Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-03
Members of the House Charge
Extravaganza.
McCLEARY's TRIBUTE
EULoGIzEs THE MEN ASKING FOR
THE APPROPRIATION.
Defends the Action Of the Committee
Consideration of the Dis
trict Bill.

priation bill was resumed in the House to-
day Mr.. Miers of Indiana made a point oi
order against the item which PROVIDES tha'
the business of the District before the SUI
preme Court of the District may be tran
sacted without the payment of fees
The chair sustained the point of order
and the provision was stricken out
Mr. Clark of Montana wanted to know II
justices of the peace receive fees In aooi-
ton to their salaries. and was Informed
that they do not.
Mr.. Cochran Of Missouri tried to get the
floor to discuss the political question: put
Mr. McCleary, in charge of the DILL cut
him off under the rule, desiring to push on
with the bill.
This led Mr. Cochran subsequently, to IN
terpose with an amendment leveled al the
board of charities appropriation, ana leu 10
a pretty tart colloauy with Mr.. McCieary
Mr. McCleary said Mr.. Cochran's amend
ment was for the purpose OF enapnns tha'
gentleman to make speech. one reason,
said Mr.. McCleary. why the gentleman
speeches were not more welcome was pc
cause they were the same all the way
through and could be broken on In the
middle or at any point.
Mr.. Cochran got back by saying that
the House never knew what confusion
worse COMPOUNDED meant until Mr; NC
Cleary had brought in the District bill.
AIler 6ACndilSlhS lew ihSiS
of a similar character the disputants
stopped and Mr.. Cochran withdrew his
amendment
Appropriations for Charities.
Mr.. Cowherd addressed himself to the
subject Of appropriations for charities. He
said the bill carried nearly one million dol
lars for charities.
"a large portion of that appropriation,
said Mr. Cowherd, SIS not for the INDECENT
door, but for the INDECENT Office seekers
Mr. Cowherd commented upon the ex-
penditures for salaries in dispensing the ap-
preparation for charities.
Yet" said Mr.. Cowherd, II have found
that when you have a heightened board,
working without pay. they require about
double the amount of money that salaried
officials use.'
for the board of charities He had under
stood that the work Of this board was to
have been done by charitably inclined laoies
and gentlemen.
eminent going into partnership with all
these private charities said Mr. Cowherd
"It is charge on the Treasury OF the Unit
ed States and detriment to the charitable
institutions. The government ought to keep
its hands off the institutions. When the
good people of the town get up an institu-
ton let them take care of 1t, and the re-
suit will be more satisfactory In every
way.
Some Of these great hospitals for which
we appropriate $4,000 in this bill are out
side of our control; We can not go in and
take hand in the management.
Mr.. Cowherd read figures showing the sal
airy lists of the various charitable instftu-'
tions in the District. and contended that
the rolls were excessive. st -
Mr.. McCleary Replies.
Mr. McCleary replied to Mr.. Cowherd. He
said that the committee had recognized the
objections to using public funds In the sup
port Of semi-private Institutions. but the
committee has to go slowly in inaugural
ing changes. Some Of these institutions
are old and Of long standing and they have
friends in both houses of Congress.
Mr.. Benton of Missouri said that the
board Of charities wanted to abolish some
Of the smaller positions so that the board
could take charge Of the whole business.
He had never heard of the board recon-
mendirg. reduction Of salary of an official
II am sure in my mird," said Mr.. Ben
ton, although 1 have no proof of 1t, that
we are paying out several hundred thou
sand dollars more In salaries than we ought
to, but don't know how we can get at the
facts unless We appoint a commission and
examine men under OATH"
The Expense Per Capita.
Mr. Hepburn of Iowa said that appro-
priations aggregated $685., 900 for charity
in this District. He declared that the ap-
preparation exceeds So per head for all of
the citizens of the District. He thought
there was an unusual number of officials
on the rolls, but he was not prepared to
say whether any of them could be dis
pensed with or not. 1t seemed to him
that some method should be taken to
ascertain the necessity for the appropria-
tons. It should be recognized that the
recommendations came from agents of
the institution and are tainted with self
interest. Even the persons who are do
ing charitable work gratis are interested
In the several institutions and want to
see them prosper and expand. He de-
clared that he was not critfcising the
committee on appropriations, but he de-
plored the system under which the COM
mite has to work.
Mr.. Cochran of Missouri said:
Il believe 1t Is the consensus of opinion
throughout this, country that we ought to
have the most beautiful capital in the
world. and whenever an appropriation to
that effect comes up 1t shall have my sup
port, and 1 believe, the support Of the
majority of this House."
He was of opinion, however that the
government was not administered economi-
cally.
MT. McCleary's Tribute.
Mr.. McCleary took the floor to pay high
tribute to the citizens on the board Of char
tiles. He said they comprised men of the
highest character, well known in the lofti-
to their duties in public-spirted manner.
They impressed the committee" said
Mr.. McCieary, in altogether the most IA
vorable manner, and we believe that they
are performing important public service con-
scientiously."
Several members had contrasted the ex-
penseS OF the District with expenses of
state governVlents Mr.. McCleary pointed
out that these comparisons were unjust to
the District, because here the expenditures
partake OF the double character of state
and municipal expenses. Replying to Mr.
Lind of Minnesota, he said that Mr. Lind's
figures for the state did not include the
money expended by towns. for schools fire
departments, police, sewers. streets. etc.
THE SENATE.
At the request Of Mr.. Beveridge the SEN
ate set aside the special order for the day
the consideration Of Alaskan legislation
In order to permit the consideration of the
naval augmentation hill