The Washington times., 1911-02-28
DISTRICT CONFEREES
ARB|TRATING ON BILL
Endeavoring to Reconcile
Various Amendments on
Appropriations.

Following the refusal of the House TO
Hgree to an increase in salary for the
District Commissioners, the conferees
on the District appropriation bill are
once more endcavoring today to recon-
cle the various Senate and House
amendments.
The House voted to further disagree
20 all Senate amendments, Just as it did
a week ago. II was finally decided late
yesterday. however, that the mem in
Crcasing the salary Of the Commission
ers from 5000 to $1,000 should be singled
out and voted upon. irasmuch as that is
the chief bone of contention between the
two houses.
ON j roll call vote. the House refused.
146 TO ZIG, to authorize an increase, and
and the conferees were instructed ac-
Cordingly The District appropriation
bill was then sent back to conference.
Before the conference report was pre-
scented yesterday, the cOnferees had
agreed To strike out the item appropri-
atinP S50Gn0 for a municipal asphalt
plant, to which the House so strenuous
" objected last week.
Want Bill Re-Shaped.
Another wrangle, equally as bitter,
ensued over the proposal of the Senate
to give the Street Cleaning Department
$4,000 instead OF $3.50, ,O00, as appropri
ated by the House, and the lower body
seemed to object even to A compromise
figure of $26O,NOO
Inasmuch as the House showed a dis
position to object to all salary increases
authorized by the Senate, ii was voted
to again send the bill back to confer
ence for re-shaning.
Representatives Cox of Indiana, John
son of Kentucky, Madden and Foster,
hoth of Illinois, were most active in
opposing the increase FOR the Commits
Sioners, while Representatives Gardner,
Stafford, and Burleson plead with the
House not to turn down the Senate
amendment
Chairman Smith, of the Dstrist Com
m'ttee. supported various amendments
Of A legislative character. which had
teen tackled onto the appropriation bill.
Ordinarily, Nh Smith declared. such
matters should be handled bv the Dis
trCt Committee, but inasmuCh as the
House has ,'ersistenUy shows dlspo-
sitiOn to tramplr upon the District Com
mittee. Mr.. Smith thought that the DIS
trct ought to have legislation in any
Wav II could get it. Mr. Smith said:
District Legislation Denied.
This committee has reported about siX-
" bills whirh hope will be enacted into
lew before this Congress concludes its
labors Beginning with about the mid
de Of last May, the District Committee
Of the House, before whom some of the
matters i'm this bill would naturally
4 3,l Ill
right that is due it under the rules of
the House 10 present its legislation; and
as a result. since the middle Of last May
this committee has had only one legis-
Iative dav and three hours of another
day. IT has. therefore, been impossible
t. even dtsDozAof the, the bills which the
upon the CalefMar at this time. 1t is
fo~ this reason, in Justification Of my
self and in Justification of the other
members of thC committee who may feel
as I do, that ! have spoken as | have
with reference tC the business Cf Gre
District"
When the appropriation for the Street
Cleaning Department waS redrhcd, Rep
rsSentatiVe Cary renewed his charges
that Commissioner Johnston has exceed
cd his authority in buying street clean
ing machines. and that SIX Of those
bought have been charged improperly
against the and i,a