Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-17
ITEM STRICKEN OUT
Chair Sustains Point Against
District Asphalt Plant.
HOUSE IN GENERAL DEBATE
Representative Johnson Objects to
the Proposed Appropriation.
MINORITY LEADERS POSITION
Believes the Paragraph Is Subject
to Point Of Order-Views
Of Others.
MINORITY LEADERS POSITION

1
son OF Kentucky, chairman Of the House
District committee, that the paragraph in
the District appropriation bill authorizing
| the commissioners to establish a NUM-
cipal asphalt plant. which was being
argued when The Stars report closed
yesterday afternoon, was finally decided
In Mr.. Johnsons favor, and the item was
stricken from the bill. There was a grea.
deal of debate on the provision, however,
owing to the fact that the contention of
Mr.. Johnson hinged upon Interpretation
OF the so-called Holman rule, which per-
mits legislation on appropriation bills
when the effect of that legislation is to
bring about reduction in the appropria-
tons carried.
| Representative Bnrleson of Texas. in
charge of the District measure, opposed
Mr.. Johnson's view that the municipal
asphalt plant provision was susceptible to
a point Of order.
1T is the contention of the appropr a.
| tons committee" he said, that the pro-
| visions of this item are not SO subject to
| a point of order. Under the act making
approximations for the service Of the Dis
| trict of Columbia for the fiscal wear 1872
| there was carried for resurfacing or
| streets the sum Of S425,OO The commit
| tee Will understand that we have 3UNDOW
square yards OF asphalt pavements with
in the corporate limits of this munich
paltty-mOre mileage of asphalt than aly
other city In the world Of like size. 1t is
necessary, In order to economically pre-
serve the asphalt pavement, that GER
tain percentage OF repairs and resurfac-
Ing shall be made each year to keep the
| average life of pavement to approxi-
| mately eleven or twelve years.
Duration of Asphalt Paving.
Under the appropriations which have
been made during the last three or four
years there has been q material reduc-
ton in the average life of asphalt pave
ments. A few years ago the average
life OF the asphalt .pavements in the Dis
trfct of Columbia exceeded fourteen years.
This age of asphalt pavements necessitat-
ed q larger appropriation to keep them in
repair than would have been necessary
if the average age had been maintained at
eleven years Scientific investigation has
determined that the most economical
| length of life for an asphalt pavement is
about eleven years. We now have the
average life OF the ASPHALT pavements in
| the city of Washington reduced to little
more than twelve years, as l under
stand it.
Prior to last year the work of asphalt
ing our pavements was done under con-
tract Prior to that year there was COM
petition on the part of asphalt companies
within the limits OF the District of Column
bia for this work, but at that time one
OF the companies in Washington absorbed
the other.
You will readily understand that in
order to do this work it is necessary to
maintain q rather expensive plant. Con-
seQuently, unless some action Is taken by
the District of Columbia when this pres
emit contract expires, which will be at
the end of the next fiscal year, the Dis
trict authorities win be absolutely at the
mercy of the one company now in ex-
istence.
Desiring to make provision for this
situation, We carried IN last years bill
an authorization for an asphalt plant. So
effective was that provision that before
the bill got to the Senate, although the
bill by a point Of order. the chairman
Of the subcommittee of the committee
on appropriations for the District of CO.
lumbia, In company with the Engineer
Commissioner, met the contractor, who
said IL they would not press the matter
at that time he would assure them that
the bid that would be made for the
asphalt work in the District of Columbia
would be less than $40 per square yard
Increases Bid for Repair Work.
1T is true that he kept his word, and
We have a contract now for $1.6S for the
resurfacing work to be done in the Dis
this contractor increased his bid for re-
pair work. SO as to absorb and absolutely
nullify the benefit that would have &C
crued to the District by reason of the
lower bid for asphalt resurfacng.
I'm this bill we carry only $4,000 for
resurfacing. coupled with the proviso for
an asphalt plant. Bear in mind that
we appropriated last year $425,UGO and
In this bill we carry only $4,000, a re-
duction of $4,000 below last year, coupled
with the proviso that the asphalt plant
plant for the utilization of old uplift
asphalt material shall also be provided.
Every one familiar with the work of
asphalting or resurfacing streets knows
that large amount of material which is
lifted up and which constitutes the sur
face which is contemplated to be replaced
is wasted. The Engineer Commissioner
could be used to advantage. He conceived
that a plant could be constructed which
could utilize it to great advantage. He
directed the attention of gentleman
who is engaged in the manufacture OF
machinery to the matter and invited him
to come here AS a result of that con-
ference a machine was evolved for the
purpose of utilizing this old asphalt ma
terial. There was no authority on the
part of the Engineer Commissioner to
purchase the machine, and after it was
made the city of Cleveland purchased it
and has been utilizing this uplift or
wasted material that has heretofore been
Of no practical benefit to the District.
Saving in Cost Expected.
Il am informed now that they are util-
izing a similar machine i'll Omaha. also