The Evening critic., 1884-12-11
B0ME LEGISLATION,
Pending Measures Affecting the
Welfare of Washington.
THE OUTLOOK.
The Expectations of the Commission
ers as to What Will BIO Accom-
plished-The Postohice, Street I'M
provements, Cable-Roads, Liquor
Licenses and other Topics.

The District appro prlation bill is rapidly as.
Stunning shape for presentation to the House,
and viii be awaited with interest.
The figures will DO restored u correspond
with the Clmmis sionere' estimates, tho full
amount asked for street improvements being
allowed, and the figures In every respect com
plying with the Commissioners views. At the
Same time there will bo some interesting
chapges in, or rather additions TO, the bill.
ono OF these will provide for q codlncation OF
the District lave, as suggested by the Com
missioners in several annual reports.
Another important change from financial
standpoint will be one requiring the Treasury
TO credit the District with fifty per cent. OF all
drawbacks received for the payment OF taxes.
There will BIO other changes OF more or less
Importance.
The Commissioners are led to believe that
the bill providing for the employment OF Jail
prisoners on street improvements Will become
u law.
They claim that the bill is not Justly subject
10 the charge that 1t contemplates tho expos
nre OF the prisoners to an unnecessary and In.
The contemplated work is to be confined to
sections Of the city that are not thickly set
tied or much frequented, and whore the con-
yicts Will not be any more exposed to public
gaze than they would ordinarily be In tue
cells and corridors OF the jail.
Tho Liquor License bill Will be fayorably re-
ported, and the Commissioners believe that It
may pass, as the committees OF both houses
passed iavorabiy upon Its provisions at tho
The requirements OF tho bill are familiar:
II is Identical TO the provisions OF the defunct
license Dill on that subject
The bill provoked very bitter opposition
from some OF the liquor dealers, and falls
short OF tho ideas OF the temperance people,
but Is generally regarded as rather sound
and satisfactory compromise, providing. for
the more efficient enforcement OF tho laws
against unlicensed liquor selling.
or the other pending District bills little can
The provision for new City Postorice is
highly important, and Its passage should be
urged and pressed at every possible oppor-
tunity and Congress be given to understand
that II must not be neglected.
The Commissioners have not yet publicly
expressed their position In reference to the
proposed cable roade, but 1t Is known TO be a
rather paradoxical one. They favor caole
roads as a successful and convenient mode OF
travel, but they oppose the occupation OF any
other streets by tracks except whore 4 is very
necessary. The Commissioners believe the
city to be well supplied with stroet.railroads,
and are opposed to the occupation OF any more
thorouehfares parallel and adjacent to exist
They would not consent to the disngure.
ment OF Massachusetts avenue by tracks, OK
cept upon the request OF a majority OF the
estea. in00' 'H'''a'0'' inter-
There is no hope for tho abolition of the
personal tax at the hands OF the present Con-
gress. The attitude assumed and the action
taken by the District committees last session
demonstrated that fact with sufficient clear.
ness.
The inactivity OF the House District Com
mittee causes much dissatisfaction and COM
plant.
There is a possibility of the passage OF the
bill providing for night schools, and II fs
likely that many OF the provisions OF the LII
cepse and Police bills viii be appended to
other measures and thus become laws.
While the indications do not favor the trans
faction OF much District business, the outlook
is not an unpromising ono as far as the most
important and most pressing matters are con-
cerned. opinion fs very evonly divided as to
in the near future with or without the assist.
ance OF the present Congress.