Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-17
District Bill Under Fire;
Reduction and Elimination

Consideration OF the District bill under
the five-minute rule was begun immedi-
ately on the close Of general debate. and
continued for some little time without
undue incident. Representative Macon OF
Arkansas asked many questions as to the
reason for transfers. changes. ETC.. and
Representative Mann Of Illinois en-
deavored to. knock out the appropriation
for the municipal architect and his Of
Ace. Finding that In this case the APP
preparations committee had merely fol-
lowed the existing law. the result Of q
special act Of the last regular session. ne
withdrew his point OF order.
Then the paragraph relating to the Of
fice Of the superintendent of street sweep
ing. appropriating total. OF $46,OOO. was
reached. Representative Smith of Mich
igan, chairman Of the House District COM
mittee. asksd Mr. Gardner how this
amount compared with the amount OK
pended annually in other cities OF ap-
proximately the same size as the Nationai
Capital; >. :. .~nec..a /.
said he, more or less criticism that our
streets are not kept as clean as they
should be- and I would like to know II
In the Judgment Of this committee we are
getting value received for the money we
are expanding"
Mr.. Gardner Explains.
WELL" replied Mr.. Gardner. that is
mere matter Of opinion about which
people will differ. Generally speaking, l
Judge the money is fairly expended. with
reasonable results. How 1t compares
with other cities Of corresponding size
am not able to say, because have
never been over other cities as l have
over this, to investigate. I cannot speak
from personal knowledge"
Where is the appropriation for the
street cleaning force?' asked Representa-
tive Parsons Of New York. This is just
for the office force and not for the street
cleaners themselves. How much does
that amount to-"
Then Mr. Macon jumped up. Il make a
point Of ORDER" he said. against the
language In lines II. II and ID. where
there seems to be created new clerk
clerk at $500. chief inspector at $1,000
s.. 500 'e'
Il am glad to say explained Mr..
Gardner, that that Is an apparent in
crease of force and not a real increase.
The Commissioner having In charge that
part of the work recommended to the
committee reorganization OF the force.
He has secured q new superintendent and
there has been a thorough reorganiza-
ton Of the force. by which he believes
stating and giving his reasons at length.
with a total increase of only $500, your
committee felt that 1t would accept his
Judgment. with the assurance that he
gives that the work will be very much
better DONE"
you mean by the creation OF these
three Offices? asked Mr.. Macon.
NO" replied Mr.. Gardner, the total
ganixation presented here OF the Office
force with the assurance given, is only
$780,
Macon Il Persistent.
But Mr. Macon was not satisfied. He
found three or four instances where sal
aries in the street cleaning department
had been increased in all Of 500. and
finally remarked that 1T looks to me like
these increases are too frequent; 1t looks
to me like 1t Ii the result of general
disposition to increase everybody's COM
pensation in this paragraph, as well as to
create a lot of new Offices.
.'The full committee" replied Mr..
| Gardner, gave the closest atten-
ton to the statement made by the Com
missioner having this matter in charge,
believing after his investigation that he
could do the work better by a reorgani-
cation without increasing the expense,
except in the amount named. and we said
we would accept his recommendation"
$3.50. the total of increase in $4,000 and.
| insisting on his point of order. the whole
paragraph went out.
Reserves Point Of Order.
After some more discussion of small
items Mr.. Macon reserved q point of
| order against the paragraph authorizing
| the purchase Of Q motor vehicle at $4,000
for the use Of the assistants to the En-
gineer Commissioner in inspecting public
works in the District. Mr.. Gardner sug-
gested that this was in line with Mr..
Macon's favorite theory OF economy. as
the vehicle would take the place of
| horses and vehicles which were now
used by the Engineer Commissioner for
the purpose in question.
| This remark gave Mr.. Macon additional
4 opportunity for argument.
| Permit me to say" he remarked.
| that IL they were ~ anxious about
economy as they are about appropriating
the governments revenues, they would