Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-03-21
Action Of the House or Representa-
tfyeS.

closed yesterday, the bill to authorize the con-
stIuction of a substantial iron and masonry
BRIDGE ACROSS THE RAsrKRs BRANCH
OF the Potomac at or near the present Ana
costa bridge, was discussed by Messrs. Hale,
Willard, Rice, Coburn, and Holman. The lat
ter moved to strike out the en- acting clause.
The motion was agreed to-yeas i02, nays is.
THE sCHOoL-TEACHERs' BILL
next came up. Mr.. Cotton said that IN report
ders OF the House. There WAS a total indebted
ness of the school fund of SIS $40, bat the com
mittee had reported a bill providing for the
teachers only.
Mr.. q, F. Hoar spoke in favor of the bill as
did also Mr.. Frye, who said there are from
twelve to fourteen thousand government clerks,
whose children attend the public schools, and
very few OF them paid any taxes. There are
members of Congress who send their children to
the public schools of the District who have paid
not a dollar for the schools. Should the people
of the District, because they are poor, pay all
the expenses, and the government, which owns
all this property and brings all these people
here, pay nothing? He knew about the schools
OF the District, and sent his child to them.
When he came here he examined them to see if
II was desirable to send his little girl, and he
could say that there are few cities in the United
Tior to those in Franklin building where his
child goes. Three of the teachers there are
from the Normal school in his own state and
they come TO him often tor advice. The teachers
hsd not dollar, and had not been paid for
many months. How much longer must this go
on? The District has no money, and cannot
pay tnem. he nOped the House would consent
TO this advance if il did no more.
Messrs. Willard and Speer opposed the bill as
establishing bad precede mt. Mr.. Cox also op.
posed it. MIR. Eldridge argued that there is
manifest equity in Congress paying something
tor the support of the schools. he referred to
the fact that Congressman and clerks send their
children to the schools, and when the people
here do not own more than oDe-half OF the prop
erty taxed it is just that Congress should aid
them. Ii he had his choice he would not provide
that the money should be returned, bat he
would give ii as a free gift.
Mr.. Pelham advocated the bill, but would
like TO have greater amount Appropriated,
and he would move to appropriate $500 900.
mat would not do more than pay the expenses
MIR. O'Brien believed the bill should pass as a
measure of humanity and justice to save these
teachers from starvation.
Mr.. Pelham's amendment was rejected.
Mr.. Merriam offered an amendment author
iziDg the District authorities to levy tax on
personal property equal to the amount proposed
TO be appropriated by this bill, the same to be
paid into the Treasury of the United Sta ties.
The amendment was adopted.
The committee then rose. and the several
bills were reported to the House. The House
passed the bill giving the approval and sane
ton of Congress to the route and termini OF the
ANACosTIA AND POTOMAC RIVER RAILROAD
and to regulate its construction. The bill as
passed provides that Congress give its approval
and sanction to the construction, operation,
and maintenance OF a street railroad by the
Anacostia and Potomac River Railroad COM
Congress of Nav 9Th. 1879, over the following
route: Commencing for the eastern terminus of
said road, at or near the northern end OF the
navy yard bridge on 18th street east; along 18th
street east to NJ street south; to Sd street
east; to y street south; to Water strest;
70 18th street west; to Ohio avenue; to 18th
street west; thence along 18th street west
to the western terminus of said road at the in
tersectiOn of Pennsylvania avenue and said 18th
street west; and also on NJ street south from Sd
street east to Water street, aud on 18th street
west from Water street TO the intersection of
12'h and streets southwest; conforming to
the grades of said streets and avenues "a the
same now are, or may hereafter be, established
by law Proridsd, That said company shall
construct at lie asst a single track road over said
rOute, and open the same to travel. within six
teen months after the approval of this act: And
pTOrided further, That wherever the foregoing
route shall coincide with the route OF any other
uly-incOrporated railroad company, or con.
meet portions of such route, but one set of
tracks shall be used and each company using the
tracks shall contribute eqlitably to the expense
OF laying and maintaining them; the amount
to be contributed to be ascertsined. when the
companies disagree, by the Supreme Court of
the District OF Columbia, upon application of
any company interested, and on notice to aud
hearing OF the parties interested.
Sea- That in the manner of laying its tracks,
and paving the same, this company shall be
under the control of the Board OF Public Works
for the District Of Columbia; and it shall pave
its track, and the spaces between them, and for
the space of two feet beyond the outer lins
thereof, and keep the same in good order, with
out expense to the nited States or the District
Of Columbia; and that said pavement shall be
as prescribed by the said Board OF Public Works;
and the rate of fare charged and received by
said company shall not exceed five cents a pas
senger for any distance between the termini of
said road.
Sec. 3. That whenever the present navy ward
bridge shall be replaced by a structure suitable
Tor the passage of street railroad, the company
shalt have the right to cross over the same to
Uniontown, under such restrictions and reguIa-
tons as Congress may provide; and niOntown
shall then become the eastern terminus of the
road; and from UniontOwn the company NAV
extend their road by the Good Hope road to the
District line; and for riding over this extension
OF the road the company may charge an aidi-
tlonal fare not exceeding hve cents.
To-day I'm the House.
MR.. HALR's PLEA FOR JUSTICE FOR THE DIS
TRICT.
The House, in Committee OF the Whole YES.
terdsy, struck out the enacting clause of the
bill authorizing the construction of an iron
bridge across the Eastern branch, near the
Anacostia bridge, but that did not necessarily
defeat the bill; and this morning, District mat
tiers coming up as unfinished us:ness, Mr.. Hale
the passage Of the bill. He had not the time,
nor was he prepared to speak on the relations
of the general government to the District OF
Columbia. That had been ably done by the
delegate from the District, and he wished every
Of Congress would read it, 1t contains
much Information, all Of which should be pos.
sessed by members of the House. He regretted
the disposition which he noticed In the
House to avoid doing anything which
would result in benefit to the District.
A gain, the action Of the House in Committee Of
the Whole yesterday was disrespectful, 1t
seemed TO him, to the Committee Of the Dis
trict of Columbia to which the matter had been
referred for investigation and report. He
argueo only that as the government owns nearly
one-haf OF the real estate in the District il
ought to be responsible for it's share OF the
expenses for improvements. As to the necessity
for bridge across the Eastern Branch and the
justice OF the government building il there
could be no doubt, and he hoped the House
would not sustain the action of the Committee
Of the Whole yesterday.
Mr.. Randall denied that the government
should be responsible for any share of the
expenses Of the District government, on the
ground that the government buildings in Wash
iDgton are convenience and benefit to the
citizens. Mr.. Holman also opposed the BILL
A point of order having been raised, the
Speaker decided that IL the House refused to
concur with the Committee of the Whole the
bill remained the same as when first reported to
the House.
Mr.. Tremaine, OF New York, thought, in JUS
tice, the bill ought to be passed. 1t would be
70 the committee to which the bill
had been referred. Congress is bound by every |
principle Of law and honor to construct this