Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-02-06

lating wards for minor contagious diseases
at the Garfield Hospital to the northern
boundary of the hospital grounds. S1,4oo;
for the erection and equipment OF power
house and nurses home to be erected at
Providence Hospital, $5o.o0O, to he expend-
ed under the direction Of the Commissioners
of the District of Columbia: for grading
and paving Connecticut avenue extended
between lie Roy place and kalorama ave-
nue.. s25,000.
and matchmaking Trenton street from
Brightwood avenue 10 Sth street 5000
BY Mr.. Scott-For paving 4th street from
u street to w street northeast %.ot0
The bill was then placed before The Sem
ate ard passed.
District and city.
Yesterday afternoon, while. the District
appropria ton bill was under consideration,
Mr.. Allen of Nebraska raised a question
as to the propriety OF the government con-
tributing to the cost of lighting the streets
of the District beyond the city boundary,
as briefly noted in yesterdays Star. Mr..
Allison, in answer to a series OF questions
by Mr.. Allen. declared II to be the policy
of the government TO light the streets
without regard for the city limits, saying
that a large part OF the District outside OF
the city is quite thickly populated.
But why should they not light it them
selves. the same as in any other city or
town or Village in the United State So asked
Mr.. Allen.
The expenditures for lighting are APP
piled I'm this District as expenditures for
roads and streets are applied. and every
other District expenditure" Mr.. Allison
answered.
Il understand that" said Mr. Allen, hut
think 1t only proper that the government
should bear a ratable portion of the ex-
penses of lighting the city prope--that is,
within the corporate limits: but l doubt
very much whether the senator from Iowa
Is able to give the answer why the govern
ment should light that portion of the Dis
trict outside Of the city"
us it not true" interposed Mr.. Kenaey OF
Delaware, that. while the people living in
the part OF the District lying outside of
the corporate limits Of the city OF Wash
ington. are. taxed and pay their taxes into
the general treasury. and are. therefore,
entitled to as many benefits from the gov
eminent as the people inside the corporate
limitS?"
That is in accordance with the law of
this District. l will say to the senator, end
has been the rule since 1874" Mr.. Allison
replied.
Il have no doubt OF that" rejoined Mr.
Allen. but there are q great many laws
that are not good laws. and the sooner they
are repealed the better off the people will
be after they are repealed.
Mr.. Aliens Proposition.
"A bad law never furnishes a good prece-
dent for another law. If u law is wrong N
Il
think any one can justify tit ought to
be repealed and a new order OF things ought
to be instituted. | fully concur in the idea
that the government of the United States
ought to care for it's capital. 1t is the cap
ital city. Congress ought to be liberal and
generous as 1t has been in the past. and
as i have no doubt 1t W Ill be in the future;
but ever since l have been here l have
heard this argument made every time the
question came up for consideration on an
appropriation bill And 1t is no argument
at all that the government owns half the
property in this District. ergo, the govern
ment ought to pay the taxes.
The property in this city derives its value
from the fact that the government is To-
Gated here. and from the further fact that
the government expends millions and NIL
lions of dol airs here. There is not a city IN
the Union. including the city in which my
distinguished friend from Iowa Eves-a
beautiful little place of some forty or fifty
thous and people-that would not duplicate
these streets. that would not duplicate the
public buildings. that would not give twice
the ground that the government owns here,
pay all the taxes and improve the streets
and light them for the privilege of enjoy
ing the location there Of the capital Of the
nation. But / do not stand on that propo-
sition. That seems to have passed into his
tory, and l suppose the government is
estopped, If vere,gnty can be estopped at
ALL by the precedents of the past.
But you might as well run the electric
lights out into Maryland. and from Mary
land across into Virginia. and then out
across the prairies to the Pacific slope, as to
go beyond the corporate limits of the city
of Washington and light these hills and
valleys that are being improved for private
profit. and for private profit alone.
The Virus.
81 do not know that anything can be said
that will stop it. Perhaps the virus has got
into the blood perhaps II must run its
course but II seems to me as though we
had fallen upon an era of wild and indis-
eliminate throwing away Of public funds
and of imposing burdens upon the taxpay-
ers of this country. know OF no reason
why the people Of this city should enjoy
more privileges than the people elsewhere
in the country. If a man comes to this city
of Washington and deprives himself OF citi-
zenship with the purpose Of living here and
enjoying its beauties and Its surroundings,
that Is a matter of choice with him.
But why should he be the special re-
cip;ent of unusual favors, while the men
who pay the taxes that Improve these
streets and that extend this electric lighting
system that provide these magnificent pub
lie buildings-why should the taxpayer OF
the state of Delaware or OF the state OF
Nebraska pay his hard-earned money for
this purpose. so that these men should en-
10y at his expense unusual and special priv
ileges? Yet. I suppose. the real estate ring
in the city of Washington is so FAR above
u.s. is so far above both branches of Con-
gress and the government of the District OF
Columbia that it says what appropriation
is to be made. and whoever dare stand in
this chamber or in the other and protest
against it is set down old fogy and
one who Is not up to modern Ideas. i want,
In my closing days of service. at least, TO
set my seal Of condemnation upon this and