Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-17
House Says That the District Must
Share the Cost.
Mr.. MUDD'S UNAVAILING PROTEST
Departure From the Spirit of the
Act of 1873.
LOCAL DEFICIT BROUGHT UP

During the consideration Of the legislative
appropriation bill in committee of the
| whole House today Mr.. Mudd of Maryland
| raised a point of order against that provi-
sion of the bill which charges the District
| revenues with one-half the cost of main
tanning the parks of the District of Column
bia
Mr.. Mudd said this proposition is a change
of law. and subject to a point of order. He
said he, didn't know whether there was any
general statute upon the subject, but every
| body knows that the expenditures have
been made heretofore out of the revenues
of the general government.
Mr.. Mudd said that il would be just as
proper to charge the District with one-half
the cost of policing the Capitol building as
| to make the District pay one-half the
wages of park watchmen. He said the
grounds south of the Executive Mansion
the nurseries and greenhouses, over which
the District has no control. are to be sad
died on the District. He contended that
Congress might as well charge the District
with the support of the territory of Okla
homa. He held that the proposition was A
change of existing law and new legislation.
Mr.. Cannon resisted the point of order.
| He declared that Congress has plenary
power over the District and can do what
| IL pleases- The appropriation for parks is
ike the appropriation for streets-payable
one-half by the District.
Departure From Organic Act.
Mr.. Babcock called attention to the fact
| that the control of the parks was under
| the War Department. and not the District
of Columbia Commissioners. He said he
again wanted to call attention to the fact
| that Congress had put the cost of street
extension one-half upon the District and
one-hat Apon the adjoining property own
erS.
Nr
| TO put 1t all on the property owners If il
saw fit
Mr.. Mudd said he realized that Congress
is the common council for the District of
Columbia. but Congress. acting in that ca
pacity, must act in obedience to law and the
rules of this House. He did not contend
that Congress has not unlimited power over
the District, but every one knows there is
a difference between doing this by .iirect
legislation and doing 1t on an appropriation
bill. If it is desired TO make change it
should be done in a special act. which
would not be susceptible to Ipint nf urd,r
Mr.. Mudd said the analogy between the
streets and the parks, drawn by Mr.. Can
non, was unfortunate. inasmuch as the or
ganic act of 1878 gave authority for divid-
ing the appropriation for street mainte-
nance.
The act of 1878" he said which Com
gress seems in large measure to have for-
gotten and violated. specifically mentions
| the appropriations to be divided.
Mr.. Cannon said the act did not mention
either the streets or the parks.
Mr.. Mudd said that even If streets should
not be specifically mentioned. ii is wcl'
known that the maintenance of streets is
an ordinary municipal function. He said
that one heretofore has ever hinted that
the care of the parks should be saddled on
the District.
Mr.. Mudd said the whole question 's
whether this is not a change of existing law
by an appropriation bill.
Points of order OverruIed.
Mr.. Sherman of New York, in the chair,
overruied the point of order. He said the
organic act OF 1878 clearly intended that
the District should pay one-half of all the
| municipal expenses. He said that the
| parks were similar to the streets nlu-
nicipal expense He therefore overruled the
| point of order.
Mr.. Mudd thereupon offered an amend
ment to strike out the provision of the bill.
| He said the District was now approaching
a. deficit, due to the departure of Congress
| from the spirit of the act of 1873 He said
this appropriation would be drain upon
| the District. 1t would cripple the city and
| he regarded il as unwise legis, alton.
Mr.. Cowherd and Mr.. Moody opposed
AIR. Mudd's motion, and MIR. Moody said
| the District revenues would not be threat
ened with deficit If personal property
were taxed fully.
Mr.. Mudd's motion to strike out was lost
on a viva voce vote and the provision
mains in the bill as reported by the COM
mittee.