Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-03-27
DISTRICT BUSINESS.

At this stage of the session it is not To b.
expected that any District business will be
taken up involving much discussion, bat there
are some District bills before Congress To
which no reasonable objection can be urged
and which are necessary for the welfare of
The city that we trust the District Committees
will urge their immediate passage.
Tbs bill establishing police court is one that
obgh; 70 be made law without q moments
delay. 40 is he bill repeating the cid Mary
land usury Law. The people in this Distric,
suffer so much from this an,iquated ana
absurd law that they will welcome any mees-
ure OF relief, whether IL comes in the shape of
an entire repeal Of the old Law, which would
be preferable, or a substitute fixing the legal
rate Of interest where not specified at per
cent but allowing special contracts to be made
NJ q rate rot exceeding ten or twelve per cent
A bill providing for paving Pennsylvania
avenue passed the Senate at the last session
but reached the House too late in the session
for action. A similar bill passed the Senate
yesterday, and in the name Of this long suffer-
ing community we urge upon the House TO put
this measure through. That the principal street
Of the Capitol of the Nation should for so many
years be cisngured by this abominabls cobble-
stone, Is disgrace toeverybSdy concerned 1t
is disgrace to Congress, 10 the city, and to the
nation. Hell-paved the Avenue would be the
most magnificent street in the world.
The Senate bill seems 10 US q very proper one
1t divides the cost of the work between the
Avenue property holders, the Corporation of
Washington, the Street Railway Company,
and the Government; the latter paying for some
portion opposite its reservations. In this way
the cost Of first class pavement, even for
street Of this imperial width, will not be heavy
TO any one interest: and the Government will
in
up the present miserable apology for pave
ment- The SELECTION Of the material and the
management of the work is placed in the com.
petent hands of Edward Clark, Architect OF
the Capitol Extension, Sayles Bowen, Mayor
Of Washington, A b Mullett, Supervisory
Architect of the Treasury Extension. Breyet
General Michler. Eng neer in charge of Public
Buildings and Grounds, and Dr. CHARLES HI
Nichols, President of the Levy Court. There
is not citizen Of this community who will not
feel Ell tire confidence in the proper execution
Of the work under the superintendence OF these
gentlemen. This equitable and satisfactory
plan for paving the Avenue, will, we think,
commend itself to the good sense Of the House
A Kindred nuisance to the Avenue cobble-
stone needs abatement-the shabby old market
building. Various bills, giving the Market
House franchise To private companies have
been brought forward, but the Kilkenny fight
going on between the contendiny interests will
probably be fatal to the whole batch; but there
would seem 10 be no valid objection to the bill
giving the right TO the Corporation OF Wash
ington TO erect a suitable market structure.
The debate In the Senate, at the last session. In.
dicated that while there was a good deal of OBJ.
lection 70 giving the franchise to private COM
pany, there would b. none to according It 70 the
Corporation Of Washington The only poin
hat T,o$
for n.
The General Incorporation Act for oompi-
MES IN this District Is a measure so proper AID
so much needed that II ought to be pas sed with
out nesitancy. We trust to see q bill pa ssed
this session giving 10 the District cities the
righs TO subscribe for railroad enterprises
There are many other District measures
deserving speedy attention; but those above
named seem so entirely unquestionable and
meritorious that their consideration AMI pas.
sage ought not to involve the loss Of any time