Evening star., 1912-01-19
House Favors Inquiry Into
Great Falls Project.
CARLIN SHOWS OPPOSITION
Withdraws Point of Order and Para
graph Stays in District Bill.
MAINS TRANSFER BLOCKED
Proposition Opposed as Step to
Handing Water System to Dis
trict Government.

tr1ct Government.
After spirited debate on that para
graph of the District appropriation bill
appropriating slO,0W for preparation
of plans for the Great Falls power
project all objections made by mem
hers were withdrawn and the para
graph remained in the bill.
Representative Carlin Of Virginia made
the hardest fight ainst the provision.
lie did not express opposition to IL on its
merits. but declared the appropriations
committee was exceeding it's authority and
jurisdiction in bringing in legislation of
this sort in appropriation bills.
He did not make this comment how
ever. until the committee had refused to
accept an amendment proposed by him to
include a survey of the Potomac from
Washington to Cumberland in connection
with his bill for fiat water navigation, in
troduced the other day. as a part of the
Great Falls plan. Mr.. Carlin insisted that
the power project and his fiat water
scheme could be considered at the same
time. and surveys made out of the one
appropriation.
MIR. Burleson denied this and said he
wouldn't accept the amendment.
Criticises Appropriations Committee.
The Virginia member then made the re-
mark that the Great Falls project was
one that the rivers and harbors commit
Tee should consider. and that the appro-
priations committee was getting entirely
TOO arbitrary and insisted too much on
having its own way.
The gentleman from Virginia cannot
sandbag the appropriations committee"
remarked Mr.. Burleson, who suggested
that Mr.. Carlin should introduce his
amendment providing for a survey of the
hat water proposition.
What is the use." asked Mr. Carlin.
when you will make point of order
against it that 1t is not germane?"
Chairman Fitzgerald of the appropria-
tions committee then took a hand in the
game, remarking that the commit zee
would not make bargains with anybody.
lie and Representative Carlin had a sharp
exchange of verbal fireworks during the
course of their remarks.
Point of Order Withdrawn.
After further discussion, Representa-
tive Carlin withdrew the point of order
he had made. and Mr. Johnson with
drew one that he had reserved.
Il hope the point of order will not be
renewed" said Minority Leader Mann.
Il do not know whether the water pow
er at Great Falls can be made useful to
everybody does know that there is a
large volume of water power there that
is not utilized. There has been a great
change in feeling throughout the coun-
Try on the use of water power now going
to waste.
II we can utilize IL at less cost than
power is now costing the District, We
ought to do IT. 1t is absolutely certain
power can be utilized II Is necessary to
obtain the services of competent en-
gineers.
There are expert engineers in the
country who Will be able to say
whether Great Falls can be profitably
developed. I hope the point of order
will not be pressed"
Mr. Cariin remarked that he had
withdrawn his objection. as evidence
that am not inclined to interfere with
the improvement of Washington.
Transfer of Mains Knocked Out.
On a point Of order by Representa-
tive Johnson of Kentucky, chairman
of the House District committee. the
following paragraph was stricken
from the bill:
states Army. may transfer to the Com
missioners Of the District the castiron
water mains laid under his direction
for the purpose of carrying water from
Georgetown reservoir to the city,
which transfer shall include the trans
fer Of Me section of the conduit road
from Eliot place to Foxhall road, under
which these mains are laid, which sec
tion OF road the Commissioners are
authorized to accept as street of the
District Of Columbia. and also shall in
-lude the transfer of the bridge bu.it
20 carry these mains across Rock
creek at Pennsylvania avenue"
Mr.. Burleson, in charge of the bill, ex-
planned that the above provision would
not make the section of the road which
il was proposed TO transfer any more of
a street than ii was at present.
Mr. Johnson rejoined that this was evil
IDENTIFY the first step in a movement to
turn over the water system built and
owned by the United States to the Dis
trict of ColurNDia.
..If / had my way" said Mr. Burleson,
II would transfer the water system to
the District and make the District pay
one-half of the cost of it's construction
After knocking out that item, Mr.. john
son made point OF order against the
following:
.sfhe chief OF engineers. United States
Army is authorized and directed to
transfer 10 the jurisdiction of the Com
missioners Of the District as pubic
width, designated as lots - and Is.
square 252I. and extending from
Wyoming avenue TO kalorama road,
said lots having been purchased
in connection with the construction of the
Washington Aqueduct tunnel. provided
that when said highway is improved the
air-shaft now located thereon shall be
turned at a sufficient depth below the
street level and brought up into a vault,
TO he constructed under the sidewalk.
The chair sustained Mr.. Johnson's point
~ order and this paragraph also was
eliminated.
Investigation Of Falls Power Plant.
The paragraph appropriating 10000 for
an investigation of the Great Falls wa
terpower project was then read by the
clerk and a lively discussion ensued. The
paragraph in question. considered by the
appropriations committee to be one of the
most important in the bill from an eco
nomic standpoint, is follows:
"The Secretary OF War is authorized
and directed. through the Corps of En-
gineers Of the United States Army. TO
investigate and report to Congress at
the beginning of its next session on the
questions of the present water supply
in the District. and the sufiiciency of its
source at the Great Falls of the Potomac
TO supply the present and future needs
NJ tho limited States and of the District