Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-21

committee on the District of Columbia. Mr..
Babcock was replied to in detail by both
mittee and by Mr.. Burkett of the same COM
| mittee. This debate is most interesting to
those interested in the Districts financial
welfare, as showing the position OF the
advocates Of the "pay-as-you-go" policy OF
the appropriations committee and the loan
policy as advocated by the District COM
mittee.
! After Mr. Babcock had given notice tina.
he should bring in bill for a $4,000, COO
| loan. Mr.. McCleary remarked in an under
tone: "All right, we are ready for you any
time" showing that there is to be decided
opposition to this measure when 1t comes
UP for consideration next Monday.
Mr.. Babcock's Remarks.
Mr.. Babcocks remarks in full follow:
"Mr Chairman, 1t is with considerable
embarrassment that I criticise my col
leagues for their action In reporting this
bill, but there is hardly a gentleman In this
House who is not familiar with 18th street
and who does not know Of the years that
that legislation has been considered before
just paid the sum Of $4,000 for right OF
way for opening that street, which LEADS
from the front door Of the White House to
the District line. and for two years prac-
tically nothing has been appropriated to
open or grade that great thoroughfare.
which Is intended to be the most magnlh-
cent boulevard in the city Of Washington,
If not In the world.
Gentlemen are constantly coming to the
committee on the District of Columbia and
asking what they shall do with their prop
erty saying that the street runs through It,:
| that they want to build; chat they want to
improve what they have left The only
answer can make Is that no appropriation
| has been made for removing the buildings
or grading and improving the street.
Now, gentlemen Of the committee. de-
sire to call your attention to some other
items In this bill. Here is the estimate for
the necessary amounts required for the
streets and avenues, $500. 900; the amount
appropriated in the committee bill Is $5OOOO.
Another item, construction OF county roads,
| estimated at $500, 600; the amount approprt-
| ated. $4,000. For the improvement of Rock
| Creek Park. 100000
Rock Creek Park.
.eWhy, Mr.. Chairman, time and again I
| have driven through that beautiful park
and wondered and wondered why it was al
lowed to remain in It's natural state when
| the opportunity for developing it into one
Of the most beautiful parks in this section
| of country is afforded; and now, Mr.. Chair
man. for the maintenance and Improvement
| Of that park an appropriation Is made OF
81, 500 Think Of It! Twenty-Five hundred
| dollars! Why, other cities, the cities Of the
| great states of Illinois, New York and Ohio,
are appropriating not only hundreds of
| thousands Of dollars, but millions OF dollars,
| for purposes of this character and the bene-
| At of the people who reside there. What Is
Congress doing for the poor that have no
! public parks to go to-$2, 500! Think Of 1t!
Rock Creek Park requires the sum asked
for, 100000. The amount appropriated is
s.. 500 l do not want to take up the time
| Of the committee, but want to call the at
| tention of the House to the general policy
| that has been pursued in reporting this bill.
| I find that this bill carries $780, 600 for the
| filtration plant, while believe the Com
| missioners asked for something like 81, 400
900. Take the provision for sewerage. an
other extraordinary appropriation 1t Is
$4,000.
Mr.. Cannon's interruption.
Now Mr.. Chairman, would like atten-
| ton just moment. I want to make this
point here. that the policy in reporting this
| bill is"
Mr.. Cannon-"Win the gentleman allow
me just at that point?'
Mr. Babcock-"I hope the gentleman will
not interrupt me until conclude my state
ment. would be glad to answer Ques-
ton"
know that for the filtration plant on a re-
vised estimate and full information, that
| the gentleman in charge of the expenditure
| Of the money says that this bill carries
every dollar that can be expended In the
coming fiscal year? And does not the gem
| tleman know, further. that this appropria-
| ton for the sewerage system covers every
| cent that can be expended for the coming
| fiscal year for the sewerage system, the
| heart Of 1t, that must be done before this
system can be utilized?"
Mr.. Babcock-"The gentleman misunder-
stands my remarks. l was calling atten-
ton to the extraordinary expenditures
What 1 said in reference to the Rock Creek
Park was entirely In a different line"
Mr.. Cannon-''Wel1. it is all that was
asked for"
Mr.. Babcock-"I have no criticism on the
appropriation for those projects. I criti-
cised the park appropriation for mainte-
nance and improvement, and then I was
starting in to show that other items were
necessarily made small account of the
extraordinary appropriations. but the gen.
tleman interrupted me before 1 had time
to explain my position"
The Chairmar-"The time Of the gentle
| man from Wisconsin has expired"
Mr.. Cannon-'I ask unanimous consent
that the time of the gentleman be extended
because would like to ask him another
question right there"
The Chairman-''The chair will remind
the committee that this Is general debate
on the bill. The gentleman from Illinois
asks unanimous consent that the time of
the gentleman from Wisconsin be extended
for five minutes. Is there objection? (After
a pause) The chair hears none"
Mr.. Babcock-'I call attention, Mr. Chair
man. to the filtration plant and the sewage
disposal system. $1,247OOO, as an extraordi-
nary appropriation, an appropriation that
is not in the class of the ordinary expenses
of the city, and the bill also carries in addi-
ton other sums that 1 have not time to
discuss and which it is not necessary for
me to point out at this time. But the
policy of the committee that has reported
this bill, Mr. Chairman, Is the point on
which l wish to speak, and that is that no
appropriation shall be made until the tax
levy has first been made up and the money
raised to pay 1t. Am 1 correct?"
Mr.. McCleary-''We are trying to keep the
District from going further into debt. The
gentleman Is correct as to that point"
Mr.. Babcock-"I am correct on that Now
Congress has appropriated for several other
large and extensive improvements-the
sewerage system, the filtration plant. the
municipal building, the union station, and