Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-05
DISTRICT IN CONGRESS.
Business Transacted at the Meeting Of the
Senate Committee Today.

THE QUESTION OF STREET EXTENSION DISCUSSED
| MANY STREET RAILWAY BILLS CONSIDERED,
SOME BEING APPROVED AND OTHERS OBJECTED
ro-THE HOUSE COMMITTEES MEETING.
| Steadily falling snow and other uucomforta-
bic meteorological conditions would have fur
nished every member Of the Senate District
committee with reasonable excuses for
| remaining away from the regular weekly
meeting, and if that body was COM
posed Of less energetic men there might
have been much difficulty in drumming up a
quorum. Eight Senators participated in the
exercises today-Chairman Mcmillan and Sem
ators Higgins. Gallinger, Hansbrough, Perkins,
Harris, Faulkner and Gibson being present
Senator wolcott is out of town; Senator Vance
was doubtless justified in staying at home,
while Senator Barbour still suffers from the
popularity unpopular complaint.
EXTENSION OF STREETS.
Before the full committee assembled there
was q meeting of the subcommittee on the ex-
tension of streets and avenues. OF this
organization Senator Harris is chairman; his
associates are Senators Faulkner and Mcmillan.
They gave hearing to MIR. A s. Worthington.
representing the board OF trade, and with him
went carefully through the measure under
consideration. Many important amendments
were agreed upon, but the bill
will not be complete and ready for
report until Senator Harris has had
another consultation with Mr. Worthington,
the latter having promised to formulate and
submit other amendments which the commit
tee deem necessary. As soon as the subcom-
mittee is satisf ed with the bill there will be
heartily unanimous effort to push it to legis-
iatlvc conclusion. Senator Harris does not pro-
pose TO let Il rest on the Senate calendar
and bis businesslike sentiment is shared by
every member OF tho committee. 1t Is recog-
niSed that each day of delay means increase
IN the cost Of the work, SO as soon as the first
opportunity makes lis appearance the Senate
will have its attention called to the bill.
WHAT THE MAIN COMMITTEE DID.
Street railroads occupied the attention of the
main committee during the greater part Of its
session, and, as The STAR intimated yesterday,
the Brightwood company came in for its
share OF consideration. The subject was one
OF more than average interest, and 1t was
sufficiently discussed. 1t IS tie evident dispo-
sitlon of the committee to be fair i'll its treat
ment of all corporations or individuals with
whom 1t has to deal. but /. does not propose TO
allow the public to be tormented or deceived
by parties whose charters do not empower
them to torment or deceive. Companies
that secured privileges from Congress because
it Was in the contract the people generally were
20 be accommodated and benefited will be re-
Chairman Mcmillan has had several interviews
with persons interested in tie Brightwood
company, bat none OF the stockholders
could give him Information that had in it the
essential clements of certainty. Some were
satisfied that the pneumatic system would be "a
triumphant success, but they could not guess
to within a year or two when the success
would be available for the transportation
of passengers. 1t was stated that a contract
had been made for cars, but, taken as q whole,
led, t,ofa
The committee authorized Chairman Mcmillan
to communicate with the Metropolitan
Hallway Company (now operating the
road as lessee), to the end that
better service be given. If the improved SER
vice does not materialize very rapidly the
committee will move forcibly to legisiate the
Brightwood charter out of existence.
cRoss-TowN ROAD.
The interesting subject of "cross-town"
road was taken up and in little while it was
decided to have the chairman report adversely
Senate bill 1477, ''to incorporate the cross
town railroad of the District of Columbia-" The
committee was OF opinion that one of the es-
tablished roads should be extended, and as the
outgrowth Of that opinion a bill is
being prepared which will require the
Metropolitan Company to build line
along p street to connect its 9th
street line with its tracks at Dupont Circle
Between 9Th and 18th streets the tracks Of the
be possible Tor Georgetown people to reach
East Washington-by way OF the Metropolitan
and Columbia systems-with satisfactory ra-
pidity and for a single fare.
AGAINST THE zoo ROAD.
Adverse report was ordered to be made on
the bill to incorporate the Zoo Street Railway
Company. In that report Senator Mcmillan
says: The committee concurs in the opin-
ions expressed by the Commissioners. OBJ
vously +, no o,,s street railway company
the desires Of the property owners along the
proposed line unless the public cannot secure
from existing lines the service to which it is
entitled. In the present instance the lines that
have been chartered by Congress appear to the
mediation of the public and to insure cheaper
and more exDeditious service than a new line
could furnish"
TO REBUILD THE N STREET BRIDGE.
The committee was unanimous in its ap-
prevail of the Mcmillan bill, to provide for the
rebuilding of the bridge across Rock creek
at VI street, and the chairman was authorized
to report it. This is another of the
measures which is not intended to decorate the
calendar. As soon as the District Commission
ers send in the precise estimate of cost
(Which will be somewhere in the neighbor-
hood OF $40, OO0) the bill will be amended
SO as to state the amount and then the Senate
Will be asked to give it immediate considera-
ton. The committee recognizes the impera-
tive need there is for new structure and
whatever delay, II any, takes place it does
not propose to be ourdened with the serious
responsibility.
FAVORABLE REPORTS.
Favorable reports were also authorized as to
the bills "to vest the title to public square 11O2
in the trustees Of the Fourth Street NJ. L.
Chui b." "to authorize the Commissioners Of
the District Of Columbia to grant pardons
ani: respites in certain cases. and "a bill to
amend an act entitled An act making appro-
priat:ons to provide for the expenses OF the
government OF the District Of Columbia for the
fiscal year ending June 80, 1857
IN THE SENATE COMMITTEE ROOM
Chairman Mcmillan has received a letter
from a resident of Georgetown calling his at
tention to the village like and antique char
acteristics of that portion of the District.
Horses and wagons and tree boxes
loaf on the principal streets Just as they
were wont to do a hundred years ago. The
writer thought the time for reform was a trife
overdue. Senator Mcmillan responded and
informed the complainant that the Senate com
mittee had taken favorable action on the bill
extending the police regulations Of the city OF
Washington to the entire District
On Tuesday morning at 1880 the submittee
Oh Senate bill 1913 ITO amend the laws relating
to land titles in the District will listen to the