Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-11
Point of Order Takes Project
Out of District Appro-
priation Bill.
CHAMPIONS OF CAPITAL
FOR A GENEROUS POLICY
Wall of Economy" Raised Most
Often at Expense of Washing
ton, They Assert.

The Senate committee amendment per-
nitting a merger of the Washington
and Georgetown gas companies went out
OF the District appropriation bill today on
q point of order. as new legislation in
appropriation bill. The point of order
was made by Senator La Toilette of Wis
consin. Senator'S Reed of Missouri and
Overman of North Carolina attacked the
amendment as unconstitutional.
senator Thomas of Colorado criticised
the Senate appropriations committee for
increasing the amount carried in the
District bill over the House bill by more
than million and a half dollars He
appealed to the democrats to stand by
the Baltimore platform, which declared
for economy in government expenditures.
The course of the committee in add
ing generously to the appropriations
for the District was strongly defended
by Senator Lodge of Massachusetts.
who insisted that when the cry of
economy was raised in Congress it was
more frequently at the expense of the
people in the District than in any
other case. Many of the other senators
agreed to this proposition.
Senator John Walter Smith of Mary
land. chairman of the subcommittee of
the appropriations committee in charge
Of the District bill, called up the
measure Immediately after the close
Of morning business.
Based on Careful Study.
Senator Smith said that the committee
had made an exhaustive investigation of
affairs in the District and that he hoped
the bill would prove satisfactory to the
Senate.
The bill was then taken up for consid-
e@ation, amendment by amendment.
At the request OF Senator Smoot Of
Utah. the first two amendments. increas-
ing the Commissioners salaries to $4,000,
were passed over temporarily.
Senator Thomas OF Colorado. attacked
the bill as whole on the ground that
the committee had made far too many
increases He said he thought the House
bill was already too large.
Il do not intend to make separate op-
postion~to all Increases in this bill.'' said
Senator Thomas But wish to record
my opposition in general to increases in
appropriations. He said the democratic
platform adopted in Baltimore had pro-
nounced agains. extravaganza and urged
economy in appropriations. I'VE are now
seeing the republicans and going them
one better" he added
senator Gallinger said that he hoped
the Senate would not get into a partisan
fight over appropriations when consider
ing the District appropriation bill. He
pointed out that the District revenues
would exceed this year the proposed ap-
propriations-when increased by a similar
ttx.f fa@o o1 =
ed by iaw-by several hundred thousand
dollars.
senator Smith pointed out that the
estimates of the District Commission
ers were more than a million dollars
in excess of the appropriations recon-
mended by the Senate committee.
Criticises the Estimates.
Il do not mean to reflect on the
District Commissioners said Senator
Thomas but ] am not willing to ac-
cept estimates of any of the govern
rent officials as final on appropria-
tions which should be made for the
: District or any of the government de-
partments."
Senator Thomas, in reply to q sugges-
ton that the District bill was only a
small appropriation bill and should not
be opposed. said that was always the ar
gument raised by friends of various ap-
preparations
I'VE ought to begin right here and
e,onoinize.' said Senator Thomas He
urged that the House bill be adopted by
the Senate, leaving out all Senate com
rlittee Increases He attacked the COM
Inittee amendment providing 100000 for
new municipal hospital. which should
be named in honor OF Senator Gallinger.
1 Senator Gallinger replied saying that
he cared nothing for having the proposed
hospital named for himself. but that the
present municipal hospital OF the Dis
trtct was disgrace.
1t would not be tolerated even in q
Mexican city" said Senator Gallinger
II the senator from Colorado will visit
the Washington Asylum Hospital I am
sure that the horrible conditions exist
ing there would bring him to support this
amendment.
II was brought out that this hospital
had been Inadequate for twenty-five
Years. Senator Gallinger said that evils
4, existing in the District could not be
eradicated all at once. and that now the
time had come for erecting new mu-
nicipal hospital.
Increased Number Of Patients.
Senator Thomas called attention to
the fact that increased appropriations
were asked for other hospitals in the
District. including the Emergency
was told the increased number OF
patients in the hospitals made these in
creases necessary.
Senator Lodge of Massachusetts, de-
clared that economy never became so
rampant as when appropriations for
the District were up.
1T is the tendency in the other House
well as in the Senate. to try to econ.
omiZe at the expense of these helpIess
people of the District. who have no vote. .
he said.
Senator Thomas interrupted to saw thai
he was not to be considered as especial
'ly anxious to economize In the Distric,
appropriations, but that he had intended
10 make his appeal for economy when the
post Office bill was before the Senate bu,
lie had been unable to be present.
Il think that the structure Of the sena-
tor from Massachusetts, to the effect that
here Is a tendency to shout for economy
in the District of Columbia is freouentIy
warranted" added Senator Thomas.
Senator Lodge said that II the District
Of Columbia was represented by two ,ena.
tors and several representatives In Con
sress, much less would he heard of de-
mands for economy in the District. He
referred to the attacks made on the
Ealf-and-ha1f principle by the House. ana
congratulated the Senate committee upon
l,Svlng thrown out of the bill all at
81. -.