The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-24
MONEY FOR THE DISTRICT
The Annual Appropriation Bill
Passed by the House.
4 Missouri Member Opposes Federal
Aid for the Public Library md the
of Washington to FOOtpads - No
Material Amendments Agreed To.

The annual appropriation bill for the
| support of the Government of the District
of Columbia was passed by the House of
| Representatives without a division and
without material amendment yesterday
afternoon. feature of the day was chat
| furnished by Mr.. Rucker, who sought to
| strike out paragraphs in the bill carry
| ing appropriations for the bathing beach
and the Public Library. In support of his
first amendment to eliminate the appro-
priation for the Library. the member from
Missouri said
| 1T seems to me the Government of the
United States is under no more obligation
to maintain a free public libxary for the
citizens of Washington than they are for
the little town l reside in. l move that
this whole paragraph be stricken out. II
| the citizens of this town want to read l
| am perfectly willing t!7t tney should
| insist for one however, that they buy
| their own books and maintain their Ii
| brary, and not tax the people OF the
| United States to do 1t. | notice this sec
tion carries an increased appropriation of
more than $4,000 for maintaining this
public library. The people of the Uni ed
| States ought not TO be taxed for the graf
ification of the citizens OF this city in that
| way"
Mr.. McCleary said that this question
had been fought out in the House. and the
judgment of the House was that the Ii
| brary should be maintained. 1t was au-
thorized by special act CT Congress.
When the section relating to the
bathing beach was reached, Mr.. Rucker
moved to strike it out, saying: II
would be glad IL the chs irman or
some other member of the COM
nittee would tell us how any obliga-
tion has been imposed upon this Govern
ment to maintain a swimming pool for the
| boys of this city Here is an appropria-
ticn OF 1900 annuslly to maintain pub
lie bathing beach on the Potomac River
in this District II does seem to me with
all respect to this committee and to the
s0ntleTen who VIII support this aprropri-
alton. that 1t Is the very acme Of infamy
th2t gentlemen sent here to represent
| their constituents should vote away the
money extorted from the taxpayers of the
country TO maintain public bathing beach
on the Potomac River for the boys living
in Washington
1T may be that | have crude notions
about this question, coming. as I do, from
| the western part Of the country, com
paratiyely speaking. But for one | want
! to say thct | will not now, and | never
| will. give my consent to the imposition
| of such an outrage upon the people of the
| United States.
''It seems to me. sir. that this District
occupies toward the general public. to-
| ward the nation. a position very much
like the footpad toward the belated trav-
! cler. II is lying in wait as it were, from
| one years end to another. awaiting an
opportunity to sandbag the public. So far
! as / am concerned, | am opposed to it:
| but il gentlemen insist on creating and
| maintaining this bathing beach, 1 would
| like to have a bathing beach established
on the picturesque banks of Mill Fork
Creek. a classic stream which flows
| through my town.
Mr. Grout. in charge of the bill ex-
| piained that the appropriation was in the
interest OF the health of the poor of the
| National Capital He said that the doc
/ tEine is established that all municipal ex-
| penses shall be divided half and half be-
| tween the United States and the District
| of Columbia.
Mr.. Rucker-I understand the distiu-
| guished Chairman OF the Committee on the
/ District Of Columbia to say that the poor
! boys of this District cannot go in bathing
I in he Potomac, like my constituents can
1 in the rivers and ponds CT the State have
I the honor In part to represent He says
/
would impose hardships upon the poor
/ boys of this District that they would
/ have no place to bathe without going far
/ up or far down the stream in order to
| get access to the water and enjoy swim.
I It seems to me. Mr.. Chairman. the real
trouble is that the boys of this District
/ have been born and brought up in the
| idea that they need never go outside of
! this city for any purpose; that they are
! TO be cared fer and protected by the Cen
I eral Government and are entitled to en-
! joy every privilege and benefit they de-
/ sire at public expense. and ultimately to
/ receive a good Office under the Govern
ment. provided they never get out OF sight
! of the National Capitol and the Treasury
I of the United States.
! Does the gentleman think that the peo-
/ pie of this country ought to be taxed to
maintain a bathing booth for members of
I COngress2
| Mr.. Fitzgerald of Massachusetts-Yes
! the people of the United States pay for
( bathing establishment right here in the
/ Capitol for the benefit of the members of
| Congress. We can get drink here in
| this Capitol, although we deny to the
soldiers who fight cur battles like priyi-
| leges We can get bath free of expense
ourselves: why not be fair to the people
| of the District. and give them proper
| facilities for bathing purposes?
| Mr.. Grout said:
1T is 'emphatically the poor mans or
the poor boys bathing place. 1t has been
established by an act OF Congress. specifi-
| cally authorized. Some $4,000. more or
| less. has been expended in preparing il
for public use a basin formed by the
waters of the Potomac is used for this
| purpose. It is supposed to be safe. Some
accidents may happen there; but the ef-
fort is to bring them to a minimum.
| Now, in the country where 1 live-and
! notice the gentleman from Missouri
! lives In the country as l do when he is
at homc-it is not necessary that the pub
lie should provide a bathing place for the
| boys. because there are secluded places
| along the stretch of the river open to
them; the pond is also ready for them.
! But IN all populous centres, especially in
great city like this. what opportunity is
/ there for the boys to go in bathing unless
seine place OF this kind be provided"
When the section relating to the Water
/ Department was reached Mr.. Newlands
offered The following amendment:
Provided. That meters shall be applied
| wherever deemed advisable By the Dis
| trict Commissioners. for the suppression
| of waste: and that the Commissioners
| shall prescribe rules and regulations for
| the suppression of waste and penalties
for the violations OF such rules and reg
| ulations"
1t was defeated.
When the charities section was read
| Mr.. Fitzgerald of Massachusetts offered
| the following amendment:
THAT the children in the care or con-
| troll of the Board of Children's Guardians
| may be placed in private families. Pro-
vidad. however, That in case Of sickness.
-, ..ht tho