Evening star., 1916-07-31
What Ruling Was in Effect.

Wnat hunng as III LneCI.
Il am not sure myself but that the
ruling of the Vice President is correct.
He ruled in effect that the District of
Columbia is strictly an agency of the
federal government to carry out the
provisions of the Constitution and tn :.
legislation and not general legislation.
legislation.
Under such a ruling the rule of the
Senate providing that general legisla :
ton shall not be attached to general
appropriation bills would not be effec-
tive as regards District appropria :
tion bills and prohibition for the Dis
trict would be merely special legisla-
ton.
81 am satisfied that the Senate will hold
the ruling of the Vice President wrong,
however. Personally, 1 will not oppose
the taking of an appeal"
Senator yardaman Of Mississippi in
~ want to express the hope that the
Senate will not overrule the Vice Presi-
dent" he said. He rendered very i'm
portant decision in my opinion. when he
ruled on the Works amendment, and /
saw in it an opportunity to enact much
salutary legislation for the District Of
Columbia and the people of the United
States"
Works Amendment Comes Up.
When the Senate today resumed con-
sideration of the District appropriation
bill the pending question was the adop-
ton of the Works amendment to abolish
the District of Columbia and the half
and-half plan. and to have the govern
ment pay all the expenses OF the Dis
trict. the citizens of the District to con-
tinue to pay a reasonable tax. This
amendment was ruled In order by the
Vice President Friday. although 1t was
challenged as being general legislation
on an appropriation bill. Efforts are
being made to have an appeal taken
from the ruling Of the chair, and II
such a course is taken it is likely that
the ruling will be overturned by the
Senate.
Senate today expressed the opinion
there was little likelihood that an
amendment providing for prohibition
in the District could be added to. the
District bill, since they believed such
an amendment would be ruled to be
general legislation, and so not in order
on an appropriation bill. Much will
depend, however, upon future develop
ments in the consideration Of the Dis
trict bill, as to the course which will
be adopted by tie prohibitionists.
The District bill, which automatically
came before the Senate at noon, was
temporarily laid aside to permit Sen
ator Owen to get action on his bill
an; ending the federal reserve act.
Newlands Urges His Amendment.
Notwithstanding the fact that the
Works amendment was pending before
the Senate Senator Newlands of Ne
vada took occasion to urge upon tho
Senate the adoption of an amendment
N1r
of army engineer officers to work in
conjunction with the fine arts COM
mission to develop a plan for the COM
of Washington with view to retain
ing scenic beauty. He offered his
amendment in connection with an ap-
preparation of $4,000 for completing
the new fish market Senator New
lands amendment would have $4,000
appropriated for the use of this board
Senator Newiands made 8. strong plea
for the development of water front in
Washington along lines which would
safeguard the artistic and beautiful
He pointed out how much had been
done along this line by foreign coun-
tries and mentioned the development
of the Seine at Paris. the Thames at
London. and of the Rhine ct various
German cities
Should Develop Water Fronts"
TT is of the highest Importance that
some attention be given the develop
ment of water fronts commercially
along artistic lines in this country"
said Senator Newlands. This is a
matter which has been almost entirely
neglected in America in the past"
Senator Newlands said that there was
no purpose in his proposed amendment to
prevent the erection Of the central power
plant for government buildings at the
foot of 14th street. against which he has
waged steady fight In the past. He
said that the amendment of his would
merely insure that this power plant, if
constructed, should be constructed with
a view to the artistic development of the
water front.
Senator Gallinger Of New Hampshire
suggested that Senator Newlands was a
little late with his amendment, since the
Congress has appropriated for a new fish
wharf and new fish market on the water
front and the plans have already been
prepared for these structures.
Senator Martin of Virginia said that
he was in sympathy with Senator New
!