Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-03-11
MAKING DISTRICT LAWS.
The Senate District Committee Considers
Various Matters.

Mcmillan and Senators Hansbrough. Perkins,
Harris. Vance, Faulkner, Barbour and Gibson
of MARYLAND
Senator Vance at once brought up the bill to
prevent cruelty to children in the District land
for other purposes" II considered and a
hearing was given President A s. Pratt and
Secretary Parker Mann of the Humane So
ciety. The question of docking horses tails was
debated at length and the committee finally
eoHcluded-as a result of Senator Wolcotts
res.arch-that tail docking WAS not a cruel OPP
Grafton if the new electrical method was en-
ployeG. The cruelty. though. came in when
the locked animals were too ola for hiSh-Srade
work and were consequently sold to people
! who worked them considerably ard turned
/ them out to craze for subsistence. The
horses could not protect themselves against
| flies. II agreed that, for this latter reason
| the antI-docking clause was good one to keep
In the BILL so it stays Section 2. which reads
as follows. has been cut out:
| That AT parent or guardian in the District of
| Columbia who unreasonably peglects TO provide
for his or her minor child shall upon conviction
OF such unreasonable neglect be punished BY
fine not exceeding $40 or by imprisonment not
exceeding six months.
When this excison had been made Senator
Vance was authorized to report the bill favor
ably.
THE LEXINGTON ROAD.
Favorable report was also ordered on the
proposition to extend the lexington road out
street from New Jersey avenue to
18th street northeast, returning along
ID street to 4th and from thence
along street to the place of beginning. This
extension was suggested by the committee, and
so Was the proviso which says that the
company shall not be compelled to build
the extension until C and d streets between
18th and 18th east have been properly i'm
proved. People who want the railway will
probably press the District Com missioners and
thus hurry up the improvements
No confidence is violated when the statement
Is made that the action of the committee on
this lexington extension means the decrease of
Lah a dozen other projected roads.
THE CARE OF DEPENDENT CHILDREN.
The Dill to provide for the care of dependent
children in the District and to create a board
of children's guardians was debated. The
feature Of the measure-a temporary home
was provided for in such way that it seemed
to commit the Distric. to an indefinite expense.
Senator Perkins will investigate and report.
AN ADVERSE REPORT.
Unanimously adverse report ordered on
the bill 20 gay John Hope Hodnett nearly one
hundred and thirty thousand dollars. and the
task of reporting was placed in the
hands of Senator Harris. Mr. Hodnctt
claims to have been counsel for the working
men of the contractors OF the late board OF
public works. lie wants $4,000 Tor his own
services, and would ike to disbGrse to certain
OF these workingmen the sum Of S53, G67. 60,
which, he says Is an unexpended balance now
living in the treasury.
Mr.. Hodrett wac in the committee room for
some time before the committee made its APP
pearanee. lie did want to go out when the
session commenced, but as soon as he was out
he desired to get in again. He quite en-
phatic In his expressions and probably would
have disturbed the deliberations OF the COM
mlttee mad there not been official interference
with his plans
FUNDS FOR THE EXTENSION OF STREETS.
Senator Harris then brought up for discus
sion a proposition, which has been fully de-
scribed In The STAR. The subcommittee on
the extension of streets and avenues is of opin-
ion that the proposition to pay for the
extension by the issuance and sale
of bonds would not be popular in
either branch OF the national legislature Just
now. The subcommittee advocated direct ap-
preparation and Senate: Harris was instructed
to offer the necessary amendments in the SEN
ate.
AGAINST HOUSES IN ALLEYS
Senator Fau,kner's bill to prevent the build
ing of houses in alleys which areless than forty
feet wide was discussed at some length and
members OF the committee generally seemed to
favor the measure. The bill. however has
gone over because Senator kenna desires to be
heard before the committee makes any report
STEAM ESsISEERISs.
Favorable report will be made by Senator
Perkins on Senator PETERS bill to regulate
steam engineering in the District. The bill
has been amended to conform 70 sugges-
tiOns made by the District Commissioners and
Is now believed to be in a satisfactory coudi-
ton.
MARRIED woAES's RIGHTS.
Favorable action was ordered on Senator
McAIilans bill, which grants to married
women rights they have not heretofore
enjoyed in tine city of Washington. The bill
provides that in the District of Columbia
the right Of any married woman 20 any
property, personal or real. belonging to her at
the time OF marriage or acquired during mar
riage by her trade, business, labor or services
carried on performed on her sole and
separate account. OF in any other way than by
gift or conveyance from her husband shall be
as absolute as ii she were unmarried, and shall
not be subject to the disposal Of her husband
nor be liable for his debts The other provi-
sion in the bill is that any married
woman may contract and sue and
be sued in her own name, ard in matters
having relation to her sole and separate
property or TO her trade. business labor or
services carried On performed on her sole
and separate account in the same manner as
if she were unmarried ard may make
notes, drafts. or other negotiable or business
paper or evidt noes of Indebtedness. and the
same shall be of Ike effect and value in law as
If made by unmarried woman.
BRIDGE ACROSS THE EASTERN BRANCH
Senator Gibson of Maryland was authorized
to report favorabiy his resolution requiring
the Secretary Of War to make a survey, plan
aud estimate of the cost of constructing a
bridge across the Eastern branch. This reso-
luton now goes to the appropriations commit
tee.
COMMISSIONERS TO GRANT PARDoNs.
Senator Perkins this afternoon endeavored to
have the Senate pass House bill giving to the
District Commissioners power to grant respites
and pardons in certain cases. The Senator re-
ported the bill back favorably from the District
committee ard asked its immediate considera-
ton. An objection from Senator Butler sent it
to the calender.
SEWERAGE IN THE DISTRICT.
The Senate this afternoon directed the print
ing of 200 additional copies Of the repor. on
sewerage in the District.
Mr. HoDNErT's CLAIM.
John Pore Hodnett is still after those
$4,000 which he alleges were earned by him
while serving counsel in the investigation
| into the affairs of the District. Senator
Palmer has (by request) introduced the bill