Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-15
DISTRICT IN CONGRESS
Meeting Of the House Committee and the
Business Transacted.
Public Hearings Upon Important
ter ON the Free Library Bill.

visable to give hearings before the full
committee on the bond bill. the street rail-
way bills and the gas bills Hearings be-
fore subcommittee upon other matters will
be given from time to time as circum-
stances may require.
The Bond BiH.
The bond bill will he taken up next Tues
day morning at 10 o'clock at meeting Of
the full committee, at which the oppo-
nents Of the bill and the District Commits
sioners will be heard upon the merits of
the measure. The time VIII be equally
divided between the advocates and the op-
ponents Of the bill. and a fair hearing will
be given. As the accommodations of the
committee room are limited, It is expected
that orly persons having arguments to
present will avail themselves CT the privi-
leges extended by the committee. At the
meeting today several bills that have been
reported by the Commissioners We're re-
ferred to their appropriate subcommittees
The bill to Incorporate medical colleges
was sent to the subcommittee on incorpora-
ttons, and the members of the medical
fraternity of this city will be given an OPP
portunity to present their views. The bill
providing penalties for violations of char
ter by corporations was referred to the
subcommittee on judiciary. "A similar
course was taken with the bill to punish
false swearing before the fire department
trial board. .
The Library BiIl.
The library bill was reported favorably
by the Commissioners, and Chairman Bab-
cock stated that a hearing viii be given
upon this bill to enable the board of trade
and others interested in 1t to, explain its
provisions and the necessity for its pas
sage.
Does this bin ask for room. for the pro-
posed library in the new city post Office
DuiI1ingp' r hu
No: that is not In the biIL', answered
Mr. Babcock, land it does not Garry any
approximation, either. This measure con-
templates that the library shall become a
part Of the machinery Of the educational
system of the District, and that subse-
quently provision shall be made, for it on
this basis in the regular way
The library bill was referred to a SUBJ
committee consisting of Nh. = Wellington,
Mr. HSllick, Mr.. Shannon, Mr.. Abbott and
MIR. Cobb of Missouri. -
The Commissioned, Letter.
The Commissioner letter Recommending
favorable action upon this bill is as fol-
lows: rT' 81
While the national capital contains a
number of, libraries Of an Official and semi
official CHARACTER, it is discreditably def
c1ent in library facilities for the general
public. The value of ppblfc libraries I'm
stimulating and improving the -intellectuak
life of community is universally recog-
nized. Their influence in developing and
fostering the qualities of good citizenship
Is correspondmgly pronounced-T The N
brary of Congress and the departmental IL
braries. which contain nearly 100000 vol
umes, are accessible to comparatively few,
even for the purpose of procuring reading
matter, and practically without any read
ing room facilities during the hours when
school children and the mass of people ell
gagged In private and public enployments
could resort to them. The great need OF
tQ.a a loyIt7 r.
ing library with q reading ROOM open at
night for the benefit of the general public.
1.-The needs of the community in this re-
spect, and the remedy for the condition so
exposed, are elaborately set forth in the
report of the committee on public library
by the Washington board OF trade. Sub
mittcd and unanimously adopted by that
body, copy OF which the commissioners
take the liberty to inclose, and commend
to the careful reading Of your committee"
other Bills Referred.
The bill to regulate the practice OF vet
Urinary surgery was referred to the sub
committee on Incorporation ;sfor the ap-
pointment OF a public administrator, to the
subcommittee on judiciary; for the relief OF
james Linsky, to the judiciary; for the in-
corporation of a postgraduate school OF
medicine, to interpretations; for the regu-5
lation of the practice of medicine, to the
judiciary. - @S
Passed by the Senate.
Since Congress assembled the Senate has
passed three measures, one to regulate tho
manner of taking appeals in cases prosecut-
ed under the highway act, another to IN
corporate the Post Graduate School of
Medicine in the District of Columbia, and
a third TO extend the time for making an
assessment OF real estate in the District.
Referred to Committees.
In addition to references Of bills to SUBJ
l,,,N Q
the committee on the District of Columbia
of the Senate, already announced in The
Star, bills have been referred to commit
tees as follows:
For the relief of Mrs. F. WlWallace Mr.
Harris. To provide for continuing the sys-
TEN OF trunk sewers in the District of CO.
lumbia, for completing the system of sew
age disposal and protection against floods,
and for other purposes, Messrs. Proctor,
Martin and Galiinger. To amend an act
entitled An act to provide a permanent
system of highways in that part of the
District of Columbia lying outside of
cities" approved March . 1883, Messrs
Harris, Mcmillan and Faulkner. To COM
pile and publish the laws relating to street
railway franchises in the District of Co.
1umbia Mr.. Harris. To regulate the prac.
tice of medicine and surgery, to license
physicians and surgeons, and to punish
persons violating the provisions thereof In
the District of Columbia, Messrs. Gallinger
and Bacon. For the relief of the estate of
William b. Todd, deceased, Mr. Baker,
Relating to ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Of instrli-
ments affecting real estate within the Dis
trict of Columbia, Messrs. Faulkner and
Baker. To prevent fraudulent divorces in
the District Of Columbia, Messrs Faulkner:
and Martin. To permit the Standard Tele-
phone Company of Washington and Balti-
more city to install, maintain and operate
a telephone and telegraph plant and ex-
change in the District of Coiunbia, Messrs,
Proctor. Smith and Bacon, to whom it Is
proposed to refer all telephone bills. For
the relief Of Everett Wroe, Mr.. Baker.
For the relief Of James Linskey from the
operation of the act restricting the owner
ship of real estate in the territories and the,
District of Columbia to American citizens,
Mr.. Hansbrough. To amend an act entitled
"An act to incorporate the Capital Railway
Company" approved March g 1895, Messrs
Mcmillan, Harris and Martin. To amend
sections 720, 721, 722 and 72B of the Revised
Statutes of the United States relating to
the District Of Columbia, in relation to
marriages, Messrs. Faulkner and Pritch-
ard. To provide for the incorporation and
regulation Of medical colleges in the Dis
trict of ColumbtB Messrs. Gallinger and
Bacon. To remitsthe penalties on unpaid
taxes in the District :of, Columbia, Mr.
Hansbrough. To- permit the Home Tele-
phone Company q Washington, Dfatfict of
Columbia, to install, nlaintafn and operate
a telephone and Telegraph plant and ex-
change in the District af Columbia, Messrs,