The Washington herald., 1911-03-02

By the decisive vote of l5l to So
the House yesterday disapproved
the plan of the. District Commis-
sioners to provide for the liquida-
ton of the debt of the District and
carry forward permanent improve
mentS.
Accompanied by bitter allega-
tions of an attempt on the part OF
the Commissioners to swing unde-
Sirable real estate deals and to seize
certain powers of the House in re-
gard to District improvements, the
so-called Judson funding bill went
down to defeat.
REPRESENTATIVES, SIMS OPPOSES.
Chairman Smith. of the House District
Committee, obtained the recognition of the
Chair and offered the measure for con-
sideration under suspension of the rules.
Representative Sims, OF Tennessee, the
main antagonist of the bill, Immediately
squared of for war. The Tennesseean
closed an hours debate on the bill with
a food of fiery denunciation. He char
acterized the measure as "a So,OOO00O
scheme to buy land that nobody would
have and that nobody could use" and
added that the reclamation of the Ana
costa fats was for the purpose of con-
Meeting them with Rock Creek Park
Referring to the permanent improve
ment clause Of the funding bill, Mr. Sims
said:
Il will never vote here to give to any
one man, be he an Engineer Commissioner
OF the President of the United States.
the power to fasten a liability Of S2o,-
10000 on this government for the pur-
pose OF buying a few cid frog ponds,
few old ash dumps, to enable real es-
tate SPECTATORS to do as they are now
doing, as I understand it-gettfng op-
tions on every old dump pile on the
outskirts and trying to get bill passed
through this Congress in its dying hours
authorizing their purchase at most ex-
travagant rates"
Advocates of the Measure.
Despite the eloquent appeals OF Repre-
sentative Smith. Representative Mann,
Representative OIcott, and Representa-
tive Madden and their earnest assertions
that the Judson funding bill authorized
the direct purchase Of no property by
the Commissioners, and did not in the
least curtail the powers of the Committee
on Appropriations, a large majority Of
the House preferred to vote down the
measure.
It was explained by the advocates of
the bill that it provided for annual cred
its to the floating Indebtedness of the
District of 100000. a gradual wiping out
of the funded Indebtedness, and annual
estimates of appropriations for permanent
of not less than $3.50, 900.
The latter sum, it was pointed out, was
to be increased at the rate of $4,000 per
year, until 1924 Express provision was
made in the bill that the estimates of
should include the recla-
nation of the Anaco fats above the
navy yard bridge and the gradual ex-
tension OF the park system of the Dis
trict, also the elimination of grade cross !
ings and the prosecution of other i'm |
Il believe in paying the debt of this city |
as we'll as that of any other city" said !
Smith in presenting the |
bill. 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 estate specula- |
tors. as has been intimated. It originated |
IN the brain of the Engineer Commission |
er of the District. Maj. Judson."
Mai. Judson's Interest.
What interest can the Engineer Com
missioner have in laying down financial /
plans for Congress TO foIlow?'' inquired |
Mr. Sims with considerable heat
The interests of ninety million people,
Mr.. Smith.
In sarcastic manner Mr.. Sims asserted |
that the Engineer Commissioner was ex-
oeeding his functions.
Representative Johnson, of Kentucky, /
expressed his dissatisfaction with the
measure in strong terms and charged the
chairman of the District Committee with
having changed the bill four times with
out submitting il to the members of that
BODY.
This bill" said Mr.. Johnson, carries
more millions than any one here suspects.
There is no limit to what 1t may accom-
JIish.''
Outside of the onslaught of Representa-
i've Sims, the most savage atack mace
IN the bill was by Representative Fish,
IF New York.
There is no demand for this legislation
except by land speculators and engineer
,ficers," said Mr. Fish after charging
hat & deliberate attempt had been led
,y Maj Judson TO start a movement de-
signed to result in seizing the power now
belonging to Congress to make annual
for the District
s'The bill speaks about wiping out the
iebt." said Mr. Fish, but its real pur-
pose is to increase the power OF the
engineer officer"
Representative Mann and others en-
ieayored to interrupt for the purpose
of refuting the arguments of the New
York Congressman. but he swept them
aside and continued:
who is behind this Anacostia project
hat they should have power to bring
his bin here7" continued Mr.. Fish .srhe
bill. even after the Rock Creek PROJECT
1as been cut from II. contains provision
II total expenditure Of sD,ooo0oo. when