Mr. INGERSOLL. It ought not to go to that committee. I will read what the SecyInterior says upon this point: “In the year 1820Congressprovided that from the proceedsof the sale of public. loLs reimbursement should be madeto the city of Washington of an equi table proportion of the expensesthereafter incurred in laying open. pavin and otherwise improving the streetsandave use a aconttothe public squaresand reservations. am informed that. siaeo the passage of this not. 3,725 lots of this classhave beensold and the proceeds paid into the Treasury of the U.S. while no reimbursement has beenmadeto the city for thesum of 837. 410(ill paid for improvementsproperly charge able to this and An appropriation should be made for refunding this nmount and the interest which has accruedthereon.” This relates to the amounts which I have preseated here, and ofwhich a portion is now under consideration. I do not ask for an interest, but only that the Government sha l provide another fund, as the fund before provit edwas exhausted before this amount was liquidated. The Secretary goes on to say: “ During the pastsummerandfall the improvement of streets adjacent to public property has rendered the Government liable to a considerab o amount, and an additional sum will be needed to meet similar expenseswhich will probably be incurred during the next fiscal year. It is hopedthat Congresswill at an early date make provision to meet these liabilities. Several of the streets of Washington have beenpaved in a neat and substantial manner since the adjournment of Congress, and the municipal authorities are makinglikc improvementsupon other streets. which will add greatly both to their beauty andtheir utility aspublic thorough fares. It is submittedthat Congress should encourage this spirit by correspondingim provenientsupon the avenues. he ComrPubBldg refersto the dilapidated condition of the pavement on Pennsylvania avenue and recommendsthatan appropriation be made by Conzficss for the substitution of either the Belgian or the ichol son pavement throughout its length, and also for the opening and grading of such of the remainin avenues leading to the Capitol as remain closed. T cscave lines are under the exclusive control of Congress and justiceseomsimperatively to requirethat thenational Government should defray the expenseof paving and keeping them in repair. If the burdeu of pavimr the avenues. as well as the streets is to be thrown upon the owners of contiguous propert. the mayor sul gests that the law be so amend as to reduce the width of the carriageways and that the intervenin space between them and the avemont be flanke with a line of curbstones. sod ed, and planted with ornamental shade trees. "