Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-15

ing compromise proposition that the bin
should lie on the table without action until
after the meeting of the committee on
Monday next. Mr.. Hale said he had no
objection if there was a distinct under
standing that no action should be taken.
II cannot be here at all times,' he said
because I am engaged on other commit
tees" At this point Mr.. Wolcott came for
ward with a vigorous defense of the Dis
trict committee.
Mr.. WOlcOtt Defends the Committee.
There has not been a reflection" he
said, but a direct statement by the Sena-
tor from New York that the District COM
mittee has been derelict in it's duty, and
has for eight months had custody of the
bill and has failed to act upon it, There
is In the Senate, so far as l know, no such
hard-worked, patient and conscientious
committee as the District committee.
There is in connection with that commit
tee subcommittee of three, having direct
charge of chartering and extension of char
ters of street railroad lines. That commit
tee brings to it's work consideration and in
dustry and care greater than that which
most men exercise over their own affairs.
l speak with greater freedom because / am
not a member of that subcommittee, and I
am probably the least Industrious of any
member of the District committee. But 1
know that that committee has painstak-
ingly, carefully and conscientiously con-
sidered every bill that came before it. Some
eight months or SO ago this bill was
ferred to that committee. At that time the
tariff measure was under discussion, and
the members could not be got together to
consider bills. There were twenty Eight
bills for street railways pending before that
subcommittee. In December, when the
committee met, there were some members
who thought it desirable to go back to their
own states on matters pertaining to the
election Of Senators. Since their return
this particular bill has been taken up and
considered with the utmost care. In the
opinion of many people the merits of this
bill are but the slightest character. The
reason why the bill has not been reported
long ago has been largely a dsinclination
to offend the Senator from New York and
others, because 1 understand the Senator
from New York has an unusual-a per-
fectly proper, but unusual-interest in this
bill and has addressed the committee, l
think, in writing on the subject
There has been u desire to deal with it
with the utmost hberality. The Senator
from New York will be gratifed with the
report OH the bill sooner later. The
Senator says that this very bill is now be-
fore the Senate committee for consdera-
ton and asks that a bill exactly like it
which has passed the other house shall be
left on the table without first going to
the District committee. l can imagine no
greater or more unwarranted rebuke than
would be exercised by such vote If car
ried.
Mr.. Hale said he willing to let the
bill lie OH the table, but Mr.. Wolcott OBJ
jected and said that he had no idea in the
world that this measure would be Specih-
cally taken up by the committee next Mon
day. He thought 1t perfectly fair and open
to say that the situation of Mr.. Hill would
not be changed in the slightest degree or
bettered by the committee meeting Mon
day. He would object to any unanimous
consent which would bind the committee
to some specific action on Monday. Mr..
Faulkner explained that there was no idea
of pushing the committee to take any ac-
ton and he made his proposition again
that the bill should lie on the table, with
the motion to refer pending until after
Monday. This was finally agreed to and
the question was passed oyer for the time
being.
The Dollar Ga Hill.
In the committee this ntofnng volumi-
nous report was presented by the subcom-
mittee on the dollar gas bill.
Tne members of the subcommittee de-
clared that they could not see how the gas
company could afford at this time to make
the reduction stipulated by the House bill.
There was little discussion of the matter
and it was decided that a meeting OF the
full committee should be held on Monaay
for the purpose of finally considering the
report Of the subcommittee. The report
was ordered to be printed for the use or
the committee, but will not be made puo-
lie at present
verse report will probably be adopted by
the full committee on Monday. Ihe Dill IN
cCrporating the National Gas Company,
thcugh not discussed at all today, will also
be brought up on Monday for final consid-
GRAFTON.
The Surveyors Office.
A few other routine matters were attend
ed to- Senator Faulkner was directed to
re port favorably House bill Sill. author
izing the adoption of children in the Dis
trict.
Senator Gibson was authorized to make a
favorable report upon Senate bill 2i24, IN
cooperating the Marlboro electric road
when the subcommittee of which he is
chairman shall have agreed upon the terms
of the bill. House bill STA. Incorporating
the Capital Railroad Company, was re-
ferred to Senators Harris, Mcmillan and
Faulkner as subcommittee. Senator Cal
linger was directed to report favorsbly on
Senate bill 2672 when the SUBCOMMITTEE
agrees upon its terms This is the bill es-
tablishing sanitary regulations in the Dis
trict.
Senator Gibson was added to the sub
committee on this bill. the other members
being Senators Gallinger and Harris.
The Surveyors Office.
In pursuance of the direction of the COM
mittee, Senator Proctor, later in the day,
moved in the Senate that the Senate insist
upon it's amendments to the Senate bill
IA, making the surveyor of the District
salaried officer, and, this being carried,
conference was ordered. The Senate also
disagreed with the amendment or the
House upon the bill relating to the ap-
pointment of women on the school board,
and a conference was ordered on tnls meas
ur1.
Senator Hunton endeavored to obtain
action upon the bill which passed the
House on Wednesday providing for the
striking of juries in the District, but MI.
Allen Of Nebraska objected.