Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-04
DISTRICT IN CONGRESS
Senate Free Library Bill Fayorably Re-
ported as Substitute in the House.
Other Local Measures Today Re-
New Ones Introduced.


passed the Senate authorizing the estab-
lishment of a free circulating library in
this city.
the bill relieving James Linsky from. the
operations Of the alien ownership law.
A favorable report was ordered on the
bill abolishing days of grace on negotia-
bic and mercantile paper after January 1,
1897.
Also a favorable report on the bill au-
thorizing compilation Of street railway
laws.
The committee will hold a special execu-
tive meeting next Friday at II o'clock for
the consideration of miscellaneous business.
To Pay for Condemned Land.
Mr.. Keifer. by request, has introduced
bill in the House providing that $51. CSC be
appropriated out of any moneys of the Dis
trict Of Columbia in the treasury not 9TH
erwise appropriated, to be paid to the Pros
pect Hill cemetery for its land condemned
under the act of Congress approved Deem
Der 81, 1893, entitled IAN act to extend
North Capitol street to the Soldiers
Home" said sum being the amount
awarded said Prospect Hill cemetery by
the commissioners Of condemnation under
said act; and their award having been
affirmed on appeal by the Court of Appeals
by the District of Columbia, said sum shall
be paid out Of the revenues Of the District
of Columbia, and this appropriation shall
be Immediately available.
So much of the act Of Congress approved
August IL, 1894, chapter 232. as directs the
Supreme Court Of the District Of Columbia
to vacate its order confirming the report of
the Commissioners under said act APP
proved December q. 1893, and directing the
Commissioners Of the District of Columbia
to procee ed to carry into effect said act and
to acquire title by condemnation, accord
ing to chapter II Of the Revised Statutes
of the United States, relating to the Dis
trict of Columbia, shall be repealed
Sale of Land for Unpaid Taxes.
Mr.. Cobb has introduced a bill in the
House empowering the Supreme Court of
the District to order sales of lands for the
payment OF taxes assessed against the
owners and providing regulations therefor.
Penalties for Short Measures.
Mr.. Babcock has introduced a bill in the
House providing that 1t shall not be law
full for any person, under a penalty of
two dollars for each offense, to be recover
ed in the Police Court of the District of
Columbia in the name of said District in
the same manner as other fines and penal
ties are recovered, to use any bushel, half
bushel, peck, half-peck or quarter-peck
measure unless the same be of the di-
mensioTs following, to be measured from
inside to inside, to wit: Every bushel meas
ure shall not be less than fifteen and one
fourth inches in diameter at the top four
teen and one-half inches in diameter at
the bottom, twelve and three-eighths inches
deep, and the slaves three-fourths of an
inch in thickness. Every half-bushel meas
ure shall not be less than twelve and one
half inches in diameter at the top, eleven
and one-half inches in diameter at the
bottom. nine and one-half inches deep, and
the slaves at least one inch thick. Every
peck measure shall not be less than ten
inches In diameter at the top, nine and
IN do, ,1f1
tom, seven and five-eighths inches deep
and the slaves tbree-fourths Of an inch In
thickness. Every half-peck measure, when
joined to the peck shall not be less than
eight and five-eighths inches in diameter
at the top, nine and one-eighth inches in
diameter at the bottom, four and one-half
inches In depth, and the slaves five-eighths
inch thick; and every one-half-peck meas
ure, when made separate from the peck,
shall not be less than nine and one-eighth
inches In diameter at the top, eight and
hve-eighths inches in diameter at the bot
tom, four and one-half inches deep, and the
slaves five-eighths inch thick; every quar-
ter-peck measure shall not be less than six
and one-eighth inches in diameter at the
top, five and seven-eighths inches in diam
eter at the bottom, four and three-fourths
inches deep and the slaves one-half inch in
thickness. The lawful weight of a bushcl
Of potatoes shall be fifty-six pounds, and
that hereafter all sales thereof shall be
made by weight.
By unanimous consent the House today
passed the resolution authorizing the To-
cation of the Spinner statue in this city,
Overhead Wires.
The Vice President today laid before the
Senate long communication from the
District Commissioners in regard to over
head wires in the District, the substance of
which has been already printed in The
Star.
Naval War Records.
Senator Chandler today gave notice of an
amendment to be offered to the legislative
publication of the Naval War Records.
The Care of the Public Parks.
Senator McMillan's bill extending to all
the public parks in the District the rules and
regulations which now apply to the Capitol
grounds has been passed by the Senate.
War Claims.
The House committee on war claims has
favorably reported bills for the relief of
Margaret Kennedy and Alexander Poland
for dcpredations committed upon their
property adjacent to this city during the
war.
Dollar Gas.
Senator Mcmillan Is very much in earnest
in regard to the bill introduced by him pro-
viding for the reduction of the price Of gas
to 81, and he said to Star reporter that he
proposes to push it vigorously until it has
received senatorial assent. He said he had
talked with a good many Of the experts
who have been sent to the Capitol by the
local gas companies and their would-be
rivals, and he is convinced that good illum-
mating gas can be made and distributed at
81 a LOCO cubic feet at good profit to the
manufacturer.
"Of course" he added, 'If it should be
impossible for the company to make gas at
a profit of 81 per 1000, do not think it
would be wise or just for us to insist upon
a reduction of the rate. But am satisfied
that the present company can sell its gas
for 81 and still make good profit, such as
any enterprise of this character Is entitled
to. There are two alternatives, either to
reduce the price of gas furnished by the
present company, or to charter new COM
panies and thus to establish a competition,
In my opinion 1t Is out Of the question to
give charters to new enterprises to tear up
the streets and possibly to bankrupt them
selves and the other company when the
main object for such rivalry, cheaper gas,
can be obtained by direct regulation of
the existing corporations which Congress
has the perfect right to do. I hope to have
The committee take up this bill ut an early
day, and 1 believe We shall be able to get
the Senate to pass 1t without difficulty.