The times., 1898-02-02
FOR CHEAPER TELEPHONES
House Amendment Reduces Their
Rental More Than Half.
BERRY BRINGS III ABOUT
He Objects TO This Item While the
District Appropriation Bill Is
Being Considered-So Money for
Rock Greek Bridgc-Thc Police
Force Provision Assailed.

Mr. Handy, of Delaware, yesterday,
while the Committee of the Whole was
engaged in the consideration of the
District appropriation bill, succeeded in
defeating the appropriation of s199 204
for the construction of a steel bridge
with stone foundations over Rock
Creek. The proposed bridge was to
have been built on the line of Massa-
chusetts avenue, for the purpose of i'm
proving that thoroughfare and enab-
ling people more conveniently to visit
this city from Georgetown. When the
item was read Mr.. Handy objected,
raising the point Of order that it was
new legislation. He asserted that il
was a rider" TO the regular bill.
Mr.. Pitney of New Jersey and Mr.
Grout of Vermont, in charge of the
bill, each protested that such was not
the case, and that the appropriation
asked for was a perfectly proper one;
that IL was not new Legislation be
cause Congress last year appropriated
money for the preliminary surveys.
The chair sustained the item and
overruled Mr.. Handy's point of order.
Mr.. Handy obtained the floor again
and protested against the appropria-
ton.
Mr.. Bennett of New York said he
could not understand how Mr.. Handy
could object to the Improvement uu-
less he was more interested in the i'm
provement of some other section of
Washington.
Mr. Chairman" shouted Mr.. Handy,
his face flushed with indignation, will
you let me have a moment" Without
waiting for permission he continued.
Gh inc Gct t-fcJ
ticn of Mr. Bennett. L want to repu-
diate the assertion that my actions on
this floor are influenced by any mo-
tives of personal interest
He would have said more, but his in
dignation at this imputation was too
great to permit him to talk.
Mr.. Bennett took no notice of this,
and quietly asked Mr. Handy to with
draw opposition
Air. Hepburn, OF Iowa, denounced the
actions of the Commissioners in ask
ing for the appropriation for the
bridge. He said that the Commission
ers live in that section OF the city. and
intimated that 1t was because of this
that their actions had been infienced.
He declared that there were miles of
streets in the city built up. that were
not paved; that the men behind the
bridge scheme were connected with the
land syndicate who desired the i'm
provement to enhance the value of
their SpeculationS.
Mr.. w. A. Stone. of Pennsylvania, re-
pudiated this accusation. He said
that no land syndicate was behind the
scheme, and that it was simply re-
quest for a great improvement which
would benefit the entire city.
Mr.. Hepburn asked him if there
were twenty-five houses on the street
where the Improvement was contem-
plated.
Il don't know how many houses
there are there" replied Mr. Stone,
but those that have been erected have
been built liz expectation of at some
time having a bridge built
Mr.. Lentz, of Ohio. protested against
making the appropriation for the bene-
fit of some spectators in real estate
He said that the bridge had not even
been recommended by the Board of
Trade, the representative body of the
city of Washington, and advised the
House that it might better expend the
$500, 900 wanted in improving the sani-
tary condition of the city.
Mr.. Mcguire objected to the item al
leging as principal reason for so do
ing that it would enhance the price and
the value of the property, which would
go to the benefit of the spectators and
come out of the people seeking homes
there.
Mr. Pitney. of New Jersey. said that
he defied anyone to say that the Com
nlittee on the District had not held
1own every appropriate even to the /
extent of being almost niggardly.
Il do not say" he continued, that |
we have not been right in so doing.
but 1 am willing to admit we have
gone to the extremes, and We have been
hammered for doing so by the press
,nd the people. We have been accused |
If sitting the progress of the city in 1
his section by not having before this
made the appropriation asked for"
Mr.. Simpson. of Kansas objected to I
he appropriation because the bridge I
would be in the interest of the specula- |
ors. he said.
Mr.. Handy, of Delaware. again Sc /
:ured recognition. and he appealed to |
he House to defeat the measure. When /
t was put to a vote the bridge item
vas defeated by vote of 9S to 64.
The District bill proceeded smoothly |
lfter this until the item for police was
cached. when Mr.. Shafroth. of Colo
ado. offered as an amendment that the
priyateS of the first class be reduced /
rom 800 to 200 men. and the privates of /
he second class be reduced from 200 to
20 men, a total reduction OF the force
i $50 men. He declared that the Dis
rict had a much larger police force |