Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-19
The Appropriation Bill Now Before
the Senate.
MANY AMENDMENTS ADOPTED
Some Were Passed Over to Be
Further Discussed.
POINTS IN THE DEBATE

MT. Ieler, VINO was In charge, asked that
the committee amendments be acted upon
first, and the reading Of the bill was be-
gun with this UNDERSTANDING
The first amendment increased the num-
ber Of assistant building inspectors from
three TO four. This was agreed TO without
debate; also the following amendments:
Increasing the salary of the deputy prop
erty clerk from $1,000 to sI.2o9; creating
five assistant inspectors of plumbing. in
stead of four; directing the accounting Off
GERS OF the treasury TO credit the counts
of the ex-boards of District Commissioners
with suspended disbursements when IT
shall appear that the sums paid were prop
erly expended for the public service; re-
paying to the Protestant Episcopal Cathe-
dral foundation 81 ,223.0s, paid as a water
main tax; creating a deputy collector, at
5000: striking out one $1,000 clerk TO the
collector; increasing the salary of the dis
bursting clerk, auditors office, from 81 800
TO $l,Gt0; increasing the pay of the market
masters from $1,000 10 81 200; raising the
rate for cleaning markets from SS2o 10 500
per market; increasing the salary of the
messenger clerk in the engineers office
from $500 to $40; creating a special assess
ment office; fixing the annual pay of the
ofh@ials of the street sweeping Office: to in
crease the amount allowed for employees of
the surveyors office from 81 200 to 81 80.
providing that the recorder of deeds shall
make no charge for reporting to the asses
sor of the District of Columbia for entry
upon the tax books transfers of real es-
tate as required by law.
Transfers of Real Estate
In regard to this last amendment Senator
Sherman asked whether there is now any
law requiring such transfers Mr. Teller
could not answer exactly, but he supposed
there was such a law. Mr.. Sherman pro-
cal to al
adopted the following clause: And IL shall
be his duty to report to the Commissioners
of the District of Columbia all transfers of
real estate when made"
AT this point the Senate chamber became
very dark, owing to the storm, and ter
rife thunderbolt fell within a short dis
talce of the Capitol. The gas was lighted
and the consideration of the bill went on
he committee amendments were adopted
IN order, thus: Increasing the rent for the
District offices from $1,000 TO SIu,uso; for
the purchase of site and erection OF a
morgue, Sl2W0; increasing the amount for
general advertising from 81 ,gt9 to S2.5v1,
and for tax arrears advertising from 5000
to $500 increasing the allowance for the
assessors numerical book from 5000 TO
$1,000. and providing that the employees in
the office Of the assessor may be assigned
to duty in the preparation of said nu-
merical books in addition to their regular
duties, and may be allowed a reasona ole
compensation for said additional services
from said appropriation; appropriatiag Sl2-
800 to pay the expenses incurred under the
highway act ana $1,000 to pay tie court
expenses; S26.6st9 to pay for awards Tor
Potomac river lots.
Potomac Flats to BE "a Park
At this point Mr.. Teller offered the fol-
lowing amendment which was accepted:
That the entire formerly known as
the Potomac fats and now being reclaim
ed, together with the tidal reservoirs. be.
h.a L,,-,
clared a public park, under the name of
the Riverside Park, and to be forever held
and used as a park for the recreation and
pleasure of the people
All the committee amendments on the
schedules for assessment work street re-
pairs and improvement and sewers were
adopted without division. There was a
break in the proceedings when the follow
ing amendment was reached:
PROVIDED, That no street railroad COM
pany in the District of Columbia shall be
permitted to run cars over any part of the
route of any underground electric or cable
road by route or routes not specified in
its charter or specifically described in
amendments thereto, except by authority
of Congress hereafter to be granted"
Mr.. Harris asked that this be passed
over as the District committee desired 10
rhrase this provision in different form.
This was granted.
Improvement of Garfield Ho.uitnI
When the provision relating TO the i'm
Tlovement of the Garfield Hospital grounds
was reached Mr.. Teller offered a new
amendment that made the entlre para
graph read:
For grading and regulating Sherman ave-
nue., Roanoke and Irving streets, continu-
ing improvement, s12,0o0: Provided. That
this appropriat ton shall be available for
removing buildings, terracing banks and
replacing fences of Garfield Hospital
grounds and other premises dbutting on
Sherman avenue between Grant and
Princeton streets: Provided, That no part
of the amount hereby appropriated shall
be expended on Sherman avenue until the
owners thereof dedicate to the District
of Columbia the ground for widening Sher-
man avenue in conformity with the adopt
ed and recorded plans of highway exten-
SionS."
Mr.. Sherman objected but Mr.. Teller
explained that it was held to he the best
public policy TO encourage the donation of
private lands for street extensions, and
after a brief colloQuy the amendment was
accepted.
The schedule for county streets and
roads was then adopted as amended by the
committee, with the exception that the
new appropriation for grading Illinois ave-
nue. was: on motion of Mr.. Teller, increas-
ed from $500 to 5000, and that MIR. Teller
also presented an amendment appropriat-
ing 5000 for grading and grareling kene-
saw avenue and Park road. with the pro-
viso that the Park road and Park highway
District of Columbia, in accordance with
the plans of the highway commission.
The committee amendments 10 public
gas lighting were agreed to.
The Price of Gas.
When the House provision fixing the price
of gas at 75 cents thousand was reached
Mr.. Kyle asked whether IL was intended TO
incorporate in the bill the result of yester-
days work whereby the gas bill was adopt
ed. Mr. Teller and Mr.. Faulkner answered
him in the negative. The next moment,
however Mr. Kyle returned with protest
against dropping the House provision of 2S
cents per night for arc lights. Mr.. Teller
answered that the committee did not be-
lieve that this rate could be fixed in justice
to the company. Mr.. Kyle asked for the
present rate. and Mr.. Teller informed him
that il was 40 cents a night per light. Mr..
Teller went on TO say that he had supposed
that the gas and electric lighting questions
would be disposed of entirely outside of the
appropriation bill, whereat Mr. Faulkner
answered that there had never been any
bill before the District committee on the
subject of the rates for electric lights He
had never heard any complaint on that
score