbia at the Providence Hospital and in
serted in leu thereof a general item an
propriating $4,000 for similar service with
out specifying the establishment The Sen
ate committee omits this provision and re-
stores the existing allotment of $40 900 to
the Providence Hospital, and inserts in
addition an item of $4,000 to be paid to
the Garfield Memorial Hospital for main
tenance to enable it to provide medical and
surgical treatment to persons unable 10
pay therefor. In this way the S3S.OOO al.
lctted by the House is divided speci6caIlv
between tho two local institutions named
Repairs on Many Buildings.
There are Several minor amendments as
follows: For repairs to the treasury. But
Ter and Winder, buildings, $4,000 instead of
$1,000; repairsa to the Maltby building,
$500. new item: for the rent of a ware
house for the Storage Of public documents