Evening star., 1914-03-12
Appropriations for Library.

AppiOpIldLlOuS LUZ
When the District bill was taken up the
appropriations for the Public Library
were before the Senate. The Senate
agreed to committee amendment for an
engineer at $3.50, instead of S1.0so and
another amendment for 5000 for new
ightyhorsepower boiler.
Senator Thomas of Colorado questioned
the advlsability of an amendment for two
additional motor vehicles. instead of one,
AS provided in the House bill for the Dis
;rict Commissioners. He said the Dis
trict already had eleven motor vehicles.
Why do the Commissioners want
any new automobiles? asked Senator
Thomas.
Senator Galiinger pointed out thai the
House bill had provided for one automo-
bile for the two civilian Commissioners.
lie said that it would be impossible for
the two Commissioners to use one auto
mobile. The Commissioners. he said had
hitherto been supplied with horse and
carriage each. These. he said. would now
be done away with. The District was
large, said Senator Gallinger. and the
Commissioners had to get over a part Of
ii nearly every day.
Senator Hoke smith of Georgia sug-
gssted that if the Commissioners did
not use automobiles provided by the
District for their private affairs one
would be sufficient to attend to District
business
senator Smith of Maryland said the
committee relied upon the Dis trict
Commissioners recommendations. and
lad been told by the Commissioners
,.ese automobiles were absolutely
needed.
Against All Automobiles.
senator Williams of Mississippi said
..e was opposed to the government's
giving automobiles to any government
'sicials.
Lets pay these officials enough
larry TO allow them TO get their own
,cs. said Senator Williams. The
strict officials are just as much en-
t!ed To autos as are officials of the
;5vernment departments. or senators
ur that matter. For myself. / find !
an get along as plain democrat rid
snS in street car. Here is certainly
an object for economy.
Il am going to move to strike out ali
appropriations for these motor ye-
iicies.
Does not the senator from Mississippi,
Nnow that there are ten other officials
- the District besides the three Com
'ntssioners vino Use these automobiles
constantly. like the health officer and the
Jullding Inspector asked Senator Gal
lnger
Senator Williams said that the Com
fnissioners' salaries We're 10 be increased
TO 5000 and that In time they should be
lie TO buy their own automobiles
You are not proposing to raise the
salaries OF the other District officials who
use automobiles" said Senator Gallinger
The street car service in Washington
j. Splendid said Senator Williams "and
these officials can use street cars just
as you and do
Would Eradicate Evil"
Senator Williams declared he though,
that the use of automobiles for social
purposes by officials of the government
as well by District officials, was an
evil that ought TO be eradicated He said
ne was not opposed to the use of motor
trucks in the District for the transporta-
lion OF materials: In fact. he was in favor
OF motor trucks instead OF wagons
What ! striking at Is the use o1
public motors and carriages by officials
for private purposes. said Senator Will
iaus
Senator Smith of Maryland suggested
that the bill contained a provision pro,
hibiting the use of these public vehicles
for private purposes
i know, said Senator Williams "Bu,
we all know that this rule is more hon.
ored in the breach than in the enforce.
ment."
II do not believe that We should take i,
ers are gong 10 violate the law" saiC
senator smith of Maryland.
Senators Srnoot and Lodge argued tina
IL was an economy of time and none,
20 provide for automobiles Senate,
Lodge said that automobiles were eiyer
t. heads of departments the publif
printer and other government official.
who had only to go from their home.
10 their offices. These District of
iicials have to be on: constantly ATTEND
ing TO District business said Senate,
Lodge 1T is absolutely essentiaJ ~
they should be able to get about with
out loss of time
Urged as Economy Measure.
Senator Luke Lea of Tennessee uroo,
the adoption of the committee amend
ment. giving the District the two nev
automobiles, on the ground of econom,
and the great amount of travelling wbicl
the District officials have to do.
Senator Kern pointed out that the Dis
ttTict now owns seventy-one motor We
hicles. of which thirty-one are passenre
ears. nineteen are trucks and twenty-on
are motor cycles
To this Senator Smith of MaryIan,
CONTINUED on Second Page)