The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1896-08-15
6QUABBLE IN CONGRESS-.
Appropriations Which Hav-
Caused Bitter Feeling.



There was serious disagreement be-
tween the senate and house Of repre-
mnfatives during the recent session of
congress; and it was all about a subject
Npon which many people have differed
for many years.
You know we have no governor, no
legislature, no mayor, no aldermen, and
NO sort Of government of a local ma
eure in the District OF Columbia. We
are subject to the officials Of the federal
government, and all Of the expenses
Incidental to the administration of af-
fairs comes from the national treasury.
1nasmuch as the white house, capitol,
treasury and all other federal buildings
SIRE located here. and pay no taxes, it
~aa decided q long while ago that the
District Of Columbia should pay half
OF the expenses of the local govern
menk and the United States should
gay the other half; but all moneys are
appropriated BY congress in q bill
which is called the District of Columbia
appropriation bill.
In other cities, where local self-gov-
&rnment exists, the charitable institu-
lions are cared for by appropriations
Eaade by the aldermen or councilmen.
In this city we have no such officials,
and the charitable institutions have de-
pended almost wholly on the appropri-
atiOns made by congress. Ever since
b first administration of President
Grant the federal appropriations for
the charitable institutions have been
liberal. The annual appropriations
have been increased until the aggregate
amounts have become n~oticeably large,
and this year some of the rigid econo-
mists called attention to these appro~
priations and objected to them. Then
1here arose in congress a contest con-
corning sectarian appropriations.
Some of the charitable institutions are
Catholic and some of them are Protest
&nfs but the movement against the
appropriations came from anti-Catholic
members of the house of representa-
&fves. Whether they were right or
wrong, or whether they were animated
By a proper spirit or not, they were
consistent. because they opposed appro-
aFiations for any and all ~sectarian char
aties- In season and out Of season they
fought the proposed appropriations,
and succeeded in eliminating them
from the District Of Columbia bill in the
house of representatives,.
Butin the senate things were different.
Senators Of both political parties insist
ed that appropriations should be made
for the charities. Senator German, the
democratic leader, and Senator Allison,
che republican leader, both Of them
powerful factors in all appropriation
bills. declared that it would be outra-
Beous to cut off supplies from these in
Gtitutions without notice. Consequent
Ky, they added an amendment to the bill
making ample provision for the charita-
hle institutions. Senator Allison said:
%H l were stricken with paralysis, or
should be run down and injured by a
bicycle, and taken to a hospital, / would
moi ask the surgeon what church he be-
1onged to. I would want him to be
akillful in his profession and take good
care Of me. I would never think of ask
Ing him. what route he was going to
Heaven on, or whether he was going
there at all"
Senator German said: 81 used to be a
1ittle page boy in the senate, and have
lived here the greater part of my life. l
have seen these institutions grow, and
have had constant information of the
good they have done for humanity. For
example, there is st. AIMS orphan asy-
Hum. I guess that during the past 20
gears fully 1000 abandoned babies have
been taken there and cared for most
f~enderly. Day after day we read of an
&nfant being found abandoned at some
point In the city, and invariably the lit