Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-25
IS AGAIN. Up IN AIR.
CONTINUED from First Page.)

break stones In the old-time way for
use upon the streets Of the National
Capital.
Imputation Resented.
Criticism Of the District Of Columbia
committee by Mr.. BWleson was indig-
nantly resented by Representative Olcott
Of New York, a member of that body.
He supported Mr.. Johnson in the conten-
ton that this municipal asphalt plant
proposition was one upon which the Dis
trict committee should pass.
$50 far as this asphalt proposition is
concerned" said Mr.. Olcott, Il do not
intend to discuss its merits. But l do
wish to make an emphatic protest against
all this criticism here of the District
committee. There is no more hard work.
ing committee than the District commit
dying here upon the calendar of this
House that should have been passed
weeks ago. We have been steam rollered
Bills have been denied consideration
because the committee of which l am
member was deprived of District day.
will not stand up here under all these cir
cumstances and quietly listen to all this
criticism of the District committee
Mr. t'ornes served two years at the
men. After mentioning this fact on the
floor today. he said he was surprised that
the government of the District Of Column
bia should have been forced to pay what
he considered such high prices for
asphalt. He expressed the opinion that
even $1.4o square yard was entirely too
high, and that the price should not be
more than $135, although this was ex-
tremely liberal, as some cities had price
He thought the establishment of an
ahphalt plant, such as was proposed,
would be an excellent thing, as it would
probably result in breaking up the asphalt
monopoly in Washington.
New York Owns Plant.
Representative Young of New York in
dorsed Mr.. Fornes' remark. Moreover,
he declared that the House should pay at
tention to the utterances of a man who
had had so much experience in the ad-
ministration Of the government of q big
city.
New York city established an asphalt
plant Tor Its own protection said Mr..
Young. 1--WE now have cheaper asphalt.
This Is an opportunity for the House of
Representatives to stop this combination
which is burdening the District
representative Washington Gardiner of
ferees on the District bill, pleaded for the
asphalt plant appropr. alton He called
attenti6e to the fact that the merits of
the pro POSITION were conceded, and that
the only trouble arose as a result of
clash in jurisdiction between the District
committee and the appropriation commit
tee. But Representatives Johnson Of Ken
lucky and Borland of Missouri insisted
that the appropriation committee had no
right to legislate in this manner on the
District budget Mr.. johnson thought the
commissioners should have gone to the
District committee if they wanted to es-
tabl!sh municipal asphalt plant here.
cor nn ,;s. was the only way open to the
ing attention to the fact that the District
committee has had a mighty slim chance
Of getting any legislation through the
House during the present session.
Criticism OF this new method of leg
islating'' was also INDUCED in by Repre-
sentative Cullop of Indiana.
Opposes Salary Increase.
The discussion Of the asphalt PROPOSE
ton was discontinued at this point, and
Representative Foster of Illinois made
an assault on the Senate amendment
increasing the salaries Of the District
Commissioners to $4,000 a year. The
increase was contained in the District
bill as the measure was reported from
the House District committee. but went
out on point Of order on the floor.
The Senate restored the item.
In reply to Mr.. Fosters criticism today
Mr.. Gardiner declared emphatically that
II the members of Congress were worth
$500 year he thought the Commits
sioners, in view of the important char
acter of their work, were worth at least
$1,000 year.
The motion to suspend the rules and
agree to the conference report, which was
made by Representative BurlesOn OF
Texas, failed by few votes short of
the necessary two-thirds majority. AS
result the District bill was returned to
the conference committee.
Senate Insists on Amendments.
The House Of Representatives having
refused to accept the conference report
m tho district Of Columbia appropri-