Evening star., 1911-01-27
Appropriations Reduced by Ac:
tion of Mr.. Johnson.
RAISES POINTS OF ORDER
Kentucky Representative Continues
Attack Upon the Measure.
STREET ITEMS ELIMINATED
Spirited Discussion of the PROPOSE
tion to Establish Municipal
Asphalt Plant.

Consideration of the District of Colum-
bia appropriation bill was continued by
the House of Representatives today. Fol-
lowing an hour and half devoted to the
passage of private pension bills. the read
ing OF the local budget for amendment
was resumed. Representative William s.
Bennett of New York. who yesterday on
the floor of the House made sensational
| charges against the District Commission
ers in connection with the method of
making assessment on real property, was
kept away from the floor by a hearing
before the immigration committee. of
which he is chairman. Consequently
there was no resumption Of the contro-
versy of yesterday.
Representative Johnson Of Kentucky. a
member of the House District commit
tee, continued his attack on the appro-
priation bill by interposing points OF or
der and eliminating all new matter not
authorized by existing law and therefore
subject to that particular form of par
liamentary assault. In this manner he
managed to have eliminated the para
graph: For purchase or condemnation OF
necessary land. paving and construction
of walls, steps and terraces for connect
| ing Belmont and 18th streets northwest
in accordance with plans approved by
the Commissioners, 5000
Another Item Eliminated
He also made a point Of order against
the appropriation of $1,000 for purchase
or condemnation of streets, roads and
alleys" Mr.. Johnsons remarks on this
N = rp 90 tod holt sof hot 70
Commissioners would take this enormous
sum and buy something they should not.
Representative Gardner of Michigan, in
charge of the BILL saved the paragraph by
amending 1t with the words when au-
oriZed by law"
Later Mr.. Johnson displayed a consid-
cradle lack Of familiarity with the north
west section of the city. When the para
graph was reached to appropriate Sl..OOO
To grade and improve Mount Pleasant
street Mr.. Johnson wanted to know if
that street had been cut through get
Taylor, facetiously. There have been
street cars on it for several years"
Asphalt Plant Discussed.
There was long discussion of that
paragraph of the bill appropriatinS
$4,000 for the construction of a munic-
ipal asphalt plant. Many members
demanded an explanation of the item
the inclusion of which in the bill was
warmly defended by members of the
appropriations committee.
Representatives Gardner of Michigan
and Bowers of mississippi told the House
that the reason the provision was in
serted was that since combination of
the few asphalt companies in the District
had been effected the price asked the Dis
trict for asphalt paving had jumped from
81 A tn 81 "a ward.
Mr.. Bowers declared that if the asphalt
plant were erected and never used it still
would be good investment for the Dis
trict. 1t would serve as protection, he
declared. from the extortionate demands
of any combination of asphalt compa MES
Chairman TaWney Of the appropria-
tion committee pleaded with Representa-
tive Mann of Illinois, who had reserved a
point of order against the paragraph, not
to renew 1t and to let the paragraph stay
in the bill.
MIR. Mann withdrew his point of order
but Representative Johnson of Kentucky
renewed it and the eventy-five-thousand
dollar provision for the asphalt plant was
stricken from the bill