Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-16
House Considering the District
Appropriation Bill.
POINTS OF ORDER RAISED
Amendment Adopted Restricting In.
vestigations by Coroner.
DEBATE OF ASSESSMENT WORK
Representative johnson Objects to
Appropriation, But Is overruled.
Reduction in Amount Explained.

Reduction in Amount Explained.
When the House resumed consideration
of the District appropriation bill today an
offered by Mr.. Burleson was
adopted providing that hereafter the cor
oner shall not hold inquests in cases
where 1t is known that deceased came 10
death by suicide or accident.
Ar. Lobeck of Nebraska also offered an
amendment providing that hereafter all
public advertising of the District of Co
lumbia shall be printed I'm one paper
alone. OF more than 10000 circulation, and
awarded to the lowest bidder
MT. Mann of Illinois suggested that it
might be desirable to advert Sc in more
than one paper. because the people are
not likely to take one paper just for the
possibility of following the pubic adver-
Using.
Mr. Butler of Pennsylvania said tho
amendment IL adopted would depr We tho
Commissioners Of all discretion In the
matter, and compel them to award the
advertising to the lowest bidder. regard
less OF circulation.
-.r. A-uriesOn said he would refrain
from making q point of order or the
amendment as 1t might result I'm econ
omy.
Il make the point OF ORDER" said Mr..
Mann. that the amendment is new legis-
lation''
and the amendment was ruled out.
Moves to Strike Out.
Mr.. Fowler moved to strike out the
appropriation Of $500 to obtain data
with reference to old subdivisions in tho
District Of Columbia Mr.. F.w er said
he offerQd fhis avneudyuout q, lah, .
economy.
Mr.. Sanders opposed the amendment.
declaring that the appropriation Is nee
essary.
viva voce vote. and when he de !lan1el
division he found but one other SUI porter
as against twenty-three nays. aIi. ms
amendment was lost.
Mr.. johnson OF Kentucky made a point
OF order against the appropriation OF
$1O0. u0O for assessment and permit work
c. aiming that there is no law to author
ixe It,
There is an express statute authoriz-
ing it," contended Mr.. Burleson of Texas.
and. moreover, Il is one of the items to
which the citizens contribute
Mr.. Johnson insisted that there Ii no
law authorizing the appropriation. and
the paragraph was temporarily passed
over until the law could be looked up
Division of the Cost.
Representative Fowler OF Illinois wanted
to know why the cost Of paving the
streets should not be borne. in part, by
owners Of abutting property. Mr.. Burle-
son replied that the law does not so re-
quire. He frankly expressed his own be-
lief that the property owners should pay
portion OF the cost OF paving streets
Mr.. Fowler thereupon urged that some
one familiar with the District Code should
Aro mr. hill ha
owners to share I'm the cost of street
paving.
!. Returning to the item OF permit end
assessment work, Mr.. Burleson quoted
that the appropriation is not subject To
a point OF order.
Mr.. johnson contended that no permit
and assessment work has ever been au-
thorized by law. and that no appropria-
ton can be made.
Chair Rules Against johnson.
Mr.. Fitzgerald said 1t is clearly in order
to improve the public streets. and that
this appropriation Is intended to relieve
the United States Treasury of a part or
the cost by providing for assessment of
the cost upon the abutting property.
The chair ruled In favor of Mr.. Burle-
sons contention and decided against Mr.
Johnson's point OF order, SO that the APP
pTOpIlHtlOu E6IudlnGO III Tic Diil
Mr.. Mann wanted to know why the ap-
preparation for permit and assessment
work was cut down from $4,000 TO $780,
600.
Mr. Burleson replied that the appropria-
ton for sewers, formerly included in this
paragraph, was carried this year In am
other item.
Wood Block Authorised.
On motion of REPRESENTATIVE Jefferson
Levy Of New York the use Of wood
block was authorized in the construction
OF payements.
When the paragraph relating to the pro-
posed municipal asphalt plant was
reached both Mr.. johnson and Mr.. Mann
made points of order against it. Mr..
the necessity for the plant, and dwelt
on the saving to the city that would re-
suit from its construction.
Mr. johnson declared that he was not
opposed to a municipal asphalt plant. but
he did object to the provision i'm the bill
which gave United states properly TO tiie
District without recompense. The bill au
thorizes the Commissioners OF the District
to use such portion OF public space ly-
ing south of Water street and east OF
l4th street southwest as may in their
Judgment be necessary. Mr.. Johnson
pointed out that this land belongs wholly
to the United States.
Declares It Is Legerdemain.
Mr.. Burleson offered to put in an amend
ment to make the District pay one-half OF
the value Of this land into the United
States Treasury. Mr.. Johnson said there
was q bill providing for q mum cipal as
phait plant now before the House conf
mittee on which he hopes to get action in
the near future.
Tie would have had action before this.
he said, except that he had found 1t diff
6cult to get quorum OF the committee
together. He characterized the municipal
asphalt plant paragraph In the bill a.
piece of legerdemain to enlarge
the contribution of the United States to
the District Of Columbia"