The times., 1898-02-02

than there is any necessity for; riots
/ never take place here, requiring extra
large police protection, and that the
! District and Government police num-
( bered in all more than 900. This, he
said, was far in excess of the number
] required, and he cited Detroit. with $50.
/ and Cleveland. with 80 policemen, and
/ other cities of the same size with about
the same police force. The District,
he claimed had from three to four
times as many policemen as any other
city in the country of its size.
Rr. Pitney. of New Jersey. said that
the total number of District police was
but 544 There had been no increase
and that the request of the Commis
sioners for an increase of fifty men had
not been allowed by the committee.
Mr. Dockery, of Missouri, declared
the committee had acted with diScre-
ton and that the amendment should
not prevail. He said that in every
instance the increase in the police de-
partment came from the Senate. which
the House had been compelled in con-
ference to submit TO in whole or in
part When the vote was taken Mr..
Shafroth's amendment was lost.
The next item to create trouble was
that providing for telephone rentals
Mr. Berry of Kentucky, asked how
much rental would have to be paid.
Mr. Grout replied that he did not
know. Mr.. Berry then moved that the
bill be amended by striking out the
item. He declared that everyone was
interested in the rent paid for tele-
phone service. At the hotel where he
stops the management pays rent or
$3.50 a year, and yet, when a guest
desires to use it, he must first deposit
ten cents in slot.
Mr. Grout informed Mr.. Berry that
the committee had not inquired into
this subject as it had not come before
the committee. He added that il was
properly a matter for the committee,
put had been overlooked because no
one had called attention to it. Ii
was supposed that commercial rates
would be paid.
Then" said Mr.. Berry. you can
not inform me what the rent Will beY
'I cannot" replied Mr.. Grout.
There was an expression of aston
ishment on the faces of all the mem-
bers in the House at this declaration.
and much interest was manifested In
the colloquy.
1T might be $500 a year." sug-
gested Mr.. Berry.
'All / can say" replied Mr.. Grout,
lis that presume the rent will be the
same as that paid by the people,
Dockery, of Missouri. lis. perhaps. the
most odious monopoly except gas; yes,
not excepting gas. in the District
am in hope that the Committee on the
District will report very soon some law
placing a restraint on the telephone
company. When heretofore we have
acted in this matter the bill has come
back to us from the Senate with the
lines stricken out. 1 hope the COM
mittee will consider this subject"
IF the gentleman from Vermont
will agree with me to give US a bill
to remedy the evil | will withdraw
the amendment said Mr.. Berry.
Mr.. Grout was in deep water and, Mr..
Pitney, of New Jersey. noticed it. He
came to his assistance and offered an
amendment making $50 a year the
limit for telephone service to the Dis
trict: $40 with two on the wires; $50
with three on and s25 with four OF
more on. The amendment was ac-
cepted and in that condition the item
passed.
The bill will be further considered
today.