Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-02
House Rejects Debt Funding
Plan for the District.
SHARP WORDS IN DEBATE
Measure Is Attacked as in the In.
terest Of Land Speculation.
JOHNSON CHARGES JUGGLERY
3, Never Considered by Committee, He
Declares-Beaten by Democratic
and Insurgent Votes.

The Judson financial plan for funding
the debt Of the District and making about
soOOnOO0O available for permanent local
improvements in the next twelve years
received its death blow. so far as this
session of Congress Is concerned, in the
House Of Representatives yesterday. The
vote by which the bill Incorporating this
plan was defeated was not even close.
only Sc members voting for it, while ISL
were registered in the negative. The
democrats and the republican insurgents
voted solidly against the measure.
The bill in the final form in which it
was submitted to the House provided
that. beginning with June so of this year.
the Commissioners. In determining the
estimates Of funds available for appro-
priation for each succeeding year, after
setting aside enough to cover the charges
which are required by law to be paid
altogether from the District revenues,
including the per cent interest on the
sum the District owes to the federal
government. should set aside the sum of
100000 to be applied to the repayment
of these advances
Provided for Gradual Liquidation.
1t also was provided that, on the half
and-haf basis of appropriation. the an
nual estimates of the remainder of the
appropriation should not be greater than
twice the amount of the District revenues
remaining.
The gradual liquidation of the bonded
debt of the District out of the combined
revenue fund was to be provided for by
the annual inclusion I'm the Commission
crS' estimates of the sum of 1914. 4OS now
annually appropriated for the interest and
sinking fund.
The work Of permanent Improvement
was directed ina paragraph ordering the
commissioners to include in their annual
estimates sum not less than 81 ,23O, 900
for this purpose. beginning with the fiscal
year Of 1918. this sum to be increased by
100000 each succeeding year until the
close OF the fiscal year of 1924.
Representative Samuel w. Smith of
Michigan, chairman Of the House Dis
trict committee, and Representatives
Mann and Madden of Illinois, Olcott of
New York and others appealed for the
passage of the bill. while Representatives
Johnson of Kentucky, Borland of Mis-
souri, and Sims of Tennessee led the fight
in opposition. During the debate on the
measure some rather sharp things we're
said on both sides.
Believes in Paying Debt.
Il believe" said Chairman Smith, in
paying the debt Of this city the same
as any other city. And while We are
paying the debt We ought at the same
time provide for permanent improvements.
This bill is not brought here by real es-
tate SPECTATORS, as has been jntimated.
1t originated in the brain of the Engineer
Commissioner Of the District, Maj. Jud-
SON.
II will never vote" cried Mr.. Sims, ito
give to any one man, be he an engineer
commissioner or the President Of the
United States, the power to fasten a lia-
bility of $cO.0OOo0O on this government
for the purpose Of buying a few old frog
ponds, a few old ash dumps. to enable
real estate SPECTATORS to do as they are
now doing, as | understand it-getting
options on every old dump pile on the
outskirts and trying to get a bill passed
through this Congress in its dying hours
authorizing their purchase at most ex-
travagant rates.
Hints at Land Speculation.
Representative Hamilton Fish Of New
York also made bitter attack on the
proposition. He alleged that Engineer
Commissioner Judson wanted TO divert
the power OF Congress 10 maze the ap-
preparation for the District.
There is no demand for this legisla-
tion," said Mr.. Fish. except by land
SPECTATORS and engineer officers. The
bill speaks about wiping out the debt of
the District, but its real purpose is to in
crease the power Of the Engineer Com
missioner.
who Is behind this Anacostia project
that they should have power to bring
this bill here? The bill, even after the
Rock Creek project has been cut from 1t,
contains provision of total expenditure
of $4,000 600. when in reality it should
be S14OOOO0O. This shows what sort of
q measure IL is"
Mr.. Johnson of Kentucky declared that
there had been more parliamentary leeer-
domain in connection with the bill than
he had ever seen with reference to any
other measure.
About a year ago." he said, "a bill
was introduced under the number which
this one bears. 1t was considered by the
committee. and thereby bill under this
number was brought before the commit
tee. There 1t was considered by the COM
mittee: and, if I recollect correctly. 1t
passed the committee by a scant ma
jority.
But the other day. Mr.. Chairman.
ask this House to remember. when this
bill by number came up for considera-
ton. the chairman Of the committee asked
that a Senate bill, which, If i am cor
inf has