Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-01
Congress Could Make Wash
ington Peerless.
MUCH MONEY REQUIRED
METHODS OF PROCEDURE IN
HOUSE COMMITTEE OF WHOLE.
Debate Planned by Leaders Long Be-
forehand-Members Get opportun-
ity to Have Speeches Printed.

When the House resumed consideration
of the District of Columbia appropriation
bill today Representative Morris Shepherd
Of Texas spoke for one hour on the tariff
history of the democratic party. He was
followed by Mr. Adams of Pennsylvania.
who spoke for half an hour on the subject
Of immigration. 1t remained for Represen-
tative Powers of Massachusetts, who was
recognized at O'Clock this afternoon to
say word in behalf of Washington. Mr..
Powers is member of the House commit
tee on the District of Columbia. and is
deeply interested in the welfare and beauu-
fication of the city.
Before the House took up the District
bill this morning Representative McCleary
of the appropriate tons committee asked
unanimous consent for the immediate con-
sideration of a bill appropriating $1,000 for
continuing the work of clearing the Poto-
mac river of ice. Mr.. McCleary explained
that 5000 had previously been made avail
able for this work. but that the appropri-
alton was exhausted. The Commissioners
had asked for 5000 more, but the COM
mlttee believed that the sum of $1,000 would
suffice.
Representative Maddox of Georgia. re-
serving the right to object. asked Mr.. Nc
Cleary why the government proposed going
into the business of clearing the Potomac
or Ice any more than 1t should do the
same work In the Delaware river or any
other waterway in the country.
Mr.. McCieary replied that the money was
TO De expended only for clearing ice from
the river within the District of Columbia
and that the District of Columbia belonged
to the United States. He stated also that
1t was not the purpose of Congress in ap-
propr1atlng this money to open the river
to navigation.
1t was merely pracautioparv p,oa euro
10 prevent an ice jam above the Long
bridge, with the possibility Of flood in
the lower sections Of the city. He declared
that every city in the country protects its
people from floods as far as it is in the
power of the municipality to do so. Mr..
Maddox was evidently satisfied with the
explanation, for he offered no objection.
The bill was then taken up and passed.
When Mr.. McCleary moved that the
House resume consideration of the District
OF Columbia appropriation bill in commit
tee of the whole Speaker Cannon again
called Representative Lawrence Of Massa-
chusetts to the chair to preside over the
deliberations of the committee.
1t was agreed to limit general debate to-
day to four hours, two hours Of which Is
to be controlled by Representative Nc
Cleary and like period by Representative
Pierce. the ranking minority member of
the subcommittee which framed the bill. At
the end of the four hours debate the bill
will be taken up by paragraphs for discus
sion under the five-minute rule.
Powers Strong Talk.
When Representative Powers was recog
nized this afternoon he made strong plea
for a liberal appropriation for the capital
city. Mr.. Powers declared that he did not
expect to remain much longer in Congress.
but before he retired he wanted to place
himself on record as favoring the future
development of the national capital along
lines as liberal as the finances of the coun-
| try would INIT q did ba
in response to what he believed to be the
strcng popular demand of the people of the
whole country. s.
Mr.. Powers called attention to the fact
that thousands of Americans go abroad
each summer to visit the capitals of the
old world. He declared that if Washing
ton were developed along the lines that
1t is possible to develop it the people in
stead of going abroad each year. would
come to this city and enjoy their own
capital and be proud of American work
and American ideals. Mr. Powers said
that with American genius 1t was possible
to make Washington the finest city in
the world. american painters, sculptors
and artisans are capable of great things
ne declared, and If Washington were
made the home of art it would prove the
most attractive place to visit in the whole
world.
Mr.. Powers said the American people
are not stingy wherever the expenditure OF
money Is justified. He believed the general
interest in Washington to be so strong that
the most liberal appropriations for the de-
velopment OF the capital would be enthusi-
asttcally applauded all over the country
The procedure with regard to the con-
sideration of the District bill differs In no
respect from that followed with all the
great Appropriation or supply measures.
The rules of the House In this respect
are often the subject of amused comment
by those newly made acquainted with them
All bills affecting the revenues must first
be considered in committee of the whole
House the state of the mi
details of the measures are practically
agreed upon in committee of the whole and
the subsequent passage of the bill by the
House is usually a perfunctory performance
When an appropriation bill is first called I'D
for consideration the motion is always made
that the House resolve itself into committee
of the whole. Then follows period of gem
eral debate. the length of which is usually
agreed upon in advance between the senior
majority and minority members of the COM
mittee or subcommittee reporting the meas
ure.
The time is divided equally. and Is con-
trolled by the parties to the agreement IA
above referred to.
Members OF the House can speak only
when time is yielded to them by the two
representatives in control of the debate
The length of the speeches to be delivered
are fixed in advance. In fact, the entire
program or debate is usually mapped out
some days in advance of it's actual occur
renee. -
A Chance to Talk.
Once member has secured time In COM
mittee Of the whole no limit is placed upon
the scope of his remarks and for the period
allotted u BIN he can talk on any SUBJ
ject within the range of human compre-
tension 1T IS at such times as these that
speeches are made to be published in the
Record. 'They thus become public tocu-
ments and are available for free trans
mission and distribution through the mails
Ctrrp ha aisr,1
election be national in character or OILY
of local sfnpdrtance to the member max
ing the speech 1t is also at such times
these that new members get their first
opportunity to- address the House. 1t is
at such itinfes' also that members often
without making any actual remarks what
soever obtainiipermisson to extend their
speeches in the R>cord and subsequently
publish whatever they may desire TO write
1t is seldom that the appropriation bill
ostensibiyi unaar consideration is touched
upon duriBg the general debate The naval
appropriation bill was the notable excep-
ton in tins respect however. Nearly every