Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-04-13
The District III Congress.
TIE PROPOSED NEW HEALTH LAWS.


is absolutely powerleSs to prevent the spread of
epidemic and other diseases: that the health
ordinances proposed to be legaliZed were framed
by committee OF gentlemen after visiting and
examining health regulations in many of the
larger cities of the uniOD and such regulations
as were deemed most suitable to the District
were adopted; that the health ordinances We're
in force four years and no complaint of them
was ever heard.
Senator Harris presented petition from DR..
J. c. Hall and 25 other physicians, urging the
immediate adoption of the Joint resolution.
The Senate agreed to take up the resolution,
and 1t was read. Senator Conkling said this
resolution in legalizing the ordinances would,
at rough guess, create about fifty or sixty
penalties. and some of them very arbitrary.
For instance, he read the ordinances in relation
to water. llesaid. under that well on place
could be summarfly condemned and a person
fined for subsequently watering his horse out
OF it. Mr.. Conkling read the ordinance to sup
press the alianthus tree and said that in the
opinion of many persons it was not offensive.
He read others of the ordinances. and said that
the ofienses created and penalties imposed were
so numerous and summary that under them
nobody would be safe from prosecution.
Senator ingalls, favored the resolution. and
said. in the nature Of things the penalties in
sanitary regulations must be summary. Sena-
tor Butler called special attention to DR.. TOWNS
hendS letter and that sentence about the ord
nanceS having been in force four years without
any complaint of hardship or the exercise OF
undue power Mr.. Butler said he would ven
ture the assertion that there is notin the United
States to-day n city OF 600 inhabitants whose
sanitary condition is not better than that OF
Washington.
The Joint resolution was adopted by vote OF
20 ayes to nays. An amendment was adopted
requiring correct vital statistics to be kept as
we'll as records OF marriages. births and deaths
RAILROADS IN THE DISTRICT
A meeting of the Senate District Sub-cOmmit-
tee having in charge the matters of railroads in
the District will be held in the capitol to-mor-
row. commencing at l O'Clock, which the citi
tsIS- init
ment OF union depot are invited to attend and
give expression to their views on the subject
COL VIM. keyser, vice president of the Balti-
more ohio railroad will be present and give
his views on the subject.
THE DISTRICT APPROPRIATIONS.
The House committee on appropriations has
begun the consideration of estimates for the
support of the District which have been trans
mitted TO that committee by the District com
mittee and with the approval OF the latter COM
mittee. Yesterday afternoon the school apprO
priationS in the bill were under consideration
and Messrs Atlee and LOvejOy were present to
represent the interests OF our public schools
PROPOSED NEW STREET RAILROAD.
Mr.. Hunton introduced Ia the House yester-
day a bill to incorporate the Washington &
Georgetown Steam Railway Company This
bill reciteS the existence OF corporation for
the construction Of a railway on the berrne
bank OF the Alexandria canal, with authority
to cross the Potomac river on the piers OF the
Aqueduct, and also that road known as the
narrow guage road Is in process OF conStruc-
ton from the western border OF the state to the
District lire. 1t then proposes the enactment
OF law Incorporating the Washington &
Georgetown Junction Steam Railway Company.
empowered TO construct railroad from the
northern terminus OF the Aqueduct bridge
through Georgetown to Rock creek, along Rock
creek to the Potomac river and along the Poto-
mac river to the foot of l4th street. The follow
ing are named as incorporators: G. H. b. White.
j W. H.. s Il X II
Smoot, Win. W. DUNCAN, Z. d. Hartley, VIM. s.
Thompson, John F. Quigiey. Ii. c.. Winship, and
T. II. Sypherd The capitol stock IS limited to
:5oo,ooo, in shares of sicO each, with authority
to issue bonds to the amount of $500, 900. The
rate of fare is limited TO five cents within the
District of Columbia, ard tonnage to eight cents
per ton. Books are to be opened within sixty
days after the passage OF the act, aud twenty
five per cent. paid at the time of subscription,
The work is TO be commenced within two years
ana completed within four years, under penalty
OF forfeiture OF charter. The bill authorizes
the construction OF a main depot at the foot OF
.,th street, and contemplates the occupation OF
me ln mats Ior grand union depot. The bill was
PROPOSED ANTI-TRAMP LAW
The bill for the punishment Of vagrancy in
the District OF Columbia, reported by the Sen
ate District committee yesterday with amend
mentS. enactS:-'That all idle, vicious or dis
orderly persons in the District OF Columbia
without any fixed. regular or lawful means or
or place TO place, OF occupy public places, for
the purpose OF begging or receiving aims; all
persons found trespassing in the night time
upon the private premises OF Others all persons
found habitually lettering in or about tipping
houses. gambling houses, or houses of ill-fame.
persons guilty OF indecent behavior publicly In
me streets: all persons going about and having
IN their possession any article, device Or thing
1of the purpose OF gaining charity or obtaining
money under false pretenSes; all persons known
10 oe plchpockets or thieves. either by their
a nv ht-f ft.aip /,
been convicted of either OF said offenses found
lolterlng around any steamboat landing
dali10ad da nh1,c depot banking institution, place
thOrouShfare, car or omnibus, or at any public
gathering OF assembly. shall be taken and
deemed 10 be vagrantS and upon conviction
thereof or any part thereof in the Police Court
or Ia any court OF competent jurisdiction upon
information filed in the name of the District, be
required TO enter into security for their good
bena'lOrln In sum not exceeding $500 tor Space
or time not exceeding one year, and In case of
refusal or Inability to give such security. they
snail De confined for term not exceeding one
such security be sooner given; and the same
proceedings shall be had against such person or
persons offending for each and every offense
Sec provides THAI whenever any person so
convicted OF any of these offenses shall give
security for good behavior and shall within the
time for which said security was given be again
convcied co's ;, OF any OF the ohfenses named. the
Court shall summon the oblgors in said recog-
nHaEce 10 appear on an early day TO
show cause why Judgment should not
DE rendered and execution issued for the sums
secured by such recogniZance: and after a hear
lfS, IL IL snail appear that the principal in said
feCognzaLce has violated the condition thereof
judgment shall be awarded thereon against said
CGi.0ls Tor penalty snamed with costs OF suit
sec s. Ilat any Vagrant who shall enter any
dWtlilnG- house or other building appurtenant
lhefel0 Without the consent OF the owner or oc-
cupant thereof, OF who shall kindle any fire in
any street, avenue. alley. road, or on any lot in
sald Distllct, or Shall be found CARRYING any
hIe,al m or other dangerous weapon OF who
ahall threaten to do any injury to
any person or TO the real or personal property
vi ahOtner, shall be punished by imprisonment
81, az hard labor not exceeding two years. Sec. 4
Inat any Vagrant who shall willfulIy and ma
iclolisly do any injury TO any person. or to the
ieal OF personal estate OF any person. shall be
punished by Imprisonment at hard labor not
less than one nor more than two years See. )
mat any act OF beggary or vagrancy by any
person rot resident OF the District Of Colum-
ba shall be Evidence that the person
committing the same is vagrant within
tbe meaning OF this act. Sec g. That
minors under seventeen years of age who
Shall be convicted under the first section of this
act. may be committed to one of the chartable
tuucatlOnal, industrial, or FefOrmatOry instit,I
tons within the District of Columbia provided
Tor the support ana education or reformation Of
the poor destitute, and vagrant there to he de-
talned, kept, instructed, and EMPLOYED In such
useful labor as such Child shall be able to mar
form, until discharged therefrom by the Com
miss1Oners OF the District or bound out by their
authority or until the parents or friends OF snch
child shall give security. to be approved by the