Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-01
e properly the District electric sub.

more properly the District electric sub
commission.
Il am sorry that such a state of affairs
should have arisen.'' he said. but l be-
lieve the situation will work itself out
satisfactorily. 1 see no need of further
street railway legislation in the near flu
ture.'
Local Self-Government.
For many years the idea of self-govern-
nent fer the District has occupied Mr..
Gallinger's mind. He is very much in
terested In the prominence that has been
given the question recently. and expressed
the belief that it would get before Con,
gress in some shape this winter. Some
body, he thinks. is likely to introduce a
District suffrage bill. Mr.. Gallinger. how
ever. does not see the slightest chance OF
it's being settled one way or the other by
the present Congress.
Il am open-minded on the matter, he
told a Star reporter. Il can see both
sides. | have always been in sympathy
with those people of the District who
want a voice in the local government.
Often ! have thought an English visitor
to the Capital city must regard the situa-
ton as an anomaly, remembering as he
VIII the taxation without representation
cry Of the revolution.
Hearings for Washingtonians.
Whenever think of the enormous
amount of my time that is taken up with
District legislation / cannot help but de-
sire that the people of the District be al
lowed to carry this load Why. I some
times spend three or four hours in the
Senate chamber just waiting for a chance
to get unanimous consent to pass little
District bill that is of no Importance
whatever in comparison TO the big ma
te"> tia are occupying the attention of
Congress. but which is of the greatest i'm
por:ance to some particular locality IN
the District
IF I am still chairman of the District
committee when we move into the new
Office building l shall see to 1t that the
big audience hall we are to have there
is frequently given over to hearings TOR
local people. That will be a room to
which the committee can invite scores
at one time. Then really satisfactory
hearings can be held. l want to see
everybody given chance.
District Well Governed.
81 cannot help but see. however. that
the District is being pretty we'll govern
ed as it is-on the whole. I mean. VI
course, know there are many Imperfect
tons The entire matter will have to be
thoroughly thrashed out, and then we will
see what is best to be done. / have nos
yet looked thoroughly into the constitu-
tional questions involved, but believe that
congress can at Icdot 81 udSh 'AiAN
many people of the District desire
There is one matter that has been
brought before the committee a numDer
of times. and has been urged repeatedly
by the Commissioners, that Mr.. Gallinger
is prepared to support at the coming sss
sion 1t is the installation of hish-
vaic-- pressure system for flre-fghting
He said today that while 1t would cos
in the neighborhood of S150.0O0. he be-
isves the loss by one big conf1agratlon
Shit be more than this amount under
the present system. The great value OF
the government property here is In his
opinion sufficient reason for spending thdt
amount of money for fire protection. he
has Keen much interested in the success
cf TIC high pressure main in New York
city.
Liquor Legislation.
Another matter that he expects will
come before the committee again this
winter is the proposed liquor legislation.
He doesn't think, however, that there will
be time for Congress to act on 1t before
March 4.
1t is Senator Gallinger's opinion that
there will not be much general legislation
at this session. owing to the fact that
Congress will convene late, next Monday
being the latest that 1t can meet under
the Constitution, and because of the ne
cessity Of getting large number OF ap-
preparation bills out of the way. He does
not think either, that the special session
which Mr. Taft is to call will be devoted
to much in addition to the revision OF the
tariff