Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-18
House Votes Appropriation for
Street Cleaning Department.
DISTRICT BILL UNDER FIRE
Attempt to Strike Out Item for
Removing Snow Fails.
SERVICE OF THE HEROIC CO.
Bur1eson Criticises the Attitude Of
a Former Employe Of District
Government.


consideration of the District appropriation
bill In committee Of the whole this after
noon. with Mr.. Garrett of Tennessee in
the chair.
Mr. Burleson, in charge of the bill.
caused to be read a memorandum from
Engineer Commissioner Judson detailing
the system of repairing the streets along
railway tracks. and for which repairs the
railway companies are responsible.
Herdic Company's Service.
Mr.. Slayden of Texas arose to inquire.
at this point, Ii Mr.. Burleson could en-
tighten him upon the general subject of
the status of the Herdic Company.
which occasionally sends vehicle
through 18th street.
Mr.. Burleson smilingly answered that
the Commissioners have sought to bring
the company to furnishing a better serv-
Ice, and the company had replied that
1t would abandon the service altogether
misstoners demanded. Mr.. Burleson add
ed that the Commissioners still have
hopes. however. of getting the company
to install a better service.
Street Cleaning Inspection.
Mr.. johnson questioned Mr.. Burleson
closely about the term in the street clean
ing appropriation of mot to exceed $50
per month for each inspector, for pur-
chase, maintenance and repair, of motor
propelled vehicles necessary in opera
TONS.
Mr.. Burleson explained that 1t was i'm
possible to divert this fund to allow the
purchase of pleasure automobiles and that
the vehicles proposed were pickup ma
chimes in the streets.
Proposed System Voted Down.
Mr.. Lobeck of Nebraska wanted to
strike out the whole appropriation OF
$245,OOO for street cleaning, and substi-
tute a new system of cleaning and pay
ment. His plan contemplated paying the
laborers on the streets - day, instead
of $50 a day. as at present. He said
there was no other big city which pays
its street laborers so low a rate as Wash
ington. He thought that a saving Of
$4,000 a year could be effected under his
plan.
Mr.. Burleson said the Commissioners
recognize that the public demands the
streets to be cleaned more economically
and more efficiently than in the past.
He believed the work is being done.
Not only are the Commissioners clean
ing the streets more economically and
efficiently, but are extending the area
of streets cleaned.
Mr.. Burleson declared that former
superintendent of street cleaning has been
cleaning department under the new meth
cd now in operation.
And right there Is the bug 4nder the
chip" said Mr.. Burleson.
II don't charge him with instigating
the effort to overturn this system. but
\ Al~nk e. f.fv fhnf h I'M
less than six months after starting under
the new system they should be attacked
by a proposition to change the sys-
tenn
Mr.. Lobreck's amendment was defeat
ed.
Removing Snow From Car Tracks.
the street railway companies to remove
entirely the snow from between the
tracks and two feet on each side and not
leave it in the street after sweeping it
from the tracks.
Mr. Mann, discussing this amendment.
which had the Endorsement of the Com
missioners, remarked that his observa-
ton had been that District Commission
ers were not always apt In proposing
legislation. District Commissioners come
and go, he said, and it was a great deal
change legislation.
Snow Appropriation Stays.
Mr.. Fowler 0ll.) moved to strike out
the appropriation of $4,000 for the re-
moval of snow and ice from the streets.
Mr.. Burleson suggested to him that the
motion was hardly in the interest Of
economy. as without this specific appro-
priation the entire appropriation for
street cleaning could be drawn upon.
Representative Sims of Tennessee read
into the record from a pamphlet recently
issued by the Washington Board of Trade
extsacts from a speech by the late Sena-
tor Hoar advocating payment by the gov
eminent of the residue Of expenses of the
District after sum had been raised by
taxation Of all personal and real property.
Mr. Sims said this method appealed to
him more strongly than the haIf-and-half
plan of the organic act.
Representative Fowler of Illinois Sc
cured only four affirmative votes to TWEEN
ty-six nays on his amendment to strike
out the snow appropriation. and it was
lost.