The Washington herald., 1907-01-17

Something of a breeze was raised in the
House yesterday when the District bill
was called up by Mr.. Gillett, Of Nassa-
chuSetts, the chairman Of the sUbcOm-
mittee having charge Of the measure.
Alr. BurIeson. of Texas also member
of the subcommittee, when Mr.. Giilett
had finished a review of the various fea-
lures of the bill, arose and delivered
well-thought-out speech on the shortcom-
ings Of the present form of government
ef the District
lie said the principal defect was that
the District Commissioners were not re-
sDQnsible officials. They were neither
elected by the people nor by Congress.
The President appointed them, and then
busted himself with reforming the spell
ing of the country. or teaching school
children to shoot or advising the house
holds Of the land as to how many chill
dren should be provided for the schools.
and had no time to look after the affairs
Of the District of Columbia. He urged
that it would be an Improvement. in view
of the negro vote in the District, if there
cc1ld be a suffrage based on the law in
South Carolina. Mississippi. or Massachu-
sotts, which all require an educational or
property qualification
No appropriation ever meets with oppO-
sition from the people OF the District
said Mr.. Burles0n. The consideration
whether any proposed Improvement is
absolutely necessary is rarely given voice.
The usual view was. Let us set as fine
a street as we can. for the United States
is our partner and pays one-half the
cost"
4 New Deal.
"The time win come before many
years" said Mr Burleson. when there
must be a readjustment of the financial
arrangement between The government and
the District Of Columbia At the time the
present arrangement was made the value
Of The property of the District was esti-
mated 70 be S95,o'0.0oo, but the value Of
the streets was added to the half belong
ing 20 the District. The population then
was 10000 IL is now 3500J0 What if it
should become a city OF a million or a
million and a half? DO we still propose
10 burden our constituents? But for The
thought that Congress was responsible
form of government here, the proportion
TO be borne by the United States would
have been but 80 per cent
why should the children of the noun
tains of Tennessee De taxed TO support
the schools of the District Of Columbia?
Why should the people OF Maine support
the INDECENT of Washington Can any one
differeuriate between the capital Of
State and the capital of the nati0n?'
AR BurIes0a. declared that if the Dis
trict Commissioners had been accountable
u the people OF Washington the city
would have had 7j-cent gas or even TO-
cent gas years ago. So too with the
matter of cheaper telephone service. He
urged that every one was proud of Wash
ington. and these who had travelled and
seen the great cities Of Europe, always
desired q think that Washington was the
most beautiful and comfortable city on
earth.
District Committee at work.
Representative Clcott of New York, in
terrupted tn ask Mr.. Burieson if he knew
that the District of Columbia was investi-
eating the subject Of gas He replied that
Ee WIS not aware of that fact. and asked
why it was that when last session the
price Of gas for street lamps i'm Washing
ton was reduced by the House to S. the
fight was made on that price and the
District Committee did not assist in secur-
ing the reduction.
Mr.. Olc0tt who was not a member of
the last House. said that he did not know
as TO that, but ne did know that the mat
ter Of gas was being considered and that
justice would be done to every one. the
people and the gas companies as well.
1t has been charged" said Mr. Burle-
son, that this gas monopoly has swelled
its capital stock enormously by the issu-
ance Of certificates Of indebtedness. II
has been charged repeatedly that the peo-
pie have been victimized by this monop-
oily for years. and could get no relief l
would not vote to take from that COM
pany one hundredth of 1 per cent, but 1
want to see justice done the people Of
this city"
AIr Fitzgerald, of New York. asked how
Mr. Burleson knew that there could be
75-Cent gas in the District of Columbia
He replied that he had studied the sub
iect in other cities. and looked UP all
the data he could get here and he was
satisfied of the truth and sOundness Of
his statement. He complained that Con-
gress was always slow 10 act and the
District Committee had so many mat
teTs to deal with it could not rise to the
necessity of taking up a question of
such importance 10 the residents Of
the city
irresponsible Commissioners.
"The responsibility of the District
Commissioners is at fault for the condi-
tion that confronts the people at this
time declared Mr.. Burleson. with great
force
Representative Wiley interrupted 10
say that next District Day something
would be done in the matter of lowering
the cost of telephones in the District.
When Burleson expressed some doubt.
Wiley replied. 1T will be done.
THAT is the first cheering information
from the District of Columbia Committee
I have heard since I have been here re-
torted Mr.. Burleson.
Mr. Wiley said that the movement
along the lines indicated was a matter of
individual effort and that there had been
no hearings.
Mr.. Burleson closed with the declara-
tion that ne desired to make the District
Commissioners responsible TO the people
whose servants they are. 1t was their
duty, he said. to go after these public
service corporations. and protect the peO-
pie from their robbery
DixOn's Election Ratified.
Helena, Mont, Jan. 16-Congressman
Joseph NJ Dixon, Republican. was to-
1av formally elected United States Ssr,