Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-09-19
LOCAL LEGISLATION.
The House District Committee Orders
Favorable Reports on Several Bills.

Favorable Reports on Several Bills.
AMONG THEM 10 rHR BILL TO PREVENT TIN
sPRfAD OF HPrDHxIcs, TIE BILL TO PREVENT
SALE on cAHkYIxo OF DEADLY WEAPONS, BILL
TO REGULATE JUNK pEALERs, ETC.
The House District committee held meet
ing this morning and transacted considerable
business. There we're seven members presen,
and four bills and o joint resolution we're or.
dered to be favorably reported
One bill il TO provide the assessor of the Dis
trict with plats Of the subdivisions in the Dis
trict outside Of the city limits
Another bill also favorably reported is for
the relief of Sarah Jane Fowler, the widow of
Fowler, the policeman, who was killed while
In the discharge OF his duty.
TO Prevent TEE SPREAD OF SCARLET yryIR AND
DIPHTHERIA.
Another bill reported is to rrevent the
spread Of scarlet fever and diphtheria in the
District Of Columbia. The bill makes it the
duty OF every physician or other person pre-
scribing for the evils in the District to make
report 70 the health Office on becoming aware
OF any case OF scarlet fever or diphtheria.
Failure to report any case in charge within "A
hours is subject to q fine of from IS to $50
and for second offense from s10 to 500. In
case no physician is in charge the householder
where said case occurred or the parent, nurse,
guardian or other person in attendance shall
make the report subject to the same penalties.
The health officer 10 to see that the houses con-
tanning such cases be properly placarded or
tagged as a warning Of the case.
No person is to visit or attend any public or
private school or place Of public assembIage or
appear on the public streets or in the parks
while afflicted with scarlet fever or diphtheria,
and any adult person, parent or guardian con-
vioted OF :wiilful violation shall be fined from
Is to ESQ.,
After convalescing the patient is not 10 at
tend any school Of any sort without>a certfi-
cate Of recovery from the attending physician,
and violation is to be punished as before pro-
vided. Any person making a false report is
subject to q similar fine. This bill has already
passed the Senate.
DEADLY OR DANGEROUS WEAPONS.
Another bill reported favorably 10 to punish
the carrying or selling of deadly or dangerous
weapons within the District Of Columbia. The
bill provides that 1t shall not be lawful for any
person to have concealed about their person
any deadly or dangerous weapons, such az dag
gers, air guns, pistols, bowie knives, dirk
knives or dirks, blackjscks, raxors, razor
blades, sword canes, slungshots, brass or other
metal knuckles. Such weapons likewise are
not to be carried openly, with intent
ton to use Sc the he same anne usiawiuly conv,o-
punished by a fine Of from S2c to $500 or I'M
prisonment not exceeding six months or both
Officials Of the United States or the District in
the discharge Of their duty are exempted. The
bill further provides that nothing con-
tanned in the first or second sections
shall be construed as to prevent any per-
son from keeping or carrying about his place
OF business, dwelling house or premises any
such dangerous or deadly weapon, or from car
rying the same from place Of purchase to his
dwelling house or place of business or from his
dwelling house or place of business to any
place where repairing is done, to have the
same repaired, and back again.
For second violation the person Ia to be
proceeded against by indictment in tho
supreme Court and on conviction be impris-
oned in the penitentiary for not less than one
nor more than three years. Such weapons
captured are to be destroyed by the police.
Another section provides that any person
who shall SELL barter, hire, lend or give to any
minor under the age OF tsenty-one years any
such weapon as hereinbefore described shall
be deemed guilty OF misdemeanor, and shall,
upon convection, pay fine Of not less than go
nor more than 900 or be imprisoned in the Jail
OF the District Of Columbia not more than three
months.
This bill has also passed the Senate.
RATE OF INTEREST ON BACK TAXES
The committee also reported a joint resolu-
ton providing that the provisions OF the act
approved May 6, 1890, being IAN act fixing the
rate Of interest to be charged on arrearages Of
general and special taxes now due the District
OF Columbia, il paid within a time specified"
be re-enacted and extended to October 81, 1890.
JUNK DEALERS AND PAwNBRoKEns
Mr.. Circuit has also favorably reported the
bill relating to junk dealers or dealers in Sec
ond-hand personal property and pawnbrokers
in the District. The bill provides that the
act in regard to licenses, &C., be
made to read: Junk dealers and
any kind or description shall pay to the Dis
trict of Columbia a license tax Of $40 annually.
Every person whose business il il to buy
or sell old iron, rags, paper, secondhand
clothing or any secondhand personal property
Of any kind or description Whatsoever shall
be subject to the provisions of this act and to
all the laws aud regulations now in force in the
District Of Columbia and to all the valid regu-
lations which may hereafter be provided re-
lating to junk dealers or dealers in
properly Provided
by junk dealers and dealers in secondhand per-
sonal property in their possession until after
the expiration OF ten days after the purchase
thereof or from and after the time at which re-
port has been made to the major OF police of
lations OF the District Of Columbia
The bill also amends the recent act in regard
to pawnbrOkers SO as to read: That no pawn
broker shall ask, demand or receive greater
rate Of interest than 8 per centum per
month on any loan secured by pledge
Of personal property, under penalty
Of $l60 for every such offense.
to be recovered for the use OF the District OF
Columbia; provided, however, that where the
loan is secured by the pledge Of personal
property requiring extra care to prevent injury
during disuse pawnbroker may charge such
reasonable sum for storing and taking care
Of the same as the Commissioners for the Dis
trict Of Columbia may from time to time pre-
Scribe
NR. CIRCUIT SAYS IN HIS REPORT,
speaking Of tho pawnbroker clause: "a bill
touching upon the business of pawnbrokers
was passed by the last Congress which so re-
stricted their business that all but one in the
city engaged In that business discontinu it.
The Commissioners say no responsible person
will engage in it under the present law the result
Of which has been to drive the former pawn
brokers out Of the business, and to supply
demand have become buyers and sellers By
this means they take undue advantage of GUS
toners, as the whole matter Is in their hands
without supervision Of police"
He also recommended provision exempting
dealers in secondhand books from the proyi-
sions of the act.
COOKE PARK IN GEORGETOWN.
The Senate this afternoon passed the Senate
bill authorizing the Commissioners OF the Dis
trict to annul and cancel the subdivision OF
part OF square numbered liz, in Georgetown,
known a. Cooke Park, made by A N. Bell Sep
TENDER 26, 1885, and recorded in the Office of
the surveyor, provided that all the owners
whose property in said subdivision abuts on