Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-11
DISTRICT IN CONGRESS.
First Meeting Of the House District Commit.
tee This Morning. =

| tee This Morning.
The House District committee held brief
session this morning for the transaction Of some
necessary routine business. The meeting wal
called to order by the chairman, with all the
members present but one.
Wednesday. mornings at II o'clock was e. ed
upon as the time for holding the regular
sessions and the chairman was authorized &c
cali special meetings at his discretion and also
to determine the number of subcommittee
their members and the bills and petitions that
are to be referred to each. 1t was decided that
| the choice of the chairman of the committee
| clerk be the choice of the committee.
| The chairman WAS authorized to confer with
| the committee on rules to secure il possible
| two days in the month for the consideration of
| District business. 1t is probable that Chair
! man Hemphill will announce the various sub
| committees late this afternoon or tomorrow.
1t is thought possible that Mr.. HemphIli will
| retain Mr.. Tracy l.. Jeford5, the present able
| and popular clerk, in that position. IA he has
had Considerable experience in that capacity,
and it ID recognized that it would be difficult to
! find another as well fitted for the place by
reason of his familiarity with the work OF the
committee and with District affairs.
CRoss-TowN RAILWAY.
Senator Stockbridge, by request, today in
troduced bill to incorporate the cross-town
| railroad in the District of Columbia. The bill
names as the incorporators ii. l.. Cooke, p j.
McHenry, d. r, Mckee. Harry L. Earle, +.
w. Hnidekoper, l.. l.. McLellend and G. p
Janney, and provides that the motor power of
the cars shall lie any mechanical power but
steam that may be approved by the District
| Commissioners. Tho railway is to be COM
menced within six months and be opened
| within two years of the passage of the act.
The route of the tracks is as follows: Be-
| ginning at the corner of 35th and U streets
West Washington, thence along U street to
18th street, thence along 18th street to street.
thence along Q street, crossing Rock creek
on q bridge to be built by the said
railway company, the same to be maintained
as public thoroughfare, with good and suffi-
cient carrlageway and foOtwav, and con-
| structed under the direction and subject to the
approval of the Commissioners of the District
OF Columbia, continuing thence In an easterly
direction along Q street; thence easterly to
North Capitol street; thence along North Cap
ltoi street to street north; thence along Z
| street TO New Jersey avenue, thence along New
Jersey avenue and beginning at Boundary and
North Capitol streets to 18th street and
along 18th street and 18th street extended, with
single track tUrn-outs or double track. with
the approval of the Commissioners Of the
District of Columbia.
Provided, That the mechanism and means of
conducting the power shall be placed in conduits
beneath the surface of the Streets unless carried
by the cars. Whenever the foregoing route or
routes may coincide with the duly author
lied route or routes of any other duly
Incorporated street railway company
in the District of Columbia both COM
panies shall use the same tracks, upon such fair
and equitable terms as may be agreed upon by
said companies. and in the event the said COM
panies fail to agree on equitable terms. either
OF said companies may apply by petition to the
Supreme Court of the District of Columbia
which shall adjudge to the proper party the
| amount Of compensation to be paid therefor.
The capital stock of this company shall not
exceed S1,000000, divided into shares of $50
| each, transferable in such manner as the by
laws OF sand company shall direct. The rail-
road is to be commenced within six months and
be opened for traffic within two years of the
date OF incorporation.
THE ANACosrIA AND POTOMAC r. r. s REPORT.
The Anaco5tia ard Potomac River railroad
has made its annual report to Congress. The
| report shows that the traffic for the year
| amounted to S45.0CO.44. the road
having carried l,O97,730 passengers.
The total receipts for the year
were S1S2.679.4 40. The total expenditures were
by Presiden. Ii. A Griswold and Secretary J..
| u. Pitcher.
FREE LIBRARY.
Senator Mcmillan today introduced bill,
| which is the measure introduced into the
House last session by Representative Hemp
hill. The bill provides for the establishment.
| of a free public and departmental library and
| reading room. 'for the use Of the citizens OF
the District of Columbia and of the employees
! Of the several departments and offices Of the
Government in Washington.
| Sec. 2. That said library shall be located in
| the new post Office building, and the architect
| of the Same is hereby directed to provide in
his plans and specifications rooms in the second
story OF the building suitable for and adapted
| to library and reading room purposes, adequate
to the accommodation OF not less than 80 900
volumes.
Sec. 3. That whenever provisions for the
library are completed such books, periodicals
cluGed In the circulating libraries of
the several executive departments and
Offices of the government In the
city OF Washington shall be transferred to the
| free public and departmental library and read
ing room. for its use. and 1t is hereby made the
duty OF the head of each department., bureau
or Office in which circulating library
| is maintained for the use of employees
OF the government to deliver all such
books, periodicals and papers, without DELAY
to the free public departmental library and
reading room. and thereafter no circulating
library, but only such library as is required for
| its special official use shall be established or
maintained by any department, bureau or
| otice OF the government IN the District of Co.
| lumbia.
hereby authorized to turn over to the free pub
| lie and departmental library and reading room
| such duplicate copies Of books In his charge as
| are not required for the use of the library of
| Congress.
Sec. 5. That upon the completion.of rooms
| for the library herein provided for there shall
be appointed by the President, by and with
| the advice ana consent of the Senate, one
| librarian, who shall be entitled to receive n
| salary of s2,5O0 per aunum. and said librarian
| Is hereby authorized to appoint two assistant
| librarians, who shall receive each u salary of
81, 100 per annUm, two assistants who shall re-
| ceive each a salary of $500 per annum. and one
| janltor at the rate OF 5000 per annum.
| ''Sec. 8. IEa. all citizens of the District of
| Columbia and all officers. clerks and other en-
ployes of the government on duty in the city of
Washington, shall be entitled to the privileges
of the free public and departmental
| library and reading room free of all
charge, under such rules and regula-
tions shall be prescribed by the librarian: pro-
vided, that the library and reading room shall
be kept open from o'clock am. to $
o'clock pm. each day, excepting Sun
days and holidays and provided further,
That the regulations adopted shall include pro-
visions for supplying employees of the several
executive departments with books, through &c
credited departmental messengers
Sec. z. That of the expenses incurred in the
| maintenance of the free public and depart
mental library and reading room, includ-
ing all salaries of employees, one-half
shall be paid by the United States
and one-haif by the District of Co
/ lumbia and il is hereby made the dutv of