Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-06-18

Good Work in Conference.
For several days six men, three senators
and many representatives. have beer
considering the final adjustment Of the Dis
trict appropriation bill, shaping that meas
ure in conference. They have thus beer
acting as board of ultimate legislation
upon the most vital interests of the nationa
capital. and they have earned the thanks
of this community for the manner in which
they have thus far adjudicated the various
differences between the Senate and the
House. These conferees are Senators ALI
son. Cullom ard Cockrell. and Representa-
tives Grout, Pitney and DcCkery, all IA
miliar with local conditions and traditions
the needs Of the District and the limitations
of the public purse
OF course. is the case every year, the
decisions OF this court of final resort in re-
spect TO appropriations cause many indi-
vidual disappointments. and the aggregate
of appropriations falls far short of the esti-
mates. But it was not to be expected that
the House would accept all the Senate s
amendments increasing the allotments, nor
was IL to be hoped that every item of bet
terment. whether proposed by the Commits
sioners or by either house, would be granted
in the final shaping of the bill. Yet even in
it's incomplete state the District budget for
the next fiscal year is exceptionally salts
factory
Most of the large items of Improvement
and need have been taken care of with wise
liberality. In the item of public schools the
conferees have. new projects. establis he'd
the proposed kindergarten instruction, and,
most important of all, have adopted the
Senate's amendment appropriating $4,000
for the initial work upon a manual train
ing school, ultimately to cost SIPS 900. This
is long step ahead for the District.
Not only does the House accept the
amendments looking to an increase in the
water supply. and providing for an inquiry
as to the need of filtration, but the confer
ence grants even slightly larger sum for
the former purpose than that specified by
the Senate. Thus the water needs of the
District are amply cared for, as they
are now known and measured. These two
projects. providing a substantial increase
in the quantity and a guard to preserve the
quality of the water, are distinctly oene-
fetal to the health and the general well
fare of the capital.
This disposition to conserve the pubic
health manifests itself likewise in the man
ner in which the conferees disposed of the
amendments concerning the sewers. A fair
spirit of compromise here prevailed. and
the ultimate effect upon the prospect for a
satisfactory sewerage establishment is but
slightly diminished from the standard of
the Senate's original propositions. Some
what reduced sums are granted for certain
purposes, but provision is made in generous
amount for the great Tiber Creek inter-
eepting sewer. while the Commissioners are
authorized to tuy land and prepare Plans
for sewage pumping station, thus
efectually ensurtng the adoption Of the
wise plans for sewage disposal so long in
contemplation.
Aside from these chief agreements the
District receives thoughtful considera ton
from the conferees IN many other respects
ana there Is excellent prospect that this
tendency will continue throughout the later
stages of the work. The House yesterday
formally accepted tho principle Upon which
the amendment for maintaining the free
public library is based. and the promi;e of
that action is that the bill IN its final shape
will surely contain an appropriation for
this project The issue on this item il now
reduced TO mere question of S,e-ail, and
the outlook for Its adoption was never
brighter
Then, too. there is an excellent prospect
in the matter of the treatmen. of the ever
head wire question by the two houses
Each house now stands committed by its
action to some form of legislative enact
Eent controlling proposed system of con-
duIts. and at the same time ensuring
le>senins in the number of wires in The air
Tie Senate Goes not go Us far as does the
House in the direction of municipal control
and the pubic interest, put from the TWO
amendments some satisfactory form of en-
actment will doubtless be evolved granting
a long-needed relief from the evils Of the
overhead wires and ensuring harmonious
and modern conduit system in The near
future.
Thus, In the light of wha. is already ac-
comphshed and that which is clearly fore
Swallowed by the attitude of the House on
two OF the items yet in dispute it is plain
that the tina is at hand Cor local con-
graduation When the experiences of the
past are considered. there is every reason
to teel tina; these six legislators who So
closely hold the destinies of the capital in
their grasp have done their work this year
with wise discrimination