Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-20

preparation with In this he asked Mr.. NC
Cleary If he not right.
I'VE are trying to keep the District out oil
debt" was Mr.. McCleary's reply.
Mr.. Babcock then went on to say that
Congress had provided by law for several
large permanent improvements In the Dis
trict including the filtration plant, the sew
age disposal system, the railway terminals
and other projects. and he wanted TO say
that II this policy were pursued II meant
that within ten years the grass would be
growing in the streets of Washington,
which would present the appearance OF a
backwoods country town. and this the capt.
tai of the greatest nation on earth.
Mr.. Babcock commended that he had never
heard a criticism from the constituent OF
any member of the House against any ap-
preparation made for the District of CO.
lumbia. and that he believed that the peo-
pie of the country would stand back of
liberal appropriations for the identification
of Washington. He said he regarded the
appropriations committees policy as that
of cheese-paring.
Mr.. McCleary Defends Himself.
Mr. Babcock was replied to briefly by Mr..
McCleary. who said he wanted to refute the
irputation that the committee had pur-
sued a cheese-paring policy with regard to
the District. He appreciated the spirit in
which Mr.. Babcock had spoken and de-
clared that the members of the appropra-
tons committee were just as DESTROYS of
having a beautiful w dS any
other member of the House.
The committee, however, had gone into
the question of che appropriations with
great care, with the avowed intention of
keeping the District out of debt if possible.
He spoke of the beauty of the parks of
Washington. and said there were more such
places in this city than in any other city
in the country.
between 9TH and It'll streets. for which an
appropriation had been asked for paving.
He invited the members of the House to
look at these two blocks on their way home,
and he declred that if % per cent of the
members of the House did not approve of
the committees action in cutting out the
estimate he would gladly accept an amend
ment to put 1t in. He said there were many
other instances where work was estimated
for in the way of street improvements
where the condition of the streets did not
warrant the estimate.
The $4,000, 900 Advance.
Mr. Babcock called attention to the bill
which was authorized favorably reported
from his committee providing a s10,OOO.0OO
loan at 2 per cent for twenty years for the
permanent Improvements in the District.
and declared that he would ask time for
its consideration in the near future.
MI. Burkett's Statement.
As soon as Mr. McCleary had concluded.
Mr.. Burkett of Nebraska, a member of the
appropriations committee. took the floor
and continued the argument along the
same lines.
He went over the bill in detail and de-
ciared that if the policy of the appropria-
tons committee was pursued and the bill
authorizing loan of ten million dollars not
passed that in ten years the District would
have expended SS0GO,0OO for permanent
improvements above the actual running eN-
penses of the District government
He said that the cost of the railway ter
minals. the highway bridge the filtration
plant. the sewage disposal system. the mu-
nicipal building and all other proposed per-
manent improvements could be met as they
occurred without the District going into
debt The present bill, he asserted carried
s1.75OOOO for running expenses of the Dis
trict government while it carried So coo. 600
for permanent improvements.