Evening star., 1909-01-25
Senate Increases House Ap-
preparation to $1,000.
STRONG CRITICISM MADE
Committee on District Considering
Permanent Scheme.
HALE EXPLAINS CONDITIONS
Tremendous Street Area, If All
Cleaned, Would Bankrupt Wash
ington, Says Mr.. Burkett.

A plan to create a permanent fund
from which to pay for cleaning snow
and ice from the streets and sidewalks
of the District OF Columbia is under
consideration by the Senate committee
on the District of Columbia.
This was brought to light today in R
somewhat heated debate regarding filth
In the streets of Washington following
the two recent snowstorms. 1t was
during the consideration of the urgent
deficiency bill, carrying appropria tons
OF seven million dollars, that the sub
ect of cleaning off the streets came up.
Senator William Alden Smith of Michi-
gan started the debate by asking why
there was not a permanent fund to clean
snow and ice from the streets. and char
acterizing the conditions during the last
ten days as disgraceful. Mr.. Gallinger,
chairman of the District of Columbia
committee, replied that his committee had
just such a thing under consideration.
Hale Explains Conditions
Senator Hale of Maine told the Senate
1t would take more than any $1,000 or
$1,000 to clean all the streets in the city
after a big snowstorm. His opinion was
that 1t would take more than 100000.
"Washington is different than any other
city In the United States said Mr..
Hale, and maybe any in the world, in
its breadth of streets and sidewalks and
large number Of parks. and also because
1t has not the large revenues of other
great cities at it's disposal. We will never
be able to keep clean the streets of this
city until we embark on a. range of ap-
propriations upon which we have never
before entered.
II am not certain but that would vote
for IT. But l want to say that such
proposition should be considered care
fully by the District Of Columbia COM
nittee and should not be brought UP as
an amendment to a bill of this kind"
Senator Smith commended the District
of Columbia committee for having taken
up the question of cleaning the streets OF
Washington Of snow and Ice. Then Sen
ator, Lodge of Massachusetts wanted to
know of Mr.. Gallinger II there was no
way to compel property owners to keep
the sidewalks clean.
. Hope to Devise Law.
Mr. Gallinger related the history of leg
islation for this purpose. showing that
both the statute and police regulations Of
the Commissioners had been contested
and found unconstitutional. He said
subcommittee was at present considering
another measure for the same purpose,
but was not convinced it would be able
TO devise a law that would stand in court.
He told how the Commissioners had
run out of funds just before the last
snow dQO mao 0IidIlS decided TO go dHedu
and have the streets cleaned and trust
to Congress to reimburse them. He eX
planned previous efforts of the Senate to
give a larger appropriation for this pur-
pose and told how they were defeated in
the House.
Il assure the Senate said he. that
the committee on the District of Columbia
has an earnest desire not to have a reple-
tition Of what has just occurred.
Would Break Washington.
Senator Burkett of Nebraska of the Dis
trct of Columbia committee suggested
that an appropriation TO clean all the
streets after SnoWStorm would break
the District OF Columbia
There is something wrong with the
system OF government here, said Mr..
Smith, ''or else this condition would not
exist"
Il will ask the senator from Michigan
if he can propose new scheme of gov
ernment for the District of Columbia,
put in Mr.. Gallinger.
In fifteen minutes | could devise
scheme for cleaning off the snow replied
Mr. Smith.
IF the senator had the money he could. -
retorted Mr.. Galfnger.
Il could do ii Oh my credit Mr.. Smith
said.
The senator is fortunate Mr.. CALM
ger declared. But that is not the way
municipalities do business
Tillman Wants to Fight.
Mr.. Tllman here put in word. saying
the Commissioners OF the District of Co.
iumbia had just had hours chat with
the appropriations committee this sub
ject. He declared that if the District of
Columbia were given money by Congress
to clean the streets of snow, everybody
would stop cleaning their sidewa Ks.
However, he thought the recent condi-
ton was disgraceful. He favored a bis
appropriation.
And we ought TO stand up and fight
the House to keep it there. he said.
until we see who is the better.
The urgent deficiency bill was passed.
The Senate amendment increa sing the
House appropriation for the cleaning Of
the streets after the recent snowStorm
from $1,000 to $1,000 was agreed To.
An amendment presented by Senator
Gallinger giving $500 to the District of
Columbia school board for salaries Of