Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-05-06
Works Amendment to Good
Roads Bill Defeated in Senate
on Viva Voce Vote.
AUTHOR MAKES STRONG
PLEA FOR ITS ADOPTION
Offers Another Amendment Provid.
ing 100000 for Purchase Of
Snow Court Slum District.

viding for the purchase of the prop
erty along both sides Of Pennsylvania
avenue between the Capitol and the
Treasury. was made in the Senate to-
day by Senator Works of California.
The amendment was defeated on
viva voce vote.
Senator Gallinger of New Hampshire
and Senator Sutherland of Utah both
joined with Senator Works in express
ing approval of the plan to purchase
this land for the government both to
make Pennsylvania avenue a splendid
thoroughfare and also to obtain sites
for new government buildings much
needed by various departments and
bureaus of the government.
Would Provide 100000, 900.
Senator Works amendment proposed
500, 100000 as the limit of cost for the
purchase Of this property. Senator Gal
linger suggested that this was far too
much, that during the service of the late
Senator Hepburn of Idaho, who fathered
a measure to purchase the property on
the south side of the avenue. an estimate
had been submitted to the Senate that 1t
would cost s1S,SS3,000 to purchase the
property on the south side, and that still
later the District Commissioners had es-
timated that the property not now owned
by the government could be bought for
about $13,000,000.
Both Senator Gallinger and Senator
Sutherland suggested that Senator
Works modify his amendment so that
it provide for the purchase of the
property on the south side of Pennsyl-
vania avenue, but on the north side
Let str tn ct
pointed out that many valuable and
costly buildings had been erected on
the north side of the avenue from 9Th
street to the Treasury, and that it
purchase them. Senator Works said
he would be content so to modify his
amendment.
Senator Bankhead, in charge of the
good roads bill: Senator Vardaman of
Mississippi, Senator Shaffroth of Colo
RADIO and others opposed the adoption
of the amendment. which, they said.
had nothing to do with the good roads
bill properly, and who contended that
the government ought to go ahead
with its buildings on property already
owned by it, instead of purchasing
more land at this time.
Defends "Joke" Amendment.
Senator Works declared Senator
Bankhead had characterized the amend
ment as practical joke
1T may be joke to present to the
Senate a plain, practical business
proposition without the hope of getting
a vote by it," Mr. Works said. 1T may
be joke to endeavor to reha bilitate
the great national thoroughfare in the
nations capital and. at the same time
present a plan that would prove an
economy in the construction of federal
buildings.
ut may be joke to make the city of
Washington clean. decent and respectable
but it may not be practical joke to
extract from the Treasury under false
pretenses $4,000. 900 TO be distributed to
states which have no more right to the
money under the Constitution of the
United States than | have
1.-The District Of Columbia has no rep
resentation in either house Of Congress
There is no one here to speak for it. We
say that all of us represent II and speak
for it, but if the members of this body
would go out and see some of the things
have seen they would come to the con-
clusion that the District OF Columbia is
very poorly represented
ANY member of this body should feel
ashamed of Pennsylvania avenue. Sen
ator Works declared 1T is the one
great avenue intended to connect the
Capitol and the White House. 1t has
fallen in decay and neglect
Cites Annual Rental Bill.
What buildings have been construct
ed for the government have not been
constructed on Pennsylvania avenue, as
they should have been. in my mind, but
have been scattered over the city. In
stead of the government owning all its
buildings. it is paying about 100000
year for rent and nearly each year
he hrf
Leaving out sentimental questions
and viewing it from a business point of
view. it would be an economy to con-
struct our own buildings. These build
ings which are being rented are made
auate. expensive and do not meet fur
ther needs"
Senator Works said it had been sug-
gested to him that the Senate was not
an appropriate place to advocate legis-
lation for Pennsylvania avenue under
the post-roads bill.
Pennsylvania avenue falls under the
specifications of the post-roads BILL"
said Mr.. Works. except that it is not
rural. but if you go to look al it thor
oughly, it comes very near being a rural
road.
The Senate is just as appropriate a
place to legislate for Pennsylvania
avenue as to legislate for a road in
Would Eliminate Slum District.
After the defeat of this amendment, |
Senator Works offered another amend |
ment to the good roads bill providing |
5000. 900 for the purchase of Snow court |
one of the slums of the District, and |
for the erection by the government of |
model sanitary houses to be rented to |
the poor.
Senator Works pictured the slums
W hich are to be found in the National
Capital, declaring them to be a dis
grace, and urging Congress to take
steps to do away with them. He said
hat the federal government was spend
ng millions of dollars yearly if the
states for agricultural experiments. ag-
ricultural colleges, public health service
and other things, all of which, he con-
tended. should be cared for by the states
themselves.
yet j see with regret that worry few
senator's appear to be interested in
his humanitarian effort to clean up
he slums in this city said Senator
Works. Such a place as Snow court |
ought not to be allowed to exist in any
civilized community"
Senator Lane OF Oregon suggested}
hat the slums of the capital were CEN
ers Of disease and infection, and that
t would be an economy for the gov.
,rnment to eradicate them. u