Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-14
Duty OF Commissioners.

Duty OF Commissioners.
Senator Smith Of Maryland pointed out
that a public utilities commission has
as the price of gas and other like COM
modities in the District. It was the duty
of this commission to make an investisa-
ton of the gas question, he said. before
any action was taken by Congress. He
insisted that it would be impossible to
vote intelligently upon the price OF gas
until such an investigation had been
made. He made point Of order against
the Norris amendment, and the point was
su stained.
Senator Norris then offered his amend
ment for seventy-ce gas furnished to
buildings used by the District and the
federal governments, which was not sub
ject to point of order He said:
The figures given me by one of the
clerks Of the public utilities commission
as to the amount of gas used by the gov
eminent and the District show that Tor
1913 there was paid on account or the
District buildings where gas was used
S13,S421 II and on account of the United
States government $50. 1858 66. making a
total of s6I211.43. If next years con-
sumption We're the same as this years
that would be the amount Of gas to which
1t would apply"
Senator Smith declared that no other
senator was more eager than himself to
have the people of the District receive
gas at the lowest Possible cost. HE m
sisted. however that an appropriatlon
bill was no place to deal with this mat
ter He said that he would have made
his point of order against the Norris
amendment under any condition. because
of his belief that the public uhlfte COM
mission should deal with the matter.
II have no doubt" interrupted Senator
Rristow of Kansas, that the senator
would have made the point of order under
any circumstances If 1t would prevent
the reduction Of the price OF gas to the
consumers in the District of Columbia
II want to say to the senator from
Kansas" replied Senator Smith. that
am in favor OF a reduction In the price OF
gas if it can be made. and he has no
right to make such declaration as tnat.
/ have
Vice President Takes Hand.
Here the vice President took hand in
the argument
"Just one monet" said the Vice
President The chair cannot permit Ian
gua, such as the senator from Kansas
lust used with reference to the senator
from Maryland"
Senator Bristow was clearly taken
should like to invite the chair to
state why the senator from Kansas can
not use that language" he said
1T is imputing improper motives to the
senator from Maryland, returned the
Vice President.
"What motives did / impute," de-
manded Senator Bristow. -,
THE senator from Kansas" replied
the Vice President said ne had no.
Maryland would make the objection II
1t resulted in a reduction of the price
of gas to the people of the District"
Does the chair say that that Is i'm
"The chair will say that in Indiana
a statement of that kind would be con-
sidered to be offensive. In Kansas 1t
may not be so considered" was the re-
II am glad to know that in Indiana
there is such a keen sense OF proprf-
ety." retorted the senator from Kansas.
"The chair has ruled, and 1t is the
duty Of the chair to enforce the rule"
said the Vice President.
Amendments Ruled Out.
Unsuccessful attempts were made by
Senator Lane of Oregon to amend the
bill so that the $1,200,000 already ap-
propriated for a new Central High
school should be divided SO that part
of it should be used for new East
ern High School. He also attempted to
have the committee amendment pro-
viding $4,000 for the purchase Of a
new Site for an Eastern High School
eliminated from the bill. urging that
the present site of the Eastern High
School be used and an addition built
onto that school. This also failed.
Senator McCumber of North Dakota
offered several amendments increasing
the pay of police officers and police
men. but they were all ruled out of
order because they had not been esti-
mated for by the Commissioners and
had not been recommended by the Sem
ate committee in charge of the bill.
points of order were made against
them by Senator Smith OF Maryland, in
charge of the bill