Evening star., 1912-01-13
FIVE GO TO DEATH REASONS FOR CUT
Automobile Phmges Through Discussion OF the District Bill
the Ice Into Stream. in the House.
ONLY ONE OF PARTY ALIVE Mr.. BURLES0N EXPLAINS
Pneumonia Defense the Reduction Of School
and May Succumb and Police Estimates
HAD NO CHANCE TO ESCAPE OMISSION OF PARK PROJECTS
Members the
Riders Held Appropriations Make
Of to Criticism
Discussion of the District Bill
in the House.
AR. BURLESON EXPLAINS
Defense Of the Reduction of School
and Police Estimates.
OMISSION OF PARK PROJECTS
Members Of the Subcommittee on
Appropriations Make Response
to Criticism.

The District OF Columbia appropriation
bill was taken up for considarasinn In
the House Of Representatives today. Rep
resentative BurIeson OF Texas in charge
Of the measure. expressed the opinion
that 1t will be passed by the House ana
sent over to the Senate by next Thurs-
day.
Before the reading Of the bin for
amendment was begun In the House to-
day Mr.. Burleson made a statement IN
explanation OF the large reductions that
had been made in the measure by the
appropriations committee.
''The subcommittee of the approprfa-
tions committee which has charge OF
this BILL" said Mr. Bur.eson, exercised
economy In its preparation. I want to
say at the outset that the three demo-
Gratis of the subcommittee had the ear
nest assistance OF the two republican
members, Representatives Taylor of Ohio
and Dwight OF New York. and the bill
as reported to the full committee was
the fruit of the labors of the entire sub
committee
This bill carries no authoriz n ton for
new employment. The reason II carries
no new places is that 1t was the deiib-
crate judgment of the subcommittee that
none was needed at this time The bill
increases the compensation Of but two
emp Dyes Of the District government,
laundresses at the tuberculosis hospital.
and these increases were made because
the subcommittee felt they were not re-
ceiving adequate compensation for the
services rendered
I'm every instance the subcommittee
refused to increase salaries because OF
length OF service. In no instance have
we cut the estimates OF the Commission
ers in such way as to impair the ef-
f1ciency OF the particular branch OF tho
service for which the estimate was made.
Every member of the subcommittee
stands ready to defend every item where
reductions accomplished and the result
will meet with the approval OF members
Of this -body.-
Not Regarded AZ Radical.
"As a matter Of fact such reductions 40
have been made are not radical The
estimates submitted were s12.954. 10. The
amount carried by last years bill :s yl2,-
$40. .2S6 This bill carries slO.3O22oA We
cut the estimates $2.u2.5l2. ana We re-
duced the curren' appropriation by
IF this bill meets WIN the approval Of
this body and no material increases are
made by the Senate. at the end of the
fiscal year is13 the -infunded debt Of the
District OF Columbia will be completely
liquidated for sl.946.973 of the District
revenues ..1ll remain unspprop' lated and
this is within just = little more than ST.
900 OF he amour, Of the unfulried in
debtedness at the end Of the next fiscal
year."
Mr.. Burleson referred to the fact that
there had been considerable criticism of
the hfll in the local press
Everybody favors economy" Mr.. Bur-
Lesson said, unless the practice OF econ
omy is brought home to hts own door.
BUT / do not expect any criticism OF the
bill from papers outside of the District
OF Columbia, nor any oppos tion here I'm
this House after we have explained its
provisions
Then Mr. Burleson declared that most
OF the local criticism OF the measure was
based on the treatment of the public
schools in the bill. He added that while
he did not intend to scuss all !he cetails
of the measure in his preliminary state
ment, he thought, in view of the structures
on public school items, that he would say
something on that point.
lone of the local papers, Mr.. Bur
Lesson remarked. says that we struck at
the pubic school system because that
was nearest the heart of the people and
because we were dissatisfied with the re-
lations existing between the federal gov
ernment and the District of Columbia
The appropriations committee has moth
ing to do with that relationship. That
rests with the committee on the District
of Columbia. We make the appropria-
tions according to the way we find the
law written"
President Taft, Mr. Burleson said, had
remarked on the ''extravagance OF tho
local school system in one of his mes
sages." He read that portion of tho
message to which he referred.
Not Fair Comparison.
1T is not fair" he said. ITO compare.
the District government with the govern
ments Of New York, Chicago and other
cities OF that class. Those cities ars
commercial cities and the conditions are
radically different But many OF the con-
ditions here are similar TO those In Ba!ti-
more. Richmond and New Orleans. Tha
District OF Columbia has lao school build
ings with a school enrolment of approxi-
mately 5000 and attendance ranging:
from 44,OOO to 5000. Baltimore had ~:
schools in. 1909 with an enrolment OF
SO.363 and q population of $4,000. as
compared to Washington's population or
10000
Representative Sims Of Tennessee in-
terrupted to call attention to the fact
that Baltimore rays all the expenses
of her school system, while the United
States pays half of the cost mere.
THAT is correct" Mr.. Burleson re-
Joined.
The Texas member said he proposed to
demonstrate to the House that the DIS
trict did not need any additional school
buildings and that the appropriations
committee should not be criticised for
ignoring the estimates in that regard
He said that although the attendance OF
the local schools was only 49.21S last
October. and 4S.44S in December. the
seating capacity was JS.9 1863. while liza
additional desks were provided In build
ings now under construction, and ninety
six additional desks in buildings the COLI
struction of which were about to be
begun.
.sYet," said Mr. Burleson, more school
buildings are asked for"
Mr. Burleson then referred to the testi-
mony of the assistant superintendent OF
schools before the appropriations SUBJ
committee to the effect that no addi.
tional buildings would be needed II ft
were only practicable to move buildings
where school growth had stopped and
was even on the decline, to those new
and rapidly building sections. where such
growth was ON the increase.
sIt is not practicable to do this, said
Mr. Burleson, but the school districts
can be enlarged The school system OF
Wa shington Is the most extr8vagant in
the whole United States. The subcom.
mittee would have been derelict IN its