Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-22
THE PRACTICE DENOUNCED
Commissioners Estimates Regularly
Made Too Small.
CHAMP CLARK INDIGNANT
Declared He Was "Good and Tired"
of the Way Things Were Done
in the District.

The deficiency Item of 10000 for the pur-
| chase OF coal for the Washington public
| schools created quite a discussion on the
| floor Of the House this morning, during
| consideration OF the urgent deficiency bill.
| The paragraph making this appropriation
! had hardly been read. when several repre-
| sentatives were on their feet. demanding
to know the why's and wherefores OF the
| matter.
Representative Iittsuer of New York Of
the Appropriation subcommittee explained
that for some years $4,000 or more had
| been needed for the purchase OF coal for
the local public schools but that the Com
mssioners, since 1903 had. in their esti-
mates. set the amount at $4,000 I'm the
regular bill. and then later had appeared
on the scene with a request for a deficiency
appropriation. He attributed this manner
of, doing things to negligence on tn, part
of the Commissioners.
Champ Clark Indignant.
Representative Champ Clark of Missouri
wanted to know If there wasn't some way
by which the Commissioners could be made
| to do things In the proper manner.
We'll" remarked Mr.. Lttauer, you will
have to allow this appropriation or close
| the schools when the present supply OF
| coal gives out"
Mr.. Clark remarked that he was good
and tired of the way things were done
and Mr.. Littauer, who seemed TO share his
views, said that though the committee had
allowed the coal Item the Commissioners
| had been turned down on some other de-
ficiency Items for which they gave a similar
excuse
Representative Gaines of Tennessee, who
got into the game at this point, reg
lstered his opinion that the District of Co
lumbia government was being held up by
the coal trust.
The Committee Inquiry.
AS q result of the ensuing coloquy be-
| tween Representatives Littauer and Gaines,
the former read the following from the
hearings of the committee to show that it
was desired to learn all possible about the
deficiency estimate and why IL had been
necessary to submit it:
Mr.. West-The amount appropriated by
Congress for coal for the last five years has
| been $4,000 for each year and each year
we came to Congress for deficiency. AL
though the regular appropriation has been
$4,000. the amount actually appropriated
has gone as high $4,000, as was the
case in 1903. $4,000 in 1904. and SIS 600 In
1905; and this deficiency of 10000 is the
same amount of deficiency as was asked for
last year and the year before,
MI Tawney-Do you think that 10 good
practice?'
MT. vest do not.
"Mr Littauer-Do you not render yourself
liable to that provision in the deficiency law
passed last year? That is a dangerous
thing.
Mr.. West Explains.
''Mr. Vest can look at the estimate and
find out whether the amount asked by US
was $4,000 last year or not. 1t is a ques-
ton of having this money or else closing
the schoOls-that is. two-thirds of them
The amount asked in this appropriation is
not larger than was asked for In the de-
ficiency bills OF 1905 and of 1904 IL is not
as much as was asked for in 1903. In other
words, Ii has taken $4,000 each year To
supply the schools with coal. even though
the regular appropriation was only $4,000.
'Thecoal contract has given US In the past
A good deal of trouble, and we found lats
year evidences of a combine on the part
of District coal dealers TO ask a larger sum
than we thought it was wise to pay. We
gave public hearing upon the matter and
accepted the bid for the present year with
the understanding that next year we were
going TO change the entire system of OBJ
tanning coal.
Mr.. Livingston-You speak of getting
that coal here In the city. Are you con-
fined to the dealers here, from whom TO
Mr.. West-No; because we advertise for
bids. But under the prevailing conditions
you would ind that the large dealers out
size and the large companies outside VIII
ers here. They all have an understanding
between themselves.
Mr.. Livingston.-Why do you not buy at
the mines?
MI Vest doubt very much II we could
buy at the mines and then IL we did we
would have to arrange for the carrying Of
the coal here and the delivery ourselves.
and all that sore of thing. We have a plan
next year for our next contract for coal
which / think will, in a measure, obviate
the conditions that We are now contending
with. / am afraid that the estimate al
ready up before Congress for the next hs-
cal year asked for only $4,000 for fuel
Mr.. Littauer-I trust you will correst 1t.
Mr.. Vest will see that that is done.
Mr.. Littauer-It is just that habit that
want to put end 10. 1t places the
appropriation entirely in false light"
The Appropriation Granted.
After Representative Littauer had read
the above. Mr.. Gaines got busy again
and, leaving the District of Columbia to
take care of itself for a moment, launched
into an attack on the coal trust in general.
After MIR. Gaines had relieved himself 10
this extent the desired $4,000 was appro-
priated.