Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-20
Senate District Committee Delays
Action, but Approves Amendments.
II III
RAPID FRAH#9 ANAc0STIA
A New chafts r. a" Electric
Conduit Road.
VARIOUS OTHER MATTERS

Two subjects occupied most Of the time
=. of an extra long session of the Senate
District committee this morning. Those
present were Senators Mcmillan, Gallinger
Proctor, Wetmore. Baker, Harris, Faux
ner. Gibson. Smith and Martin, the alb
scntees being Senators Pritchard, Hans
brough and Bacon. l.
The Anacostia railway problem and the
dollar gas bill were the topics up, and
the result in each case was somewhat sur
prising. The gas bill, which it was gen.
orally expected would be favorably report
ed today, was laid aside until April 10, and
the Anacostia question was practically set
TIED by decision to authorize q new COM
pany TO enter the field with rapid transit
ana compete with the existing line.
After the meeting Senator Mcmillan an
bounced to The Star reporter that he had
read the dollar gas bill with the proposed
amendments to the committee, and, after a
discussion. 1T was agreed, at the request of
Senator Harris, who is to leave the city In
few hours for Tennessee, 20 be gone some
time, to postpone action ON the whole mat
ter until the 10th Of April when it and the
bill providing a charter for the proposed
new company will be taken up for final
disposition.
1t has been known for some time that
Senator Harris has intended to make a
trip to the south. His health is not very
good, and he has given notice in the Sen
wanted to accomplish certain things, as he
was DESTROYS of leaving the city. So his
intended departure has not been a sudden
development, and its interpositon at this
has been practically pending for several
sessions, was rather surprising today to
those who follow local legislation in the
Senate.
is understood, in his request for delay
Others were anxious for a pc tponement
They were in minority in the committee,
and the best information is that had a
vote been urged the bill would nave been
ordered to favorable report by a wide
margin. But the friends of dollar gas in
the committee feel that they can afford to
agree to a brief postponement, inasmuch as
the bill has already passed the House, If
by So doing a struggle in the Senate can be
averted.
There is undoubtedly great deal Of lob
byins being done by the gas companies
against both the dollar gas bill and that in
cooperating a new company. There is no
likelihood of tho latter passing, 1t Is felt,
but it is generally felt that there is a safe
majority In both committee and Senate in
favor Of a reduction of the price of gas.
The Gus Amendments.
In committee today two important amend
ments were added to the bill, in addition to
that which, 1t was practically agreed, should
be made on the question of the tests to be
provided for purity and power The latter
amendment fixes the candle power at "a
candles. tested by the Bunsen photometer.
using the Bray slit union burner number Z,
consuming five cubic feet of gas per hour"
new section is added affecting the
financial management of the two compa-
MES 1t provides: Neither the Washing
ton Gas Light Company nor the George
town Gas Light Company shall hereafter
issue any greater number of shares of
stock than shall be equal to the actual
nj rrf 80
extensions or enlargement of plant. which
cost shall first be ascertained and author
lied upon petition therefor to the Supreme
Court OF the District under such regula-
tons as the chief Justice and the Justices
thereof shall prescribe; also, II either Of
said corporations shall desire hereafter to
Issue bonds upon their property, secured
by rortgage or otherwise. upon petition to
sale court. setting forth the necessity
thereof and the amount Of stock issued and
outstanding, 1t may be lawful for the
said court upon public notice. to, be pre-
scribed by the rules of court. to permit the
tSsual CO. of such bonds and mortgage as
desired.
-1'.Ppevided that the amount of stock and
bends so issued shall not exceed the actual
cost of such extensions or enlargement of
plant ,.
Another new section provides that the
officers Of the United States in charge of
lighting the public buildings in. the Dis
trlGt ana the Commissioners are author
n
tracts With the gas companies for govern
nent az public lighting for a period of not
to exceed five years, at such rates as they
may deem fei the public interest, but not
In any case exceeding the rates named in
the act provided that nothing in the sec
tion shall be constructed as restricting the
substitution Of electric lighting for gas in
public buildings or streets.
Rapid Transit to Anacostia.
The Anacostia railway question was CIV
en- new turn by the Commissioners ac-
ton Of yesterday in disappearing the hill
recently introduced by Senator Mcmillan
requiring the Anacostia Railway Comnanv
to introduce rapid transit inside of two
years and providing for free transfer at
the market between this line and the Met
ropol1tan. This veto from the District
building placed the committee face tn face
with the alternative of 'neglectjng to nrn-
vide better street car service for the peo-
pie OF Anacostta. who nave been delugine
the committee with complaints and petit
tons for relief, or ofs'granting a charter
to q competitor in this field, which at pres
est barely supports one cheap line of cars.
There was no question In the minds of the
members of the committee that the peoDle
Of Anaeostia deserve relief. If the Commits
sioners. it was argued, do not agree with
the remedy proposed, which seeks to pre-
serve the present monopoly of the field
and yet to give a better service to the ctti-
zens, then the sole remaining action pos
sAoie - eAC SidhIiH6 VI ShdI Ter tights TO a
competitor.
The Capital Railway Company was char
tered by the last Congress. but its project
of crossing the Eastern branch by means
of a new bridge to be built at South Can't
tol street has been defeated by the adverse
report of the War Department, and it has
recently been seeking an amendment to
it's charter permitting it to cross by the
Navy Yard bridge, So as to make connec-
ton with one Of the city lines of rapid tran
sit cars. The committee selected this COM
pany for the privilege of competing with
the Anacostia railway, and bill was prac-
tically approved granting it the desired
right. .tae
favorable report Twas ordered to be
made on this bill when it shall have been
amended SO as to protect the country
roads AS 1T nowastanis, the bill author
ICES the company to construct a single or
double track streetfrailNhy from point on
the District line near the Potomac river,
southeast OF Shepherds ferry Congress
Heights), thence by. such route as shall be
approved by the Commissioners to the
south side of thes Eastern branch at the
Navy Yard br.dgdl thence across to II h
street, to M, and then to point near Sth
street to be designated by the Commits
sioners, connecting with the lines of the
Capital Traction Company.
A second line iso also authorized, begin
ming at the EASTERN endcof the Navy Yard
bridge, in Anacostia-Jt running easterly
along Monroe and Harrison streets and
Good Hope road to- they District line, over
such a route as the Commissioners shall