Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-04-23
District AMIR, I'm Co,~res.

D1str1et A0a1FS In Congress.
MEETING OF THE HOUSE DISTRICT CoNNrTTEE
The House Committee on the District Of o.
lumbia held q regular meeting this morning
DR.. Cox and Prof Langston were heard with
reference to the work performed by the Board
Of Health during the prevalence of the small
pox In this District. After slight discussion the
committee agreed unanimously 10 request the
the general deficiency bin an appropriation OF
S31.700 to reimburse the Board of Health for
extraordinary expenses incurred by them dur
ing the pox season.
TIE GAS QUESTION.
Mr.. 1ngersoll appeared on behalf Of those
seeking charters for permission to lay gas mains
/ in this city. He represented that the proposed
| Oxygen Gas Company and the Citizens Gas
light Company, both seeking charters from Con-
R-ess. bad consolidated: and presented on be-
| ing the general features, 30 fsr as powers are
concerned, as WAS contained IN the separate
bills of each which have heretofore been printed
| in The STAR. Alter discussing the subject, the
committee decided to postpone Its further con-
siderstion until next Thursday.
letter to the committee, stating that 1t Is their
| purpose at an early day TO reduce the present
price of gas from 1915 per thousand feet to 50
| per thousand, which, with the ten per cent dis
| count for cash payments, will bring the price
to the figures which the new companies propose
| to establish.
THE INCORPORATION ACT.
The bill in relation to the general incorpora-
ton act, with proviso that property at It's ap-
praistd value be used as basis of organic alton,
| iostead of money, as Is now required was re-
| feIred to a subcommittee of which Mr. Ell
| dredge II chairman.
PETITION FOR THE NEW BRIDGE OVER THE
EASTERN BRANCH.
In the Senate this morning Mr. Lewis pre-
sented a petition signed by about 800 citizens of
| the District of Columbia, earnestly praying
4 C0Dgrt 50 to pass an act making suitable provi-
SONS and the necessary appropriation of money
Tor the erection OF a permanent bridge at or near
the present structure known as the Navy Yard
| bridge. The petitioners call attention to the
| fact that in June, 1919, Congress purchased the
| Navy Yard bridge of the incorporated company
to whom it then belonged. and thereby made it
! the property of the United States; and ever
since that purchase "a period of twenty-five
/ ye lrs, has possessed and controlled, and m 8iu-
tanned this bridge as its property, and made
| such use OF lit as suited its convenience and in
/ terest. 1t has also constantly recognized its
| obligations to maintain 1t as free high
way, by keeping 1t open to public travel
state ehS ar 70 those using It.
| that the United States are bound, both in law
and honor, to maintain this bridge as a free
present frsil and disgraceful structure has cost
the government large amount of money to
keep il in repair-nesrly enough to build new
and permanent bridge. They therefore sub.
/ OF Congress to build a new bridge. After rep
/ resentiDg the great value of the bridge to the
government and the citizens of Washington,
the petitioners say that the present structure Is
/ positively unsafe, and that in the summer of
| $50 two ladies were precipitated into the
river river by the breaking of a rotten rail-
mer section of the bridge gave way un-
| der government team, and two men and
four horses fell into the water. Two horses
| were drowned, but luckily the men escaped.
/ They say that at different times for weeks in
/ succession they have been compelled to cross
the river in inconvenient, dangerous, extern
| porized ferry boats while the bridge was under
/ going repairs, and respectfully submit whether
the faith upon which they established them
| selves-the most of them with small means-in
/ parts OF the District that made the N dependent
| upon this bridge, has been kept as they might
reasonably expect ii would be kept. In couclu-
sion, they say that they have had a survey of
| f1e site OF the bridge made by practical civil
| engireer of distinction, and plans of a new
| bridge with estimates of its cost prepared
which they propose TO submit to the proper con-
/ gressicnal committee. The petition was re-
ferred to the Senate District Committee.
The MCkRR-PIATT AFFAIR.-Mr. John j.
P1att writes as follows concerning this affair:
1.-The account given in the Star this eyenin Q
of the personal difficulty between the Hon. Mr..
Mckee and myself contains one or two errors
which wish to correct. l was not editor pro
and never have been connected with the paper
nor do approve of its course. was requested
by my cousin, Colonel Dom Piatt. to read GER
TAIN proofs during his absence. and this I did.
When Mr.. Mckee called upon me / was lying
back In my chair quite ill, as that gentleman
must have observed-too i'll, indeed ts get up,
which is my habit to do when a member Of Con-
gress or stranger enters the library of which
have charge. The conversation NAV have oc-
CURED but the blow in the face and the swollen
| lip are imaginary. There was a flourish of a
| stick large enough to fell an OK, and this with
| the exhibition of the handle of a pistol, was
| quite enough to leave me in doubt as to eyerV-
| thing except the vanishing back OF the indig-
| nant gentleman. It was too sudden for an a.
| sault, and too demonstrative for an insult
Had Mr.. Mckee asked me quietly and kindly,
should have been pleased to give him any props
| Official Information in my possession. have
| stIiyen TO do my duty as Librarian of the House.
S %itsout minglng in any personal or political
IKE TO appear in public in this manner, or to
Drag any other man unnecessarily before the
public that II Mr.. Mckee is willing to let the
matter rest, am sure am.
Very respectfully, JOHN j. PIATr.
A SUGGESTION FOR THE PosT OPPIcR-
Editsr Star: beg 10 suggest to the powers that
be, IN control of such matters, that il would be
great convenience to the public IL they would
place AT the depot q mail box in which letters
can be deposited up to within say Eve minutes
OF the departure OF the mail train, especially
the night mail.
AS II is now, there is no choice but to find
the post office car, which generally stands off
slue track until the train IL made up, and where
1t can only be reached by crossing tracks on
winch trains are moving at frequent intervals,
and by trsmping through mud, thus rendering
IL unsafe and very inconvenient, especially for
ladies and children.
By placing box at the door of the depot
with bag inside arranged to receive the letter .
as they are dropped in, everybody could deposit
their letters without trouble, and then just as
the tram starts the proper person would only
need open the box, take out the bag, and take
| il aboard.
Then, too, persons could deposit letters in
/ time for the morning trains. AS IL is now let
tiers placed in the street boxes at night are non
gathered up in time for the morning train, and
therefore do not go until the next night-often
great inconvenience to business men and
| others. CITIzyy
The NORTHERN LIBERTY MARKET CON-
PANY.-The books for subsc ption TO the stock
OF this company, recently incor por ated for the
purpose of building q market-house and selling
stands, have been opened at the dining rooms
OF Nardin & King, opposite the 9th street wing