Evening star., 1896-06-11

say for myself, and I also speak the senti-
ments of my associates in that conference,
l felt unwilling to enter upon an expendi-
ture of that sum until we could take the
matter more carefully under consideration; !;
could. in short. talk it over with the gentle
men who made this report, and ask them
certain questions touching, first, If you
please; the practicability of clearing out
the silt that would certainly form in the
tunnel and yet keep up the supply of water
to those dependent on the tunnel for water.
1 do not say that the scheme Is an imprac-
ticable one; but my mind was not clear.
L wanted the information l have indicated ::
also information on other points. 1t may
be all right; l do not know. l want q
chance, before l consent to this expendi-
ture, to ask these gentlemen who recon-
mend the completion Of the tunnel about
several important matters connected with
1T; and all your conferees were of the
same opinion. We wanted more fnforma-
tfon upon the subject, and we resisted this
item, which was stricken out of the bill
in the conference. When 1 know more
about 1T may be for it first and last. Con-
gress has been soundly berated by the
the scheme, and now before we take 1t up
again 1 think we should be sure 1t Is the
best way to furnish an additional supply of
water.
Il will also say, in further explanation,
that your conferees were not clear but that
the present supply of water Is fully equal
to the immediate necessities of the city.
Water Supply Enough.
1.-The fact Is, at the time this tunnel was
abandoned, or soon after, and to take the
place, In part at least, of this tunnel. some
six or seven hundred thousand dollars was
appropriated for a high-pressure service on
Capitol Hill, which is but just completed.
1t was also said that the dam at the Great
Falls was not high enough to supply the
drpaf with 6o1 fha ota,. IL orryy
and that it should be increased in height.
An appropriation was accordingly made
Tor that purpose, and the dam was raised.
1t was also ascertaned that the aqueduct
was about one-fourth full of a silt sedi-
ment; an appropriation of $4,000 was made
in the last appropriation bill to clean 1t
out. That work is now about completed,
and when the increased3volume of water
is turned into the aqueduct by reason of
the raised dam at Great Falls, and when
the aqueduct is thoroughly cleaned out, 1t
is estimated that the supply of water will
be increased % per cent, and your con-
ferees were not at all certain but the in
creased supply would meet all the demands
for some time to come. Not having full
Information on this point we put in pro-
vision calling on the Secretary to investi-
gate and report on the subject.
MIR. Speaker. there is another conSidera-
ton in this connection: Sewers should go
ahead of an increased water supply in this
as In every city, for which we have liberal
ly provided In this bill When we get the
sewers under way we will then be sure TO
have plenty of water.
LAS to the charities, I will say that after
fully considering the sectarian question in
volved your conferees finally concluded to
agree to the same limitation attached to
the Indian appropriation bill as to Sec
tartan schools; and principally for the rea-
that the House had already agreed to
that provision
Mr.. LfntOn's COngrntulatlOns.
Mr.. Linton congratulated Congress and
the people of the country upon the out
come of the acrimonious controversy over
the sectarian question. He believed that
the enactment of the provisions on the In
dian and District appropriation bills would
effectually put a stop to the agitation at
the Capitol and will - Use a better feel
ing among the citizens. The other speeches
that followed were Of a political character.
So much time was consumed that finally
Mr.. Richardson moved to adjourn, but on
appeals being made to him, he withdrew
the motion. and. without a division. the
conference report was agreed to. thus final
ly passing the bill.
The bill was enrolled rapidly. and the
signatures of the two presiding officers
were announced at the evening session.