Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-08
DISTRICT IN CONGRES S
Mr.. Williams Asks About His Street Rail-
way Franchise Bill
The Document Appears to Have Been
MisIaiL or LOst-He Wants
Definite Action.

Representative W1i1amS OF MISSISSIPPI
has written to the House District commit
tee asking what has been done with bill
which he introduced last June and referred
to that committee. which provides that
hereafter all street railway franchises and
applications for the construction or eXten-
sion Of street railways shall be sold at
public auction to the bidder who will give
the largest percentage per annuEl of the
gross receipts derived from the operation
of the railway. 1t will be recalled that Mr..
Williams made a speech in favor of the
proposition carried by this bill when a
street railway bill was under consideration
in the House last summer. His speech was
made Upon a motion to amend the pending
bill so az to include his proposition.
Can't Find the Bill.
At that time Chairman Heard said that
he would be inclined to give consideration
to Mr. Williams plan if it were proposed
in a separate bill, but did not think 1t
ought to carry as an amendment to the
pending bill. Mr.. Williams amendment
was therefore defeated. and he subsequent
Iy introduced a separate bill. The record CT
the District committee shows that the Dill
was referred to the Commissioners for their
action and that it has not come back from
the Commissioners. Inquiry at the Office
of the Commissioners by Star reporter
today elected the statement that there Is
no record of any such bill. The books or
the Commissioners do not show that the
bill was ever received.
Definite Action Wanted.
1t is understood to be Mr.. Williams in
tention to ask that the bill be reported to
the House. There is said to be considerable
sentiment in the House in favor of re-
quiring street railways in this city to give
th0 nj
privileges which they are enjoying. AS a
number OF street railway bills are now
pending before the committee ana tDe
House. it is likely that Mr.. Williams will
insist upon definite action upon his Dill De-
fore they are considered.
The Metropolitan Company.
Senator Gibson introduced bill in the
Senate to amend the charter OF the Metro
politan Railroad Company. The bill, which
was referred to the District committee,
proposes to alter the route of the road at
the south and west ends. The first section
of the bill provides that the company shall
be authorized to omit the laying of an
underground electric road on IL street
from l. to southwest, and In place 10
lay a track from 4 IL and l. streets west
on l. to Water street, then southeast to y,
east to 4 1-2, south to P, east to the power
house. then returning from the power
house on IL street by the same route
TO 4 IL ana L. Streets, tHeHCe hui III ny
the company's tracks as now located INTO
its depot on 7th street extended.
The second section gives the Commission
ers authority to designate the route occu-
pied by the tracks on Water street. BY
the third section the road Is required to
continue underground electric construction
of single track at the intersection OF
and a5th street west along to 36th, soutn
on 36th to Prospect avenue, east on Pros
pect avenue to S5th. south on 35th to o.
thence east continuing it's route as now
located The fourth section OF the Dill IN
creases the board of directors 1ro21 seven
to nine members.
A similar bill was introduced in the House
this afternoon by Mr.. Rusk of Maryland.
Hone for the Bond Issue.
Senator Proctor said today that he had
hopes that favorable action could be OBJ
tanned before the end Of the session on
the bill authorizing the issue of S,5oO,OOO
worth of bonds to enable the District Com
missioners to extend the system of streets
and sewers into the suburbs. This blu
is now on the Senate calendar. with a Ia
yorable report from the District committee
of the Senate, but with strong recon-
mendation that the House provision, that
the entire expense should be borne alone
by the District, should be eliminated. Sen
ator Proctor was on the subcommittee
having charge of this bill. and he was
considerably interested In the preparation
of the report which argued strongly and
at some length to combat the proposition
made by the House that the District should
bear all Of the expense OF such an I'M
provement. The Senator said today that
under no circumstances would the Senate
permit such legislation to be enacted. The
principle of the government assuming 5O
per cent of the expenses OF the District
of Columbia, he added, is firmly fixed in
the laws of the country. 1t is almost as
definite and indisputable as the provisions
of the Constitution itself: In view of these
Id thn 70
never pass a bill with such provision.
He thinks that action can be had upon the
bond bill before the end of the session
with the House provision stricken out, and
it is probable that he depends upon a con-
ference between the houses to secure the
retreat of the House from its position.