Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-03

Tho Senate committee on appropriations
has dealt with the District bill with its
customary fairness and likeralIty in many
particulars The budget as it now stands
apProxinates the point that the needs of
the national capital suggest though ex-
perience teaches that there will be fall
ing of in conference. The House provision
for lower telephone rates is omitted, as
was anticipated but the matter remains a
proper subject for careful consideration in
conference even if the item is not replaced
in the bill by the Senate itself Some of
the local departments do not receive as
lrge increases in their funds as they de-
serve and really need, yet the additions
granted are very acceptable. 1t would
have been more satisfactory if the COM
mittee could have added a provision for
two manual training schools instead of a
preliminary provision for one, yet that
one. If retained in the BILL will make a fine
start along the lines laid down by the
school authorities.
- Many excellent projects are included In
the bill TIE provision for the completion
OF the aqueduct tunnel and reservoir is in
Ene with the Senate's record in this case
and in addition the committee provides for
Inc institution of an inquiry into the need
and feasibility of filtration. A good start
L. made toward the accomplishment of
some OF the sewage disposal plans, and IL
Congress prefers that this great work shall
be accomplis he'd by piece-meal it is salts
factory to find the annual efforts on such a
large scale as the committee has suggested
The citizens. however are unanimously of
the opinion that this work should be done
at one stroke and to this end some Iegisla-
tion Is desired that will enable the Dis
trict 10 raise the necessary funds at once
BY a bonding plan.
In electrical matters the bill as 1t sands
Is satisfactory to most interests. The pres
ent much mixed situation as to electric
lighting facilities is apparently solved by
the legalization of all existing conduits and
In addition both companies and the tele-
phone company are required to remove all
existing overhead wires within the fire
limits and to place them in condriss, for
which the Commissioners are to issue per-
nits- If this provision about bringing
down the wires could be made to include
the telegraph wires as well the bill would
be still more satisfactory to the citizens
The telegraph companies have been quoted
as expressing their entire willingness t,
bury their wires if legislation were pro-
vided- The evil of electroiysis ought to BE-
entirely averted il the committees pro-
vision about ground-circuited dynamos
should be enacted into law This is going
"a the root of tn, evil. The prohibition of
the maintenance of any dynamo or eiectri-
cal generator in circuit with the earth
ought to operate TO prevent any electrical
leakage along the lires of subterranean
pipes This provision should by all means
be continued in the bill.
The provision of a fund for the main
tenance of the free public library is IN har-
Ucny with the previous record of the Sem
ate in this particular and the item ought
to be insisted upon in conference The
House has materially weakened in its DO
sition since the Senate last inserted the
provision. by votirg down a proposition to
put the entire expense on the District.
The bill as it stands carries 81 O7G, 29S 2o,
the Senate committee having provided for
an increase of 81 .+69. 65o63 over the House
allowances. Last year the Senate COM
mittee's increase aggregated 1.144, SEQ. 80
while the Senate itself added SOL, $50 extra
Year before last the Senate committee
added 81 .542 1851. So it is to be seen that
the present committee increase, Will.
larger than last year. is yet lower than
that of 1896 The bill it stands now car
Ties 262D. I6 less than it did at the same
stage year ago.