Evening star., 1922-03-05
|NEW D. c. CONDUIT
| TO Be BEGUN SOON, +,
| SENATORS BELIEVE
House Confidently Expected
to Agree to Appropriations
for More Water.
C0NFEREES EXPECTED
NOT TO OPPOSE ITEM
Chairman Madden Tells Colleagues
of Vital Need for Safety
of City.

1t is now practically assured that
a start is to be made Immediately to
give the National Capital. including
Uncle Sans workshop. which is the
largest industrial establishment in
the world, an adequate and a safe
water supply. The appropriation for
starting work on a new conduit from
Great Falls to the District line. which
was put into the District appropria-
tion bill in the Senate, is going to be
agreed to in the House, according to
those who have inside information
regarding this legislation.
Senator Spencer is understood to
have received a promise that the
House conferees will not hold out
against the new conduit item, but
that they will recommend it's pas
sage to the House, where a, number
OF the most active members on both
the republican and democratic side
have recently shown deep concern
lest the warning of the District au-
thorities and of the Army engineers
against a threatening water famine
should be disregarded. 1t is the OBJ
vious wish of those in the House who
have taken the trouble to inform
themselves regarding the actual ex-
listing conditions that an immediate
start should be made on the building
of a new conduit.
The Sepate committee recommends
the appropriation of s1,5oO. 900 and au-
thorization to contract for s1.45o. .o0o
more.
Favor Provisions.
While Chairman Madden of the
House appropriations committee and
other members who may be called upon
to act as nonferees on the District ap-
preparation bill express reluctance
to announce their position prior to
a conference between the managers
on the part Of the Senate and of the
House, it is well known that they
are in favor of accepting the Senate
provision.
In fact, confirmation of this atti-
tude was given on the floor Of the
House by Chairman Madden when
he was questioned as to the possi-
bility of this appropriation not being
approved. Chairman Madden ex-
planned that the subject had been
considered very carefully by a sub
committee of the House appropria-
tions committee. II think it may be
said fairly that for safety in the fu-
ture there ought to be some begin
ming on the work of water plant ex-
tension" said Chairman Madden. $50
that when the population increases
you will have the supply ready to
meet the increased population"
Then he gave his advice to his
soon to come, when the House will
be called to vote on acceptance of
the Senate item for the new conduit:
Il will say that L think there ought
to be something DONE"
Representative Evans of Nebraska,
ranking republican on the subcom-
mittee Of the appropriations commit
tee that framed the District bill, and
Representative Ben johnson of Ken
lucky. the ranking democrat ami
longtime chairman Of the House
District committee, are both strong
supporters of this proposal to safe
guard the District water supply, es-
pecially on the ground that the fed
eral government would be the great
est loser through any water famine
which would cause a shutdown of
practically the entire government
service.