The morning times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1897, 1896-03-05
OPPOSE SPECIAL BILLS
Measures Which Conflict With
Highway Act OisapprOged.
STREET EXTENSION PLANS
Three Bills Returned 10 Congress
With Adverse nnImendattons-
Special Election BIZ Referred 10
Beard of Trade-President Jordan's
Objections 10 High License.

Special measures that conflict with the
Plan einUodi,d Ia the highway act 90 not
iIBd favor In tEe eyes OF the Commissioners
Two DAlS Tor TIE extension OF streets were
returned by them to Congress yesterday
Wiun Il Itoou,ur-udatiOa iCr 1dvOrac ao-
tioD, one being for The continuation or
r0urteenth street. 60 Sprlug lOad, tue
olhcr TO extend North Capitol street To
tie soldiers Home.
Leaving ont OF consideration the III
trinSic merits OF the propositions en-
braced ia tie bills" the commissioners
say, they would deem the enactment OF
an such measures IS inimical to the public
interests, by establishing precedents in
yUiviug a departure from The wise AID
cuuprvncusve purpose or the measure
commonly known as~the highway act.
/ IN a=ied>r OF this position the Commits
| Sioners add that the policy contemplated
| in the aci referred to was the outcome
! Of many years Of experience or the mU-
! nicipal authorities and of Congress III
deaung win The sub Get OF street extern
! Sions."
/ IT. was decided upon, they say as the
only practical way 70 secure harmonious
and economical results in that direction,
/ and 40 part from nat policy would be
a retroCrade step. II would reopen tie
whole question aud involve repetition
! OF the costly and embarrassing compilca-
lions which led 10 its adoption"
HIGHWAY ACT BEST.
! The Commissioners are disposed TO dis
| courage lee iSiation not consistent with the
! plan emDoditd in the highway act, ior
the reason thai iu their judgment that act
with such m0dii.CauunS, II any. as may be
necessary 10 free IL from uucCGstItUtlunaiity
presents the best methods OF dealing WITH
4 the subject.
In ,LIs connection. it may be stated as
! -, ,F.-sv ION. Iaf
court OF appeals viii reverse Justice CcNs
deciSion as To the unconstitutional features
Of the street extension measure, or, If
not, that ms decision VIII he IN great
degree mod ned, aud that | he act VIII bc
! left susceptible 10 amendment by Congress.
THIS view is understood TO lie STARED
by lie attorneys for lie District and the
decision Of tie court OF appeals, II favor
able, will cause renewal OF lie street
! extension plan, either with or without Con
| greSsional action III the form OF amendment
10 the act.
House bin 277S, 40 light and improve
| public IhoroUgufarcs between the north
| west section OF Washington and tie Zoo
! logical, Rock Creek and Soldiers Home
PsrhS,'' is so opposed by the Commission
| cr>, for he same reasons assigned against
the other two.
Tie Washington hoard OF trade has been
asked for It's views uTon tie measure
! now tcfore Congress providing fer Vote
/ of the Icopc upon the question OF changing
| the form OF District government.
/ The hill, numbered 1925, and intro
ducrd in the Senate, viii, if ADOPTED,
authorize a special election TO lie LED IN
/ the District 10 determine whether the
present municipal government shan con-
I tiuuc. or wlcIIcr there shan be established
! ia its place 4 representative form OF gov
! eminent.
II was referred to The Commissioners as
are other bis affecting District interests,
and they in turn transmit copy OF il TO
! President woodward OF tie LOard OF trade,
| and say they would be pleased 10 have
mon it tie views and recommendations
Of the board, as n thoroughly representa-
i've organization or District taxpayers.
PRESIDENT JORDAN OBJECTS.
/ President Z. /. Jordan OF tie Federation
OF Retail Liquor Dealers, has filed with the
Commissioners protest against the pend
ing amendment to tic District liquor law
and asks the Loard to Gisapprove OF the
| measure.
Mir. Jordan says, in substance, that the
| present license fee is excessive and more
/ than should be exacted ofthe liquor dealers
| ..It,. EXCISE board, - he says, IF sincere
with regard 10 trying TO prevent the adul-
teration of liquors, show, by advocating
! a higher license. that they are doing nothing
| less than driving liquor dealers who would
remain in tie business should their recon-
mendaiiOnS for higher license become n
law, to use nothing but cheap, common,
and spurious goods
He asks if there is no other function
for the excise board TO perform ana II
they have naught in view but the prose
cution and determination OF the liquor
traffic and those engaged in ii.
1t has been said he continues, that
the excise board, by their recommendation
4 40 increase the liquor license fee from
500 to $500. contemplate and desire
to force certain low places out OF the
busiucss. We would ask why are such
obnoxious places licensed by thcm?''
He concludes that the higher license
will not drive ont this class but Will have
! the effect of closing up the places OF
1 the decent conscientious dealers.
SHOULD REDUCE THE FEE.
NIr. Jordon concludes by asking that
| the Commissioners shall decline to APP
urove of the recommendations Of the eX'
| else board. and, rs q substitute, recon-
mend in lieu OF high license, fee That
the Saloonkeepers Will De able to pay
which should not exceed $500.
Tie bill for the incorporation OF the
Mount Pleasant and Zoo Railway Company
recently returned to Congress with an
| adverse, recommendation by the Commas
| Sioners. is again in their hands. ana they
have rGrwa Tded = copy of 1t to ProI ). 4
| Langley. OF the Smithsonian Institution
| soliciting an expression OF his OPINION
| OF the measure.
II Is not held by the Commissioners
| or the excise board that a failure to
| ,,rovida fire ESCAPES 10 a building coming