Evening star., 1897-02-02
DISTRICT MONEY
The Appropriation Bill Discussed in
the House.
DIFFERENT ITEMS ARE EXPLAINED
The Electric Lighting Controvers,
Brought Up.
SH ARP COLLOQUY

"A = II A II L COL l. IL y " U 7
The District Of Columbia appropriation
bill came up in the House for consideration
late this afternoon. Mr.. Grout Of Vermont
being in charge of the measure. The first
reading of the bill was dispensed with, and
Mr.. Grout proceeded to give a summary of
the amounts appropriated by the bill
Mr.. Grout said that the total amount
recommended to be appropriated for the
general expenses of the District of Colum-
bia for the fiscal year 1898 In the bill is,
exclusive of the water department, $5,842.
S58.93, Of which sum the general govern
ment is required to pay 81. sos. 42s. .46. that
being one-half of the whole. exclusive of
the amount ($16.OO0) recommended for ex-
penses under the highway act. The first
named sum is s2,s52, ,93O.45 less than the
estimates. The amount appropriated for
the general expenses of the District of Co.
lumbia for the current fiscal year 1897 Is
s., 7O6. 825O6. or $50, .13 more than Is rec
commended in this bill for 1898.
The Water Estimate.
Referring to the water estimates. Mr.
Grout said that Congress would fail In its
duty to the city If 1t did not, at some date
in the near future. make provision for an
extension of the water service of the city.
Mr.. Grout explained the principle features
of the bill to the House, and in referring
to the public schools said he thought the
future needs of the District with reference
to industrial training would be met by the
appropriation for the Industrial Home
School and would Furthermore relieve the
government from the necessity of con-
tributing to certain sectarian industrial
schools
70 oh orff NJ
said. the committee had appropriated a
lump sum Of the same amount appropriat-
ed last year and placed under the control
of the District Commissioners.
Mr. Morse of Massachusetts, called atten-
ton to the limiting provision Of the last
appropriation bill relating to charities. and
asked If that provision applied to the pres
ent appropriation.
Mr. Grout said he thought it should ap-
ply. Mr.. Grout said he was free 20 confess
that there might be some allusion to that
limitation in the present BILL and ne would
not oppose an amendment to that effect.
Mr. Pitney said II was the Intention of
the committee on appropriations to permit
competition in electric lighting. He said
it was no new thing for the Commissioners
to advertise for electric light proposals.
They had been doing 1t for years. inviting
competition to relieve the people OF the
city. Other appropriation bills had spe-
officially required the Commissioners TO ad-
vertiSe.
In answer to a question from Mr. Baker,
Mr. Pitney said that one reason why the
Commissioners did not accept proposals
from one company was because that COM
pany did not submit any proposals That
company subsequently went before the
Commissioners and the courts and protested
against the acceptance of the other COM
pany's proposals.
Mr. Pitney charged that the old company
used its monopoly of the electric light fran
chise without enterprise and without meet
ing the demands of the city and the people.
He said the rev company should at least
be allowed to get within striking distance
of the monopoly.
Debate on the Charities Item.
Mr. Blue of Kansas said there was no
necessity for re-enacting this charities linn
itation upon the present bill. No good law
yer, he said. would hold that it would be
necessary.
Mr.. Ray On. " maintained that the
mere fact Of the committee objectins to in
serting the provision of last year showed
that some Of them felt that the limitation
was an open question to be settled by the
courts.
Mr. Grout read the limitation which was
put in last years bill and declared that 1t
had all of the permanency of law. He
thought, however, that 1t might be well to
refer to that law by amendment to the
pending bill at the present time.
Mr.. Johnson of California asked why the
amount appropriated Tor scnoois was cut
down.
Mr Grout said the amount was not cut
down; the appropriation was greater than
last year. The estimates of the Commis-
sioners were cut down, is true. The
committee. however, of the opinion
that the schools had been provided for
very literally.
Electric Light Matter Brought I'm,
Mr.. Pitney of New Jersey a member of
fhx.o 81,
took the floor to explain it. In the course
Of his remarks he referred to the contest
now pending over the electric lighting
franchise. He defended the Commission
ers for their action in reference to the Po-
and said that instead of being condemned
they should be highly commended for doing
their duty, carrying out the provision of
law and fulfilling the evident intent of Con-
greSS.
In the course 'of his remarks Mr.. Pitney
said the representatives of the United
States Electric Light Company appeared
before the committee two weeks ago and
claimed that the Commissioners had no
right to make the company take down its
overhead wires.
Sharp Colloquy.
Mr.. Pitney said that all the cry against
digging up the sacred asphalt pavements
was intended to blind Congress to the real
ISSUE Moreover, he said, the pavements
would have to he opened for the extension
OF the service, whichever company should
get the contract, therefore there would he
no unnecessary construction of conduits
MI. Pftney said he was not an especial
defender of the Commissioners, but he had
seen them attacked and villif1ed for doing
their duty and carrying out the plain man
dates of the law.
Mr.. Baker asked Mr.. Pitney If the secre-
tary of War was interested In the Potomac
company. Mr.. Pitney said he did not know.
and then he added, with marked emphasis
and shaking his finger vigorously at Mr..
Baker:
Il am not a stockholder In the Potomac
company, and so far as am concerned. I
have no personal interest In this NATTER
A Reported DrOwning.