The morning times., 1896-05-17
DISTRICT COT ITS SHARE
Local Measures That Have
Passed This Congress.
BABCOCK'S FINE RECORD
He Has Not Lost a District Day and
Has Secured the Passage Of 169
Bills of Local Interest.

Inc Iact that there may not be another
regular day for the consideration of mu-
nicpal legislation during the present ses-
sion or Congress-, renders review OF the
work accomplished by the House District
Committee OF especial interest.
The last six days of each session are set
apart for the transaction of business under
suspension OF the rules, and the District,
OF course, comes i'll for its share, but If the
most reliable prophecies regarding ad
Joumment are fulfilled the District day
fixed for May 20 will go by default.
1t is lathcr remarkable fact, and one
that is highly commensurate TO Chairman
Babcock, that not one District day OF the
SESSION mas been lost. In one or two
instances there has been a temporary post
pohcneht, but no dropping out until the
next succeeding reguiar udy. In other Con
crosses 1T has been common occurrence
10 abahdon one District uay after another
without any compensating time beng al
owed.
1t is also to the credit Of the committee
thht Il large percentage of the bills IA
Norably reported have been passed. The
record in this respect has never been broken.
although the Importance or the legislation
has often been eXcelIed.
MR.. BABCOCK's GOOD RECORD.
| 1T is admitted without argument that Mr.
Babcoc& has made one Of the best charmen
| That the House District Committee has ever
| i...,.. AHA tie WORK performed by him has
! been thorough and painStaking. In every
case he has tried 10 avoid the reporting
of any measure that he did not believe
| would be passed by the HCuse. HIS policy
has been one OF cCnciuation, with the end
| III view that II the Interests OF the district
could not be advanced they should not be
retarded by turmoil anG dissension.
The peculiar attitude OF the Senate re-
J gardlng legislation OF certain character
| has been continual clog upon the work Of
| lHc House committee. Bills have come
| pciorc the committee for action, but the
| course pursued III the Senate on former Oc-
| caSlonS has been pointed out, and the futility
! OF attempting to do anything explained.
| III view OF such circumstances. and with
| the certainty Of a short and unusually eco
! nomic session. 1T has been considered ad-
| v!sabie to leave such measures for Il future
| tinic When the conditions will he more IA
! Vorab!e for their discussion ana passage.
There have up to this time been intro
! duccd aud referred 10 the House District
! Committee for consideration and re port 81
/ DlliS. On large number OF these measures
/ hearings have been given, ana the committee
! has made every seeming effort 10 aSccr-
I
| legislation No opportunity for obtaining
| enlightenment and information has been
! neglected. and as Il result the committee
: has become unusually conversant with the
requirements OF the city and District.
BILLS STHATHAYEPASS
! OF the 1@7 bills referred TO the commit
! tee, The following have been passed, with
! the Indicated exceptions where Senate
! bills similar import have been substituted:
! For The relief OF James Linsky from the
/ operations OF the act prohibiting the alien
/ ownership of real estate III the District.
To incorporate The Post GRADUATE school
/ OF Medicine.
Relating To the testimony of physicians
! III the Courts-Senate substitute.
To provide for the incorporation and
! regulation OF medical colleges.
TO extend tie time iCr making an as
/ sCSsmcnt of real estate.
Amending an act - punish false caring
before trial boarcs of tie Metropolitan
! police force and fire department.
To amend certain sections OF The Revised
I Statutes III relation 10 marriages
An act amending the act providing for a
permanent system OF highways.
Requiring bills OF sale. Conditional sales,
! mortgages, or deeds OF trust of chattels
10 be recorded.
/ To establish and provide for maintenance
of free public library and reading room.
To regulate the practice OF medicine and
surgery.
To authorize the renssessment of water
main taxes.
To authorize renssessment for improve
| ments and general taxes.
Relating to the sHle OF gas and reducing
the price thereof to 81 per thousand cubic
| feet.
To regulate the business of storage.
For the relief of holders of certain tax
sale certificates.
To compile and publish the laws relating
TO street railway franchises. ,.
To license billiard and pool tables.
Extending the time for tie completion
OF the Washington and Maryland Railway.
To amend section 416 of the Revised
Statutes relating to the District.
To incorporate the National University.
! To incorporate the convention of the
Protestant Episcopal Church of the diocese
of washington.
To abolish days of grace on promiSsory
notes.
Authorizing the sale of certain land en-
croachiug on the washington Aqueduct TO
Margaret Shugrue, Caroline Lochboehler
and John r. Scott.
For the relief OF Anton GloetZner from the
operations Of the Ia W prohibiting alien own
ership OF real estate.
To permit the Pintsch COMPRISING Com,
pany to lay pipes in certain streets.
Authorizing the sale of title in lot 5,
square 1113.
unclaimed freight, baggage and other
property.
Defining the standard shape and size for
dry measures.
For the relief OF Kate Winter.
Amending the act providing for the ap-
pDintment of Scaler and Assistant Sealer
Of Weights and Measures.
To authorize the Falls Church and Po.
tomac Railway to extend its lines into and
within the District.
Toprovide for the drainage of vacant lots
For the removal OF SNOW and ice from th'
sidewalks and cutters.
Toamend an act to incorporate the Capi
tai Railway Company.
To hermit Rene c. Baughman to lay pipes
in certain streets.
To establish certain harbor regulations
It will thus be seen that total of thirty
seven bills have up to this time passed th.
House.
BILLS AWAITING ACTION.
A number of bills have been PRACTICAL
duplicated i'll introduction and some hav,
been re introduced in order to obviate
| defects that have become apparen as tht
result of hearings. As an Illustrate
several subway bills are pending before tn
| committee.
The status of these leo bills that awai
action will he shown below, without ref
erence to Implications:
To provide permanent system of high
ways for that portion Of the District lyinl
or-eifie The cities.
To permit the Standard Telephone Com
pany to operate telephone and tele
graph plant.