Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-23
THE HIGHWAY ACT
Amendments Agreed Upon by the
District Commissioners.
SUPREME COURT TO DECIDE
Commissioners Consider the Mer-
chants on louisiana Avenue.
OTHER DISTRICT NEWS

A special meeting of the board Of Com
n.issioners was called this morning to con-
slider several important matters of public
interest. The question of submitting bill
to Congress for enactment amending the
highway act was considered, and the re-
cent order of the Commissioners concern
Ing the removal of the commission mer-
chants from Louisiana avenue was dis
cussed at length. The hearing lasted sew
elaI hours.
The several amendments to the high
way act were taken ap and considered ard
agreed upon. 1t is understood the bill will
recommend the striking out Of the entire
eleventh section of the original act and the
substitution of another section making the
assessment of property for benefits ac-
cruing from the extension Of highways
more specific. The benefits, If any accrue,
are to be paid in four equal instailmen1s,
with interest at the rate of per cent per
annum. and If not paid to be made lien
against the property and the same sold Tor
taxes as other property in the District OF
Columbia.
Section II Of the original act Is also to be
amended in several important particulars.
For instance, appeals from final decree OF
the court in the matter of awards shall be
taken to the Court of Appeals, and an
other provision will be inserted, 1t Is satd
providing that writs Of error may be taken
from the final decree of the Court OF APP
peals to the Supreme Court OF the Unlted
States in cases arising under the act, and
in any case where the conStltutlonanty OF
the act is questioned.
Since The Star first gave notice OF the
Commissioners anxiety in the matter ana
their desire to have the act amended they
have been in conference with the Leading
real estate m,n of the city. This morning
eN-Gov Kellogg was called In and invited
to participate in the discussion
COmnission Merchants.
After discussing the highway act the
Commissioners took up the question OF the
cor mission merchants on Louisiana ave-
nue. who have been recently served with
notice not to occupy the sidewalk longer
than enc hour for depositing their ship
ments. There was disposition on the
part of certain members of the board OF
Com missioners to help the merchants, ana
il is understood the attorney for the DIS
trfcc will be called upon for some sugges-
TORS.
1t may be that these men can be treated
as licensed venders and. under authority
granted concerning their operations, De al
lowed to use the sidewalk.
Both Lieut.. Amss and Capt. Miller were
before the Commissioners today concern
ing the matter. The police served no war
rants today.
Commissioner Truesdell said the Com
missioners proposed to proceed against the
merchants in accordance with the law, and
that there would be no let up
To Make Skating Rink.
Messrs. Hutchins and Towers have u
scheme to convert the Convention Hall Int
an immense skating park of ice. To ac-
complish this. however. it is necessary to
have a steam plant 20 force the freezing
liquid through pipes. There is no suitable
place within the market house building
for plant of this character and an appli-
cation is now before the Commissioners fer
permit to erect an engine house in the
square adjacent. There is one protestant
however, to the location of the steam plant
and the permit has bean withheld pending
investigation.