Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-01
Hope for Local Legislation at the
Coming Session.
SOME BILLS NOW ON THE CALENDAR
Those Which Most Need Prompt
and Definite Action.
MUCH WORK TO BE DONE

be no general legislation introduced at the
coming session of Congress that will give
rise to prolonged debates, and this encour-
ages the hope that more attention may be
paid to minor legislation and incidentally
to local matters than last year, when the
silver and tariff bills practically monopo-
lized all the time. There is no lack of
material for both the houses and the COM
mittees to work on. Indeed the calen-
dars Of the District committees Of
both houses. which are still In
force from last session, are crowded with
measures of considerable Importance, with
the usual number Of Insignificant matters
of which the disposition will be of little
consequence.
The Bond Issne.
The main interest will center in the bond
issue or sewer extension bill. which was
the cause of considerable controversy at
the last session. The bill, as 1t passed the
House, Is eminently unsatisfactory to the
citizens of Washington, In that 1t places
the entire cost of this great Improvement,
the necessity for which grows with every
year, upon the District, thus abrogatins
the original contract whereby the govern
ment undertook to pay half the expenses
Of the capital.
The Senate committee has taken a de-
cided stand against this unjust treatment
of the citizens of Washington, and should
the bill be brought to a discussion between
the two houses q fierce controversy Is
sure to follow. In view of the fact that
the personnel of the two committees will
not be changed until after the expiration
of this Congress, 1t has been suggested
that 1t will be better for the interests OF
the city for the DILL to be allowed to lapse
fourth Congress, when there may he a
more favorable view taken of the question
by the House.
A New Municipal Building.
Next in Importance is the question of a
new municipal building. which did not
quite come to a focus at the last session.
but which. 1t eis hoped. may be urged
through both houses in satisfactory shape.
There are several propositions In the form
of bills before both committees. but per-
haps the one most popular with members
and Senators from an economic point of
view, and therefore most likely to be IA
vorably considered, is to erect on the pres
ent site Of the old court house q combina-
ton home for the municipal and police Of
fees and all the courts that pertain to the
local Jurisdiction. While there may be a
large number of citizens who would regret
to see any further encroachments on the
public parks, 1t is probable that this plan
will commend itself most highly OF all to
the approval Of the legislators, In view of
the fact that no appropriation for the pur-
chase of site will be necessary.
The old fight over the selection for a site
for a new printing office is almost sure to
be reopened in view Of the Known deter
mination of the present public printer to
place the responsibility for further delay
in this most vital matter on the houses Of
Congress. He will be further reinforced
this year by a report from q board of en-
gineers who. 1t is understood. point out the
danger of waiting until the owners of va
rious sites may compromise among them
selves before building a new structure.
The need for a reorganization of the police
and fire departments of the city will be
early urged upon Congress. and 1t is be-
lieved by many that something will be
accomplished at the coming session.
The Steam Railroad Problem.
There is a growing disposition on the
part of members of both committees to
take up and finally dispose of the steam
railroad problem. which 1t was felt last
year could not be handled adequately. ow-
ing to the great limitations on the time
that was meted out for local legislation.
A bill comprehending all the features of
the question, embracing the needs at both
the termini in this city, may very possibly
be drawn early in the session, and urged
to vote SO that the sentiment of the
Congress may be well tested in advance Of
the next session succeeding, which, 1t is
hoped, will be inclined TO take decisive
steps in this long postponed matter.
The entire subject Of street railway
franchises, especially in the line Of subur-
ban roads and the extension of existing
routes. may be brought forward in a single
bill destined to settle for some time to
come these vexatious problems. The great
duplication of lines throughout the entire
northern neiGhborhood of Washington, and
the almost certain prospect that II all the
franchises asked for We're granted, more
than half the roads would be Improbable,
will possibly lead the members of the two
committees to frame in harmony a meas
ure that will protect the interests already
vested, and supply the demands of the pub
lie without unnecessarily covering the
streets with tracks. The policy of the
Senate. at least, will be to run the surbur-
ban lines making city connections upon the
established trunk lines wherever it can bo
done without complications resulting from
differences of motive power 1t may be
that the delay of the Metropolitan COM
pany in starting to work establishing an
electric road will be the cause of some
&C mment by resolution or otherwise al
though the bill by which this Improvement
was authorized contains It's own penalty
for non-conformance. -Four months Of the
the 9th street line have now elapsed, and
no work has been done.
A Free Public Library.
The bill for the establishment of free
public library has already made many
Il
Grafton is anticipated. The bill as drawn
and approved by the board of trade Is
certain to be the basis Of whatever legisla-
ton may be accomplished, although sever
al suggestions have been made as to the
methods of maintaining the library and the
question of a home for this institution.
There is no disposition to postpone the
matter as far as can be ascertained.
One Of the most important bills to which
attention will be directed early is that pro-
viding for an increase of the water supply.
This bill involves not only the question of
the establishment of an adequate water
plant at Great Falls, but also certain con-
troverted items relating to the title Of the
government to the water power. which it
is most desirable should be settled at an
early date. Closely associated with the
question of water supply Is the PROPOSE
ticn to utilize the power at the falls for
the creation of electric power to be used In
lighting the city. Bills are on the calendar
for each of these objects and 1t Is quite
possible that they may be combined and so
considered as one matter
Taxes and Tax Sales.
There are several bills relating to taxes,
tax sales and similar matters on the calen-
dars Of both houses and the committees. 1t
is hoped by the leaders in the committees
that some action will be taken at this ses-
sion on these measures. Among other bills