Evening star., 1896-06-11
Thankful for the Present; Hopeful of
the Future.

The conferees upon the District appro-
priation bill, after a protracted struggle in
which each conferee has undoubtedly la
bored conscientiously for what he con-
ceived to be the public interest. have now
agreed and the bill has become law. The
numerous bitter disappointments caused by
the failure of meritorious propositions urged
as items of this bill should not and do not
blind the people of the District of Column
bia to the fact that the measure as a
whole compares favorably with other local
appropriation acts. anil is creditable to the
faithful and disnterested labors of the ma
tional legislators who have shaped it.
Where the conferees have disposed of puz-
zling issues by compromise they have in
geniousiy managed in several Instances.
notably in the case Of the charities and
electric light controversies. to satisfy both
sides. and in other instances while refusing
what was asked for the present they have
softened the rebuff by holding out hope for
the future The strong points of the meas
ure just enacted are clearly summarized in
representative CIRCUITS statement printed
elsewhere in The Star. Perhaps the most
serious local disappointment in connection
with the bill was the failure of the Senate
confereeS to insist upon. and the frmness
OF the House conferees in rejecting the
provision for utilizing the abandoned tun-
nel to increase the local supply.
This whole subject is sore one a
source OF constant irritation, to the people
of Washington. Year after year Congress-
instead of apDropriating to the full extent
OF the District revenues to meet suitably
current municipal expenses like those of
the pohce and fire departments schools
street improvements, &c, has cut down
lheSe appropriations and has used the
money thus saved to pay off in advance of
the arranged time an alleged Indebtedness
OF the District in connection with the sfan-
GeI ed tunnel. The District was not respon-
sloie for the making of the tunnel had no
control over the work upon it, cannot he
heh accountable for the blum der ns and thu
crihllhahty connected with it, and has not
enjoyed any increased wate- supply or any
other benefit from it to raise an iu,olied
contract 10 contribute toward the cost of
IT, Nevertheless a million dollars or so
have been extorted from the District tax
payers and dumped into this hole In the
ground In the light of recent expert en-
gfneer examinations reported through the
war department TO Congress the District
mas become hopeful that this money NAV
not De entirely lost. that the tunnel NAV
after ali be utilized
10 aVoia a water famine and to make
Pi&ctlcdHy effective in increasing the water
supply the work of raising the dam -.
Ireat Fails, enlarged facilities for convey
ing the water frCm the river to the citv
e;ther through the repaired tunnel or other
wise are absolutely and urgently necessary
Ihe late OF the item concerning the tunnel
icf WElch the Senate. both in the Districr
and appropriations committees has strone
~ contended, has been consequently n mai
Ter OF deep concern TO the people of the
capital Though the item is stricken ont of
the present bill Washington is grateful n
the senators for the good fight which they
made for its retention, and is hopeful of
favorable action at the next session IN
view of MIR. CIRCUITS suggestion that the
matter Is merely deferred for more careful
examination and not rejected by the House
deliberately and finally on its merits. Since
the utilization of the tunnel will not only,
= relieve Washington from its ever ir,napd
Ing water famine, but save to the nation
and capital over two millions of dollars
Which nave been viewed as lost it is rea-
sonable 20 expect that he Intelligent and
careful Investigation of the subject to lie
made by MIR. Grout and his associates will
result in conclusions entirely satisfactory to
the people of both capital and nation.
whose interests in this matter are jnsan-
arably iTterwoyen