Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-20

ance law Of January 90 1887, to regulate
the telephone service; to make permanent
provision for the police fund; to incorporate
the Capital Railroad Company; for the APP
pointment of public administrator; for
permanent exposition at Washington; to in
corporate the Washington City Railroad
Company; to secure uniformity in the names
of minor streets; to require the use of safety
tenders on rapid-transit cars: to regulate
Canal street; to regulate the sale of milk;
relating to the Witnessing of wills.
Bills to incorporate the National Light
and Fuel Company were rejected by the
committee; also number Of street railway
bills. The bill relating to the sale of gas,
regulating the price. known as the dollar
gas Dill, reached the Senate after favor
able action by the House. but has not yet
been acted upon. The committee will not
take action upon this measure until next
session.
ate. on motion of Mr.. Mcmillan, supple
mented by a later resolution by Mr.. Hoar
which will result In q comprehensive inves-
tisation at the next session into the sys-
tenn of charities and charitable institutions
in this city. This Is the result Of agitation
over the appropriations for the support of
charitable institutions and the board of
children's guardians. The subcommittee
quiry IL composed Of Senators Mcmillan,
Hunton, Gallinger, Faulkner and Martin.
The inquiry will be devoted especially to
the relations Of the office of the superinten-
drens guardians. incidentally the COM
mittee will investigate the Humane Society,
and will mako a complete survey of the
government-atded institutions. with especial
reference to their property and systems OF
management
A number Of local nominations have
passed through the Senate. including those
of Commissioner Truesdell. Commissioner
Ross. Recorder c. H. ]. Taylor and Judge
Miller of the Police Court. All Of these
passed without opposition except that Of
Taylor, against whom a determined oppo-
sition developed on account Of his non-resi-
dence in the District. The District COM
mittee made an adverse report to the Sem
ate. but. after a long and bitter fight, he
was confirmed by the Senate.
District Matters in the House.
The House District committee has had a
busy session. has reported a number Of i'm
pOrtant bills and secured their passage
through the House. has reported other i'm
portant measures. which now hang fire on
the House calendar. and has given careful
consideration to a number of bills of public
and private import. which are yet in an
unfinished state in committee. The work
of the committee at this session has been
marked by one feature, which will not fig
ure SO extensively In future sessions, name
ly. the holding of prolonged public hearings
upon bills before the committee. Day in
and day out the committee listened to argu-
ments for and against bills which had been
already made before the District Commits
sioners. Next session there will be short
hearings and every one will be given an op-
portunity to file written statements. This
Is expected to afford the committee more
time to give to the actual consideration Of
bills.
bills or the House Calendar.
The work Of the committee most closely
approaching fruition Is those measures
now on the calendar of the House. ready
70 no toEo OF no Avof ifxyf for
consideration next session. They are as
follows: A bill to amend the act approved
February IS. 1893. changing the name Of
the Capitol. North Street and South
Washington Railway Company to the Belt
Railway Company. and granting additional
powers to said company. This Is popularity
known as the L street crosstOwn railway
bill. 1t was considered in the House May
IA and July ., but action was deferred on
account of vigorous opposition to the route.
bill for the sale of burial sites for the
benefit of the Congressional cemetery
bill continuing the system Of trunk
sewers in the District pOpularly known as
the bond bilD. 1t will be among the first
bills brought up at the next session.
A bill to establish a free and department
tai public library in the District of Co
lumbia- This bill will have the right Of
way on the first District day next session.
coming over as unfinished business.
A bill to provide that the laws relating
to bookmaking shall not apply to book
making at any regular meeting of any
jockey club or racing association in the
District Of Columbia conducted on mile
tracks and beyond three-fourths Of a mile
from the limits Of the cities Of Washington
and Georgetown and between the LIST day
of April and the Both day Of November
said club or association to be limited to
one spring or summer meeting and one
fall meeting. Of not more than eighteen
days each. in any one year.
A bill for the promotion Of anatomical
science and to prevent the Dissertation Of
graves 1t provides that bodies of paupers
may be given to medical colleges under
certain stipulations.
A bill to amend the charter Of the District
of Columbia Suburban Railway Company.
A bill to extend the route and amend the
charter of the BrightwoOd Railway Com
pany.
On the Committees Calendar.
There are great many bills still on the
calendar Of the committee which have not
reached final action, and some of them are
of unusual Importance. At the head Of this
list stands the bill to define the route of the
Baltimore and Ohio Railway Company
within the District, and to require that
company to abolish grade crossings. Sew
eral hearings were given upon this meas
IRE during the session, but the bill was
never reported. Its friends now claim that
they have assurances of early action by
the committee at the beginning of next
session.
Next in Importance, perhaps in this cate
CORY comes the bill to codify the laws of
the District. At the beginning Of the ses-
sion there was lively promise of action
upon this measure. Chairman Heard ap-
pointed a special subcommittee to consider
1t, but no meeting has ever been held, and
1t is thought that there Is but little likeli-
hood Of action at the next session, as the
session will continue but three months.
Other measures of Importance which are
still before the committee are as follows:
A bill making April a legal holiday.
A bill to simplify the form Of deeds of
conveyance.
A bill relating to separate estates Of mar
ried women.
A bill for the settlement Of outstanding
claims against the District.
A bill to incorporate the Washington and
Benning Railway Company.
A bill to prevent the recording of subdi-
visions of land in the District
A bill authorizing the appointment of q
deputy coroner.
A bill to incorporate the Washington and
Georgetown Terminal railway. This meas
ure Is said to be for the purpose of a fur
Their extension Of the tracks of the Penn
sylvania Railway Company in South Wash
ington. and a bitter fight has been made
upon It,
A bill to amend the law relating to d.
vorces.
A bill requiring the appointment Of wo-
men as school trustees.