Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-23
THE DISTRICT BILL
1t Was Passed by the House Of
Representatives.
Mr.. RUCKER OPPOSED TO ORGANIC ACT
Mr.. Grout Corects Some Anony-
nous Misstatements.
DEFEAT OF WATER METERS

When the House assembled today consid-
Grafton of the District Of Columbia appro.
priation bill was resumed and the bill was
read by sections.
Mr.. King of Utah questioned the necessi.
ty of the employment of street sweeping
inspectors.
Mr.. Grout said the committee thought
that information upon the case justified the
provision, and that. in fact. the street de-
partment had asked for more employees
than were granted.
Mr.. King ventured the assertion that the
number of clerical positions under the city
government could have been reduced.
Mr.. Grout replied that on the contrary
| the municipal government here was not so
well of In this respect as other cities all
though Washington should, In fact, be the
model city In all respects. The apprpli la
tions committee had held down the recon-
mendatons for increases.
Mr.. King said that the idea prevailed
that the cost of sustaining the government
of Washington was excessive.
Mr.. Grout said that II the gentleman
would look into the subject he wond find
that the expense of maintaining the city
government was less in Washington, per
capita. than in any other city of the same
size in the United States What people
said was one thing. but the facts. upor,
lnNeSURdtlO.1, would snow another.
Public Library Appropriation.
Mr.. Rucker-of Missouri moved to strike
out the appropriation for the public lie
brary. He said he had no objection TO tho
people of Washington reading, but ho
thought they ought to buy their own books.
Mr.. McCleary said this whole subject had
been fought out before. and the judgment
Of the House was in favor of sustaining
the city library.
Mr.. Rucker could summon only II votes
In support Of his amendment, which was
lost.
Mr.. Jenkins offered an amendment pro.
hibiting overhead wires within the fire
limits of the city. 1t was adopted.
Opposes the Bathing Beach.
Mr.. Rucker Of Missouri moved to strike
out the provision for the public bathing
beach. He called the appropriation "tha
acme of infamy." He admitted that per-
haps he had crude notions about the mat.
ter. He said the people of this city occu.
pied the position of a footpad lying in wait
TO sandbag the republic. He would like to
have a bathing beach on the beautiful
banks of the creek that flows through his
own town.
Mr.. Grout said the bathing beach was q
legitimate municipal expense, and the Law
provides that such expenses should be
shared by the District and the general gov-
ernment.
Mr.. Grout said that cleanliness is next to
godliness, although that might not be
democratic doctrine, and this amendment
was for the benefit of the poor.
Mr.. Rucker said he would favor abolish-
ing the organic act and, in fact, wipng
out the entire scheme OF city government
prevailing here.
Mr. Fitzgerald of Massachusetts, said that
as democrat he would be glad to have
facilities for furnishing baths to the poor
all the year round. Bathing facilities are
essential features Of municipal government.
according to modern ideas, and he would
like to appropriate $4,000 for bathing. He
called Mr.. Fuckers attention to the fact
that the people Of the United States fur-
nish free baths to the members of tho
House
Mr. Tolbert Of South Carolina Joined with
Mr.. Rucker and thought 1t good democratic
doctrine that the people Of Washington
should wash themselves in their own tubs,
like the people have to do out in Missouri"
Mr.. Fitzgerald said he was glad to state
that last year nearly 100000 persons tooA
advantage Of the free baths of Boston,
under a democratic municipal government.
Mr.. Fuckers amendment was defeated.
Water Meters Proposed hut Defeated.
Mr. Newlands offered an amendment to
give the Commissioners power, in their
judgment, to require the use of water
meters and to provide penalties for wasting
Potomac water. He said that there was
too much waste under existing conditions.
Mr. GrOut SAID the SUBJECT WAS not NeW
to the committee on appropriations, but
the proposition for water meters had been
rejected by the House.
Mr.. Grout said there was an appropria.
ton for meters, and only one person had
called for a meter. The appropriation was
continued in the pending bill. Mr.. Grout
said the greatest waste existed In govern.
ment buildings. and the government should
first put itself right before forcing meters
on the public.
Mr.. Newlands' amendment was defeated,
receiving only five votes.
Guardfanship Of Children.
Mr. Fitzgerald offered an amendment pro-
viding that when children are placed In pri-
vate homes by the board Of children's
guardians they shall be put in families OF
the same religious denomination as the par.
ents.
Mr.. Grout raised a point Of order against
the amendment and the amendment was
ruled out.
Mr. Cowherd Of Missouri thought the ap-
preparation for the District militia was out
Of proportion when compared with the pro-
vision for the militia organizations Of some
of the states.
Mr.. Fitzgerald then offered his amend
ment placing children in families of like
denomination, in another form of words
and Mr. Grout accepted the amendment.
The Bill Passed.
Before the bill was concluded Mr.. Rich
ardson called attention TO the 1act tnaC
this was the largest District bill ever
passed.
Mr.. Grout said it had been fully explained
why 1t was the largest. Take out the ap-
preparation for the water filter and It
would not be the largest. Referring to the
increase in offices created Mr.. Grout said
that forty-one policemen. twenty-five
school teachers and twenty-nine firemen
were necessitated by the growth of the
city.
Mr.. Grout said the gentleman should have
refrained from giving this parting fling at
the bill. He had his opportunity to propose
reforms, and Mr.. Grout was willing to
return to any portion of the bill and give
Mr. Richardson chance to propose his
reforms.
Mr.. Champ Clark of Missouri said he
would like to have that privilege, but the
chair ruled the proposition out of order.
The bill was thereupon passed.
Prayers Of the Chaplains.