The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1896-01-24
DISTRICT N CONGRESS
Senator Faulkner to Draw a
Marriage Bill.
PRESENT LAWS OBSOLETE
Objection to the Proposition to Per-
NIT the District Attorney and AS
sistaTi $ to Administer Oaths-BiIltO
License Billiard Tmbles Regarded
Too Stringent In Its Provisions.


held its second meeting OF the session this
morning.
Ailthe committeeman were present except
| Messrs. Proctor, Baker, Harris, Smith and
Martin. Mr.. Harris is i'll, and has not
| been i'll his seat in the Senate for several
days.
The committee finds itself bampered
in its work by tie necessity of looking
after general laws. Three years ago 1t
had a .ot-Or odds and ends passed at the
! suggestion OF the District Commission
ers and now it is running against lot OF
obsoletestatutes which makes the work very
heavy. This accounts for the slight
| progress made.
| senator Faulkner called up the bill re.
lating TO marriage licenses, and said that
! his Investigations into the subject OF mar.
riage laws in force in the District led him
! to believe that the statutes needed revision
from beginning to end.
| OBSOLETE LAWS.
The present laws were inherited from
| Maryland and contain many features that
| have long since become obsolete. Senator
! Faulkner amused the committee by reading
| the old laws, and, as n result, he was
! instructed to take further time and bring
| in 4 bill to bring the marriage laws of the
! District up TO date.
The bill authorizing the District attorney
! and his assistants Ia administer oaths and
afrIrmaiious called out q great deal OF IN
| favorable comment. A number of the plem-
bcrs uf the committee thought it would
be giving too much power TO these gentle
men. The bin was finally referred to L sub
Committee consisting OF Senators Bacon
and Faulkner.
/ The bill 20 license billiard tables also
created n discussion. There was a gen
eral opinion that the provisions OF the
measure Were too stringent, especially
that one relating to the keeping out all
youths under twenty-one years. Several of
the Senators themselves have boys who like
to play billiards. The point was made, too,
that the liquor law covered billiard rooms
and bowling alleys. The subcommittee
taking charge OF the measure consists OF
NcsSrs. Wetmore and Bacon.
The ball to extend the time for the compile
ton of the Washington & Maryland Rail-
road one year was favorably passed upon.
The bill to incorporate the Scottish Rite
Masons of the Southern District was referred
to Mr. uansbroush.
REMOVAL OF THE NAVY YARD.
Mr. Coffin has introduced in the House a
billlooking to the removal of the Washington
Navy Yard,
Ii instructs the Secretary of the Navy to
estimate the cost of removing the navy yard
at Wa shington from its present inconveni-
ent and unhealthy site on the shallow chan
mel of the Eastern Brach of the Potomac to
the deep-water site at the arsenal grounds;
keeping the present site naviga bic; reclaim
ing the malarial Eastern Branch flats. and
also the probable value Of the land thus
reclaimed to the United States government.
Ten thousand d oiIars is appropriated
for the purposes OF the bill.
Mr. Odell, from the House District Com
mttce, has favorably reported the Sem
ate bill to incorporate the Postgraduate
School of Medicine in the District. In the
accompanying report he says:
Your committee find the purpose of
this act is TO afford facilities to the grad
yates OF medical ard other colleges and
other Institutions to pursue their studies
in n practical way. II is in line with the
advanced ideas now prevalent in other
and larger cities, ard meets with the ap-
prevail of the medical journals, irrespective
its object the promotion of public health
and the more thorough equipment of prac-
ti;ioncrs in medicine and surgery. your
committee have reached the unanimous
conclusion that it should become a law, and
therefore respectfully recommend its pass
age"
HEARINGS ON LOCAL EXPEN DITURES.
The subcommitteeof the House committee
on Appropriations, having in charge the
District bill, did not meet today, but will
tomorrow resume hearings for those in
terested in local expenditures. This in
term was taken for tie purpose of allow
ing the committee 10 consider the IegisIa-
tive appropriation bill.
As many members OF the House District
Committee as could be gotten together this
morning went over the proposed routes
of the Eckin gton and Soldiers Home
street railway extension. and also those
portions of the existing lines which it is
desired by the company to abandon.
Toe Vice President laid before the Sem
ate the annual report of the Maryland 6
Washington Railway Company. The re-
ceipts were 100000; subscription to capt.
tai stock. $4,000; S52.769.77 proceeds
from bonds; total, S72.76s.TT. The dis
baEsements amounted TO the 81 mesum. The
largest amounts were for clearing. grading
and masonry. $4O,56O.O2, and rights of
way. s3O.579.17.
PETITION ABOUT ARMENIA.
Mr.. PETER presented a memorial from
the Womans Christian Temperance Union
of the District of Columbia. 1t pra yed the
Senate to take action ito put our home
loving republic on record as having used its
moral and material influence for the re-
lief of Armenia. the martyr nation, in this
time of its suprem edis;ress.
1--WE respectfully urge that our country
should no longer remain silent spectator
of the agony and outrage inflicted by Mos
lem savages upon our brother and sister
Christians, whose only fault is their devotion
to Christ and their loyalty to pure home.
1--WE beg you, therefore, as the legally
constituted representatives OF the wives
and mothers of our nation. to give heed to
our devoted prayer and representation that
America may, through the highest legisla-
tive authorities, give expression to all the
world of her adherence of the atrocities
in Armenia and may ma ke n appropriation
from the peoples money for the relief of
ourbrothcrsa and sisters wbohave beendriven
to the last extremity by the fatal fana ticism
OF the sultan and his soldiers
The memorial is signed by Margaret B.
Plat, president W. C. T. u, District of
C0lunlbia. Mary z, Cohen, yiCe-DresiGent: