The Washington times., 1925-01-05
CONTINUED from First Page.)


that 1T was beyond the authority
of any member of Congress to
encourage the mourning of a de-
ficiency but told him that in case
of any emergency such as that now
existing, he believed the District
Commissioners should assume this
authoritys and said he believed that
the streets should be cleaned i'm
mediately.
Removal of snow and ice from
streets in the National Capital Il
specifically provided in the current
appropriation BILL.
Prior to 1919 there was no pro
vision for snow removal and it was
necessary for the District Commits
sioners to secure special appropria'
tons for this purpose from Con.
gress. In the 1912 appropriation
bill $4,000 was provided for re.
moval of snow and ice. In the
1913 appropriation bill the fund
for snow removal was combined for
the first time with the fun Tor
general street cleaning. In that
bill, however, there was g. provision
forbidding the Commissioner to
incur a deficiency in this item.
] Must Have More Money.
That provision, however, does not
appear In the current appropriation
bill and it is believed at the TAP
itol that the Commissioners will be
entirely within their legal rights
in expanding all the money they
now have to meet the extreme
emergency.
Commissioners Bell told Con-
hn% ~ ffnn
ent fund is exhausted for snow re-
n1oval it will be necessary for the
Commissioners to ask for de1ici-
ency appropriation OF $4,000 for
street cleaning work until the close
Of the fiscal year, June 80.
Colonel Bell defended Morris
Hacker, superintendent Of city
refuse, who has been roundly criti-
cized for his failure to effectively
clean the streets.
Doing His Best"
'Mr. Hacker is doing the best
possible with conditions" Colonel
Bell declared. Mr.. Hacker has no
authority under law to create a
deficiency"
Commissioner Bell admitted to-
day that with sufficient funds the
District could do a better job of
cleaning the snow off the streets.
Major William e. R.s Covell, As
sistant Engineer Commissioner,
conferred today with represents.
tives of railway companies to get
street car tfe-ups. He Is also seek,
ing suggestions as to how TO avoid
a future tie up In the event OF a
snowfall.
Major Daniel Sullivan, superin-
tendent of police, has instructed
all policemen to survey their beats
and list every address at which tbs
owner or occupant failed to clean
snow off his pavement within eight
daylight hours after the snow fall
stopped. Such removal In provided
by law.
Suits To Follow.
If possible the District govern
ment viii clean off the pavements
neglected by occupants. Suits will
then be filed in the Municipal
Court to recover the cost Of SUCH
removal More than 1000 SUCH
suits filed last year are still pend
ing.
Baltimore, it was reported today,
is fighting the snow more effective.
ly than Washington. Downtown
streets Of the Monumental city are
said to be virtually clear. That city
is spending about 100000. About
800 men and scores of trucks are
at work. The snow rs being Hauled
away to sewer nanholes. Balti-
moreans are said to be satisfied
with the city's snow cleaning work.
No plows are being used, the city
finding them impracticable.
In Washington the city is doing
about one-third as much as Balu-
more and merchants and residents
are vigorously complaining.