The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-01-27

Extravagance in the District govern
ment was the theme of speech in the
House yesterday by Representative john
son. of Kentucky.
Mr. Johnson prefaced his onslaught
upon District expenditures by saying that
he wanted the National Capital to be
made the most beautiful city in the world.
but he wanted this result reached through
legitimate cost and expense and not
through methods of wastefulness. He
specified the number of employees neceS-
sary to take care OF the Municipal Build
ing, and then. after enumerating all the
policemen. firemen. &C, remarked that
I'VE now have in this District an army
of 10000 or 1900 people upon the public
pay rolls, for One-half of which the
United States government pays: yet we
hear a clamor through the press and from
the residents of this District that they
are .nigEardly dealt with | say they are
more literally dealt with in every respect
than in any other State. county. or city
in the whole United States
Very Liberal to the Schools.
Mr.. johnson devoted some time to an
alyzing school expenditures. The school
board he said. says that the yearly
increase of children is 80 pupils. That
l deny, and if l had time l could estab-
liSh the fact that the yearly increase is
nearer 500 than it is 80; but, admitting
for the sake of argument that the yearly
increase is T50-that is. on five-year
basis-we spend SrI1 to make desk room
alone for each and every one of these
80 children who come into the school
age. If it we've brought down TO go. an in
crease nearer the proper figure. annually
for the past five years the sitting capacity
alone for each of these children would
cost s1.1S5 a year Now. some may say
that that only relates to the last year
two: but taking it for the last five
years. and on the basis of $50 children
who arrive at the school age each year,
that would be a cost of $50 for desk
room alone for each Of those 40 chill
dren; and if come down to what is
more approximately correct. that the in
crease is about 800 year, then you
spend 500 a year for desk room alone, for
each child who comes into the school age.
What Each Child Costs.
Next year" he continued. ION the
basis of 7JC children coming into the
school age. it will cost for each Of the
new children, for desk room alone, 1896.
On the basis of 500 which I contend is
nearer correct. desk room alone will cost
each child s1.210; and l say that there
has been provision made during the last
recent years for children who come into
the school age for desk room alone
enough money to build a good three
room cottage for each of the poor peo-
pie around this section. The amount
thus allowed for desk room for
each child will erect a building of that de-
scription anywhere. Now. then, when We
have to consider the charge of being
niggardly, which is made, ! say that
Congress is more liberal toward the
schools and toward every department of
the government thar can be found any
where else on earth
Cost of Books and Pencils.
An item of 1900 for the purchase OF
books was criticised by Mr.. Johnson.
This money" he remarked, lis spent as
well for the children of the millionaires
who flock from all over the country into
the District as for the INDECENT children.
We have the miIlionaires' children fur
nished with books and supplies at the
public expense in this city, where it is
done nowhere else that i know of. /
am in favor of furnishing books and sup
plies for the INDECENT children, but / am
against the proposition that the man
escape taxation. or that he may escape
tax after his death. shall
gain the benefit of this This last as
sertion elected applause from Mr.. John
sons acknowledgements. Mr.. Johnson
also had some sarcastic remarks to make |
Of an expenditure of s. 800 for lead pencils
and 1890 for pen points.
The Sixteenth Street Extension.
Before he concluded his speech Mr.. |
Johnson was drawn by Mr.. Cox of Ohio, |
INTO dissertation on street extensions !;
and improvements. Mr.. Cox particularly !
objected to the extension of Massachu- |
sets avenue for the benefit of the |
values on the hill This led Mr. johnson |
o talk about the Sixteenth street extern |
sion. sixteenth street. he said, has !
been extended where property was con- !
demneu 1T a cost of more than three |
quarters of million, and bridges were
quilt. The whole extension of Sixteenth |
street cost sl.5O0.OOO. To lead where?
Into a piece of thick woodland, beyond
which extension. as far as the human eve
can reach, not residence of any de-
scription was then nor is now in sight,
Ill to enhance the value of private prop
,rty at the expense of the public"
Would Change Name OF Drive.