Evening star., 1918-06-15
WINDING UP WORK
ON DISTRICT BILL
Senate Is Expected to Dis
pose of Measure Some
Time Today.
WAGE INCREASE ALLOWED

With every prospect Of completing
and passing the District appropriation
bill before adjournment today. the
Senate renewed consideration Of the
measure Immediately after 1t met at
noon.
Without voice raised in opposition,
the Senate committee amendment was
agreed to yesterday afternoon. strik-
ing out the Gard proposal to do away
priating for the District. and replac-
ing in the bill the usual language pro-
viding for the payment of the Ma
tional Capitals expenses, one-half
from the District revenues and one
half from the federal treasury.
Crossing Police Must Wait.
All other amendments made by the
Senate appropriations committee. with
the exception of three amendments
to the section dealing with the police
department, which propose to have
the crossing police paid by the Dis
trict, as are other policemen, instead
of by the street railway companies. as
at present, were agreed to, practically
without debate. Senator Smoot of
Utah raised objection to the amend
ments placing the crossing police on
the District pay roll. At his request
they were allowed to go over until
today.
Senator John Walter Smith Of Mary
land, in charge of the bill, said the
committee had carefully considered
this matter and had determined 1t
was not fitting that any police Of the
tions. The crossing police. he said,
were just as much police in the in
terests of the public as any others on
the force.
The amendments to which Senator
creases in pay Of the privates Of
classes one, two and three. There are
fifty-six crossing policemen.
Provision for National Guard.
On motion of Senator Smith of
Maryland an amendment was adopted
which makes available for the fiscal
year 1919 the unexpended appropria-
tion for the District National Guard
for the present fiscal year. about $780,
900. Added to the provision made in
the bill as 1t passed the House this
will give the National Guard $72,500.
This is several thousand dollars less
but far more adequate to
meet the needs Of the new guard or
now forming than the
House provision.
The unexpended balance was due to
the fact that the District guard has
and paid out Of the federal funds. The
Chamberlain Austin bill providing for
the establishment of a new guard or
for duty in the District
and the adjacent parts of Maryland
and Virginia, has passed the Senate
tary affairs committee. Already sew
eral companies of guardsmen have
been formed.
Senator King of Utah is expected
today to make "a. fight to have an
amendment adopted prohibiting the
expenditure of any money carried in
the District bill for teaching German
in the public schools Of the capital
Salary Increases Granted.
All of the Senate committee amend
ments granting increases in salaries
10 the District employees. of which
there are a large number. were
agreed to. The item Of s275.ooo for
war repair and improve
ment work in the District also was
adopted without opposition. All items
Tor District charities inserted by the
Senate committee and all those for
hospitals, including 100000 for en-
larging the tuberculosis Hospital
and $253,59o additional for the Gal
Iinger Municipal Hospital. were
agreed to.
For the reclamation and improve
ment of the Anacostia river and fats
S272,000 Is provided in a Senate
adopted yesterday. The
proposal that water meters be placed
In all government buildings and on
government reservations to check