The Washington herald., 1908-04-08
Local Appropriation Meas
ure Read Second Time.
CHEAPER GAS WINS VICTORY
Fe.z Important Amendments Made
20 Local budget BiII-seventy-five
Cent Gas May EnSue-Chiid Labor
Up-sehooI Exits Considered-other
Minor Changes Proposed.

The bin, however, was not read the
third time and passed. as had been ex-
pected. Speaker Cannon ignored Repre-
sentative Gardner, of Michigan. chair
man of the subcommittee of the Appr0-
priations Committee, which had charge of
the bill. when he attempted to move 'the
/ previous question" upon the passage. The
bin viii likely come up to-day for third
reading and passage
! But few amendments have been made
tn the bill, and it stands almost in its
pristine purity. with practically no in
creases such as had been recommended
by the Commissioners.
! For Cheaper Gas.
Probably the most important amend
ment to the bill was made yesterday
afternoon. when a provision was inserted
whereby the District government is TO
pay not more than IS cents per 1000 feet
for gas The amendment was introduced
by Representative Wilson. OF Illinois, and
had no opposition when 1t came to a
question of passage.
/ BY it's provisions, the Commissioners
are not permitted to pay more than 75
cents a thousand feet for gas to be used
in the public schools.
It is now up to the Senate, I'm which
the hopes Of so many District persons
are buried. to say what shall be done in
this matter.
If the Senate approves of the meas
ure, which doesn't seem likely from the
attitude Of that body on most District
questions. 75-cent gas will have secured a
strong foothold in this city.
The second important question which
came up yesterday was that Of child
labor in the District. although a child
labor amendment by Representative Pc
ters. Of Massachusetts was knocked out
on a point Of order made by Represent
alive Mann. Of Illinois.
Mr.. Peters, however, on a motion to
strike out the last word" of the para
graph which had tI,st been read. made a
speech. in which re severely scored the
nations attitude on this question Of child
labor.
Congress Should Act.
Mr.. Peters thought that Congress
should enact a child-labor law for the
District. not only because it is needed
here. but because OF the great moral good
and the shining lesson such a law would
be 10 the rest Of the country.
Alarm was manifested by some men,
bers over the reported condition of the
doors OF the public school buildings OF
the city. After long debate. in which
many amendments were offered TO g por-
tion OF the bill providing for expendi-
lures for new buildings, Representative
Johnson succeeded in having one passed
which forbids the expenditure OF any
moneys under the act. unless the doors
in buildings TO be constructed open out
ward
To this amendment of Mr.. Johnson.
Representative Crumpacker tackled an
other. which provided that the doors OF
school buildings shall remain open from
one-half hour before school convenes un-
til One-half hour after school adjourns
An amendment which Representative
Cooper, Of Wisconsin. sought to insert,
provided that no "turnStlle" doors be
placed IN any school building Mr.. Mann
objected 10 this amendment. saying that
turnstiIe doors prevent hundreds Of thou
monia each year. The proposed amend
ment, therefore, went out on point Of
order
GOuIden Gets Active.
Representative Goulden wished to
amend a section Of the bill appropriating
money for the salaries Of officers OF the
juvenile court, by changing the salary of
4Ea st,1e,a f~o.., q anA - % ean -
Mr.. Goulden said that in Colorado the
judge OF a juvenile court receives 81. 900
per year; in Brooklyn he receives 5000;
in New York 5000 and In Chicago sl0.OOO
He thought that the Washington judge
should be better paid. His amendment,
however, went cut on a point Of order.
Representative Brodhead, OF PennsyI-
vania, was the next man who essayed to
amend the bill Mr. Brodhead did not
think that the section providing for the
expense incident to. the issuance Of writs
de lunatic was sufficient and desired TO
tack on a provision that $500 a year be
made available for the hiring of some
person 10 look after the interests OF the
INDECENT insane.
During the discussion of this proposal
the Congress from the Sixth district of
Tennessee. emitted a few remarks con-
cernlng the lack OF or a laxity of. a
District OF Columbia vagrancy law. Mr..
Gaines said that the class of hangers-on
that frequents this fair capital is a dis
grace TO any city.
Gaines Sketches Them.
Mr.. Gaines characterized the loungers
of Washington as "the LATEST, lousiest
gang have ever seen In my life" He
called these loungers undesirable clti-
zens." and further lit into their habits
and personality to some length.
Mr. Gardner, of Michigan, INTERRUPTED.
to say that there is a vagrancy law in
the District, but Mr.. Gaines was not to
be hushed UP so easily. He continued by
saying that II there is such a law, ii isn't
we'll enforced, and If Il were there would
be fewer assaults of women on the streets
and fewer women outraged.
Representative Gardner got through an
amendment to the section making ap-
propriations for the Washington asylum.
Ihis amendment decreases the pay OF two
nurses engaged in the tuberculosis wards.
Ali TO Go Elsewhere.
Mr.. Gardner said that in a short time
al tubercular patients viii be cared for
at the tuberculosis hospital. He there
fore asked that the salaries of the two
nurses mentioned, placed heretofore at
$500 year. be lowered TO s425 a year. The
amendment carried.
This was the last amendment made 10
the bill. but owing, it was said, TO the
desire not 10 have any filibustering on
account Of the death OF Representative
Brick, the bill was not called up for final
reading and passage,
Always the Same