The Washington Times

BOND BILL LIKELY TO PASS
Senate Sentiment Seems to Incline to the Extension Scheme.
WOULD GIVE PLENTY OF WORK
Impression Prevails that Property Owners
Generally Are in Favor of It - Rate of Taxation
Need Not Be Much Increased to Meet
the Interest Charge - Protest Against the
Project Will Have Due Consideration.
"The wishes of the people of the District
ought to be the determining factor as regards
the passage of the street and sewer extension
bond amendment." said Representative Williams,
of Illinois, in reply to a question on
this subject.
Mr. Williams is a member of the sub-
committee of the House having in charge the
District appropriation bill,
"I have not examined the proposition care-
fully." he continued. "and have not, there-
fore, formed any opinion about it, but if I
had I should be adverse to expressing it at
this time. as the subject will have to be de-
cided by the committee of which I am a
member."
Senator Proctor's
amendment. which was
favorably acted upon by the Senate District
Committee. is now in the hands of the sub-
committee on the District appropriation bill
composed of Senators Gorman, Cockrell, and
Allison.
CLOSE AS CLAMS.
All three of these gentlemen are as chary of
information regarding prospective action of
their committee as is the proverbial clam on
subjects generally. Nevertheless it can be
stated that they are not averse to the issue of
the $750,000 of bonds, and it is likely that
the amendment will be reported upon favorably
to the full committee.
Like Representative Williams they hold
that the desire of the people of the District
ought to be the governing consideration, but
they go a step further, and say that as the
United States will have to bear half of the
interest burden of these bonds. some regard
ought to be had also for the interest of the
government and its employees. The question
of their health and comfort, therefore, might
be a factor. Chiefly, however. it is the resident
portion of the population whose desires
the committee is anxious to meet.
It can be further stated that the committee
does not think that this bond issue ought to
put a very heavy burden upon the tax-payers.
They take the view that inasmuch as the
present rate of taxation puts a considerable
surplus into the Treasury every year to the
credit of the District. a very slight increase
would yield sufficient revenue to meet the
interest charge on these bonds. They also
seem inclined to believe that the property
owners are as a rule not opposed to the
project.
WOULD GIVE WORK TO MANY.
A not unimportant element in this connection
is the circumstance that the authorization
of the work for which these bonds are to
be issued would cause employment to be
given to a great many persons now living in
enforced idleness, and that an amount of
money would be put in circulation which
would materially aid the small trades people.
As one member of the Appropriations Committee
expressed, it was good public policy
in times of business stagnation and extraordinary
distress to put in operation public
works, provided this can be done without
going contrary to law.
On the whole. those approached on the
subject appear to be rather favorably inclined
to the proposition, though due weight will
be given to all remonstrances and protests,
especially those of the Federation of Labor
and District Assembly, No. 66, which bodies,
representing the wage earners of the District.
ougbt to be regarded good authority as to
the sentiment of the laboring people.