Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-12
NewIands Amendment Hating
the Construction Stricken
Out by the Conferees.
REPORT TO THE SENATE
WILL BE CALLED MONDAY
Items in Dispute Said to Be Those
in Which District Is Most
interested.

The Newlands amendment to
the urgent deficiency bill, holding
up the construction of the pro-
posed government central power
plant at the foot of I4th street,
was stricken out of the bill today
by the conferees of the Senate and
House.
Senator Martin, chairman of the ap-
/ ference committee. reported a partial
agreement on the bill.
Items still in dispute between the tw o
houses are: The Senate amendment for
an addition to the Powell School; the
Senate amendment relating to the bu-
reau of engraving and printing in
creasing the number Of delivered
sheets of United States currency, and
transferring appropriations already
made so that they may be used for
materials needed by the bureau; the
Senate amendment increasing the limit
of cost of the Lincoln memorial from
81 100000 to $2,594,000;" the Senate
amendment providing $4,000 for the
Arlington memorial bridge commits
sion.
The disputed items are those in which
the District is most interested, except the
Newlands amendment, which was thrown
out.
Will Call Up Report Monday.
Senator Martin gave notice that he
would call up the report Monday for con-
sideration in the Senate. Senator New
lands had explained that he was not pre-
pared to 70 on with the discussion today.
When Senator Martin laid the report
before the Senate Senator Newlands
asked what disposition had been made
the construction of the central power
plant under the existing plans
THE conference: committee did not
agree to that amendment" replied SEN
"I wish, then. to notify the Senate"
said Senator Newiands; that failure to
adopt this amendment means a serious
Impairment Of the general plans ef the
the Mall. I hope that senators will get
the statements Of the eminent architects
and engineers on this subject and read
them before this matter is voted upon.'
the law did not provide that the fine arts
commission must pass upon plans for such
buildings in Washington before the con-
tract was let
YES" said Senator Newlands. "un-
less there is some special arrangement
by Congress. The fine arts commits
sion did not pass upon the plans for
this building before the contract was
let; they were not laid before the COM
mission until afterward. The COM
mission has reported unfavorably upon
the plans.
Says Contract Was Illegal.
Then the letting of the contract
was illegal:" pursued Senator Phelan.
1T was" said Senator Newlands.
who has the right of disputing this
contract. them" asked Senator Phelan.
Senator Newlands said he was not
quite sure as to who had the right. but
that he supposed the government
should act in the matter.
Senator Martin, who is opposed to
the Newlands amendment. here inter-
ators would visit the site selected for
the central power plant.
They would be convinced that the
plans for the central power plant can
not harm the CITY," he said.
Has the senator from Virginia made
a personal inspection of the site?'
asked Senator Gallinger.
i Senator Martin said that he had done
so.
Senator Newlands said that the first
impression Of senators visiting the site
might be that it was well located for a
power plant and that the proposed build
ing would be far better than the general
squalor which now exists there.
Cites Other Consideration.
But the senators should use their
Imagination he said. "They must re-
member that the water front, under the
plans for it's development. is to be made
beautiful, and that Potomac Park is to
be highly developed.
Now it Is proposed to erect this power
plant there, with two or perhaps four
smoke kestacks almost 200 feet high They
will vie with he Washington Monument
and the Lincoln memorial in catching the
eye, attracting by their hideousness, while
the monument and the memorial attract
by their beauty"
Senator Martin obtained permission of
the Senate to have printed in the Record
a letter of Secretary McAdoo of the Treas
ury defending the plans for the power
plant.
Senator Newlands then asked permis-
sion to print in the Record also the
Sineers opposed to the. erection of the
plant under the present plans. Sena-
tor Martin objected. pointing out that
these views had already been printed
as a hearing before the Senate library
A motion by Senator Newlands for
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