Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-09
THE DISTRICT BILL
Conferees Report TO Beth Houses a
Failure,to Agree.
SHARP TALHBY GERMAN AND DOCKERY
AfRar Electric Light Proposition
by Mr.. Pitne;-,
w AFTER UPPLY DEBT

| Contrary to expectation, the conferees
| on the District appropriation bill failed to
| reach an agreement yesterday afternoon,
/ and just before the time for adjournment
| they sent to their respective houses a re-
| port to the effect that they could reach no
| conclusion, and inferentially asked for in
| structions In the Senate it was voted to
| recede from opposition to the House pro-
| vision transferring 100000 of the general
| revenues Of the District to the water debt
| In the House it was voted to substitute
| for the original provision submitting the
contract for all public electric lighting to
| competition a new paragraph requiring the
| Commissioners to let to the lowest bidder
| the contract for lighting all that section of
the District lying west Of Rock creek
| There was debate in the Senate on
Mr.. Tellers motion to recede from amend
| ment POI, regarding the water fund There
| was quite a breeze caused moment later,
| however, when Mr.. Teller explained that
| one Of the real controversies in conference
| was the provision as to the price of public
| lights. Mr.. German took the floor and
| said
| MIR. Germans Sharp Talk.
| II trust the Senate conferees on this bill
| will not yield any further. There seems to
| be disposition on the part Of the co-ordi-
| nate branch absolutely to ignore all the
| recommendations of the Senate on the va
| rious appropriation bills. They seem to
| have come to a frame of mind that the
| Senate ought not to amend the bills in any
| substantial way. l understand that so far
as as, IL IS agreed to our conferees have prob
| ably been compelled to give way on the
| great items that are absolutely necessary
| for the health and comfort and prosp arity
| of the people Of this city.
| we have had 4 refusal to give us addi-
tional water supply, with two or three nil
| hon dollars of the money of the citizens In
vested by Congress in tunnel to bring in
| an additional supply to the city lying there
| dead and idle A report of the engineers.
under commission appointed by the chief
| of engineers. is in favor of it, yet l under
stand We have been compelled to give it
up
Certainly" answered Mr.. Teller.
ION the other great item, to protect the
| city with a sufficient number of police, we
have been compelled to yield" said Mr.
German.
Il will say that the House made an
amendment adding twenty-five and the
Senate added seventy-five," Mr.. Teller ex-
planned. I'VE finally took twenty-five from
| the Senate number, making it fifty, yield
| ing two-thirds."
That Is DONE complained Mr. German
when the number of police is known to
| be insufficient to cover the territory and to
Keep the peace with population that Is
growing, while class of people are COM
ing In here who in many respects require
great looking after. When sister cities
near this are compelled to detail their off,
GERS to come here and to aid and look after
the class of people who naturally come to
the capital. we cannot have protection
when the government pays only a part of
the cost and the citizens are amply able
ana willing 70 pay their share Of it,
Neither are we to have proper improve
ments of the streets.
Problem of Public Lighting.
Now comes the matter of the lighting
of the Capitol. the parks. the avenues and
the streets. Two years ago. when l was
assigned as one of the conferees on the
District appropriation bill, we agreed after
long conference. to fix lower rate for
Lighting this city than any city on the At
lanttc coast. The price stands today for
lighting lamps lower than in any other
city. 1t was the understanding on my part
at that time-and that is the reason
make this statement-that we were fixing
the price al so low rate that it should not
be disturbed until there was some change
in conditions which made 1t possible to
secure fairly lower rate. At this session
another committee, as was so well stated
by the Senator who now occupies the chair
(Mr. Faulkner), after a thorough investi-
cation, came to the conclusion that the
rate we fXed two years ago was lower
than 1t ought to have been; that Is to saw
the difference between 50 cents and 81 a
thousand feet. There now comes from the
coordinate branch, after this action of
congress on an appropriation bill two
years ago. which was practically the unan-
lmous action Of both houses of Congress
on another bill. demand for another cut
SIMPLY because We are dealing with cor
Poration. l think there is such a thing as
falr and honorable dealing with all inter-
ests. corporations included, and trust the
conterees on the part of the Senate will not
further surrender. We have surrendered
ha
the CITY,, on the improvements Of the
streets, above all things the schools and
lor the sewerage for the health of the city.
Time for Senatorial Independence.
Il think 1t Is time, Mr.. President, that
the Senate should assert itself; and, so far
as 1 am concerned, 1 should much prefer
that no appropriation bill whatever should
pass at this session Of Congress rather
than to make further surrender. 1t will
| he, IN my Judgment, I may say, almost dis
graceful. If we cannot stop this matter at
some point
Then there is the matter Of charities 1t
| IS proposed by the other branch of Con-
gress that we shall make no provision
which can be enforced for the charities to
take care of the poor Of the District of
Columbia and to look after the MANNED in
hospitals, all because, Mr.. President, there
mas grown up a desire in certain quarters
at this session to bring in a religious ques-
tlon In connection with those necessary eX
penditures. We are threatened daily at
these conferences that Congress will have
| to remain here rather than they will give
| way. prefer that Congress should remain
| mere until December next rather than that
this body shall do injustice to these great
charitable institutions which we have fos-
| tered and built up and encouraged, and
| which nave conducted their affairs as well
as any institutions in this country.
| The Senate in its action proposed to con-
t1nue the appropriations. which have here
tofore been satisfactory, precisely as we
! made them at the last session. We also
| proposed to appoint a commission to ex-
| anime the whole question ard ascertain
| whether there Is any defect in the man
agement, whether any Improvement can
| be made in the amer Of conducting these
| institutions, as to the number of them
| and whether any amount of money which
| mas been appropriated goes to any church.
we prohibited the last by express Ian
guage. as I understand, in the amendment
OF the Senate, end yet we are held here
| ana threatened that we shall be kept here
| Tor an indefinite period unless surren-
| DER: MIR. President, 1 would remain here
| think 1t Is time for our conferees to no.
| tify those who have charge Of bills else
| where that that threat will rot intimidate
| the Senate. Our action Is II. strict con-
| torm1ty to the law. 1t Is economical; it Is
| Just to every interest; it discri1ninates in
favor of none III