The Adair County news., 1912-10-02

of a single act OF congress. If sought
to do that, this is neither the time nor
the place for 1t.
Upon the other hand, 1 have faith
fully endeavored to have the commi'
tee OF the whole house cOnfine itse''
strictly to the law as 1t is now upcl
the statute books. During the To
nainder Of the time this bill is under
consideration I shall continue my ef-
forts In that direction.
It will be infinitely better for both
the United States and the District OF
Columbia IL a strict Interpretation OF
the law is here adhered to. l do not
wish to criticise adversely the decis-
ions Of the distinguished gentleman
who now occupies the chair; but I
trust it is not at all distasteful even
to him for me to review some Of them.
merely to see how this year too lib
eral construction given to law leads
next year TO another too liberal con-
struction, until, in few years, the
original law is lost sight OF and the
accumulated, unwarranted construc-
lions therefore given become the &C
certed law.
Important Point Raised.
The chair has held that under ex-
listing law an appropriation can be
made from the public treasury for
equipping public school playground.
Whether or not the law warrants that
IS not at Issue, for the reason that no
point was raised as to that. But
point was raised as to whether or not
the public treasury could be invaded
for the purpose Of equipping other
Fairgrounds; and the chair has held
that an appropriation of the peoples
money could be put into the hands CT
the district authorities with no lini-
tation upon 1t other than an expressed
belief that upon his part that those
with whom 1t would be intrusted
would not go beyond proper limits in
expending IT,
If this policy should be generally
pursued, there would be no need for
a single official bond in the entire
Union; in fact. IL we are to presume
that only the proper and Just act IS
always to be done, there would be no
/ reed for laws. no need for courts,
no need for this legislature. The law
relative to the schools Of the District
/ of Columbia not only contemplates,
but says so in so many words, that
only the public schools are to be
cared for at public expense. II, as
the chair has ruled, the public money
can legally be spent for Fairgrounds
( other than thu public school play
grounds, IL the officials into whose
/ hands the money to be expended has
been put think so, then all limitation
is removed If the public money can
be spent by district officials upon any
Fairgrounds which they select, then
let US see where IL leads. II this
expenditure may legally go beyond
the public school, then it can go 10
the sectarian school; next it may go
tC the private school; next it may go
to the public playground-an Just
here | wish to call attention TO the
playground item. That item does not
limit the public fund to equipping the
public school Fairgrounds; neither
does it limit it even to school
chair the district officials into whose
hands this money is put, IL they wish
to do so, can expend any part or al
Of it upon any Fairgrounds. Then, II
they wish to do so, they can spend
II upon grounds other than those gen
orally accepted as Fairgrounds for
school children; and, from all I can
learn. they contemplate expanding Il
upon grounds other than public
school grounds
When the ground upon which the
money is spent is not property legal
/ ly acquired by the district for the
public school system, then that
| ground occupies the same legal status
/ as a park privately owned. The pub
lie fund may properly be spent upon
! a park public owned; but it can not
/ properly be spent upon a park pri-
I vately owned, except under authority
/ of an act Of congress; and 1t requires
/ an act of congress to give that dis
! erection to the district officials which
| There is no act of congress which au-
/ thorizes the expenditure of public
! money upon such private park or pri-
/ vate grounds as have mentioned.
/ And, if there IS no such act of con
| gress, then the item in the appropria-
/ ton bill is clearly subject to a point
/ Of order, at least until a limitation Of
! its use is confined to the public
| schools.
Equipping Fairgrounds.
| Again, if public money can. in the
I Judgment of district officials, be spent
| to equip Fairgrounds, who is to deter
| mine what that equipment is to be-
Inasmuch as there is no maximum
/ school age limit in the district the
! equipment must, of necessity, take
! wide range. The official report OF
the school board discloses their state
| ment that the school children CD
range in age between years and IS
| years.
Tho aoufpr1apt ~ a pIavcrO,1ud fO-