The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1912-02-21


Washington. - Representative Ben
johnson Of the Fourth Kentucky dis
trict continues to be much in the
llmelight here as result of his ex-
coriation Of the attempts to have the
federal government pay the larger
part OF the bills OF the District OF
Columbia, regardless of their charac-
ter. These attempts Mr. Johnson has
successfully checkmated so far, at
least to the extent Of saving the ma
tional government over s2,00OO0O.
In discussing at length the attempt
ed elimination of those various sec
tons in the district bills which are
loaded" Mr.. Johnson made speech
which caused him to be showered
with congratulations from both sides
of the house. This speech, as 1t re-
ferred to the municipality of Wash
ington. would be of local interest to
every other city in the country in
which combinations have sought to
fitch the public treasury.
is waging a determined and united
fight on the chairman of the District
of Columbia committee, but Mr.. John
son has paid no attention to the edi-
torial and news stories.
Mr.. johnson took up, in turn, the
operation of the local railway COM
pany. which seeks, he asserted. at the
governments expense, to have work
cone which it should pay for. He
ridiculed the devices to which those
who are anxious to have the federal
government pay the expenses Of the
district resort. He pointed out the in
consistency in this or that apparently
innocent section which, when proper
ly shown up. proved to be another
scheme to extort money from the ma
tional purse Mr.. Johnson was at
times caustic and humorous, and he
held the attention of the house
throughout.
Johnson Opens Fire.
The house being in committee of
the whole on the state of the Union,
had under consideration house bill
No. 1861, making appropriations to
provide for expenses Of the govern
ment of the District of Columbia for
the fiscal year ending June 10, 1913,
and for other purposes. The section
of the bill under immediate consider
alton called for an appropriation OF
1915, 40S for interest and sinking fund
on the funded debt.
Mr.. Johnson spoke as follows:
Mr.. Chairman: / make a point Of
order on this section OF the bill, and
] wish to discuss il little. l regard
this as one of the very important
items In the bill. In fact, | think
there is no one item that is more i'm
IOrtant than this. 1t has been car
ried along In the appropriation bill
for a number OF years. However,
when it was first put In the appropri-
alton bill it was inserted with the
form of the statute OF 1879 upon the
subject. Since that time they have
ceased TO use the statute with this
FORM but have used somebody's con-
Clusion as to what the statute meant.
and have inserted that conclusion in
the appropriation bill instead of the
act itself
Before going further into that par
ticular subject, wish to devote a lit
tie time, not to criticism, but to a re-
view of some of the rulings which
the chairman has made.
A ruling by the chair to the eff
feet that an appropriation made out
OF public moneys for the purpose of
re5urfacng streets with asphalt can
which il was appropriated and used
TO build brick paving for the street
Car companies; and another ruling TO
the effect that an appropriation made
for the public schools, with which TO
equip public Fairgrounds. can be d.
Nerted from that purpose and spent
upon any other playgrounds-par
ial sectarian or otherwise-do not in
spire one to further points of order.
Because the street car companies
desire the district authorities TO con-
struct that part Of the streets which,
under the law, the street car com
panies must build and maintain, is no
reason why the district authorities
should want to go into the street
building business for the street rail.
roads. The district officials should.
in my opinion. confne themselves to
the task Of caring for their part Of
the work; and, instead OF becoming
contractors for the railroads. should
notify the railroad companies that
they themselves must do 1t. The rail
roads might not care for a small fine.
but II they did not comply with the
law their franchises would be forfeit
ed. These franchises were secured
at too little an expense. and are now
so valuable an asset that not the re-
hottest risk will be assumed which
might endanger their forfeiture.
| am conscious o. the fact that no
one who win read the Record contain
ing the proceedings OF the committee
OF the whole house while this bill
hos haan nnd..r confederation can ar.