Evening star., 1896-03-17
Senator Mcmillan Now Opposed to
Single Street Extension Bills.
HEARING Is TO BHODE ISLAND AVENUE
What the Senator Told the Advo-
Gates of the Proposition.
OTHER DISTRICT MATTERS

asked that an amendment be added to the
pending bill providing for the extension of
14th street, authorizing the extension OF
Rhode Island avenue across the southeast
corner of the tract formerly known as LIE
Droit Park. This avenue Is now complete
to Florida avenue. At 1st street, two short
blocks from it's present terminus within
the city limits, it is resumed in a direct
line and proceeds northe asterly over lands
that have been donated for the purpose.
The short space that now interrupts the
continued extension of the avenue is that
which is sought to be condemned by the
proposed amendment of 'Messrs. Hensey
and Hooker, who are interested in the land
in question as trustees. They told Senator
Mcmillan 1t has cost them in. taxes, inter-
est and the original price about 81 a foot up
10 the present time. They urged that this
condemnation be proceeded with speedily
in view of the fact that this avenue is
likely 10 become an important thorough
fare, connecting the city with 1st street
west, which is now the most frequently
used approach to the Soldiers Home.
They also told him that this property as
long as it lies in the direct path of the eX-
tension Of the avenue cannot well be mark
eted, and they urged that Congress speedily
declare it's intention in this matter.
Senator McMillan's Change of Mind.
oOLhcWJldl " their surprise S9enlCOr NC
MILAN informed them that he was opposed
to such proposition. Not only that but
he was opposed, he went on, to all of the
pending bills providing for street extension
by piecemeal. The Commissioners, he add
ed, had reported adversely upon the bill
for the extension of North Capitol street
and 14th street, urging that this work
should be done under the authority of the
general act and not by individual legisla-
ton He had a first hppn inclined n
the wisdom of the Commissioners attitude
in this matter, but he had since changed
his Mind, and was now inclined to oppose
all these plans.
There was some further discussion Of the
matter, and the Senator agreed to take the
proposed amendment under consideration.
But the property owners left without feel
ing that they had much chance Of securing
the support of the chairman OF the COM
mittee.
What Caused the Change.
1t is understood that the attitude taken
by the representatives of the Prospect Hill
cemetery and the Barbour estate yesterday
in the hearing before Senator Mcmillan on
the bill to extend North Capitol street had
considerable to do with the Senator's
change of mind on this question. The ar
guments Used yesterday We're such as to
convince him, it is thought. that after all
a general bill would be by far the better
means of securing the desired end. The
tendency of the property owners in this
partc cular case, it is thought, is to get as
much out of the public necessities as pos
sible, and the fear Immediately arose that
plecemeal legisla ton would result in much
heavier expenditures in street extension
than would be the case if the work were
undertaken on the plan outlined by the
highway act now under consideration in
the courts.
This matter of street extensions, there
fore, assumes new phase as far as the
10IC Cfrin NIT of ho 70 is
cerned, and at Fridays meeting of the COM
mittee it will be reopened and again dis
crssed. The bills for the extension of
North Capitol and 14th streets are now on
the Senate calendar, having been favorably
reported, but there is nothing to hinder the
committee from taking up the matter anew
and recalling the bills if necessary.
The episode of this morning, it is said,
indicates that there will be general de-
sire to set amendments to these bills, If
they should become laws, adding first one
proposed extension and then another, un-
til they will become virtual highway acts
in sections. A point raised by Mr. Hen
sey this morning has an important bearing
on the question. He urged that if the
Rhode Island avenue amendment were add
ed the owners of that property would pro-
test against the provision row in the b.l,
which provides method of conde NINA ton
tfat permits tie benefits to be derived by
the improV ement to be asses ;ed against the
cost of the property taken. The committee
1t Is understood to be quite certain, will
not consent to any scheme of street ex-
tension that does not recognize the prin-
ciple of benefits. Mr.. Hensey made an ar
gument in favor of street extension bv
general taxation without reference to the
effect of improvements upon surrounding g
property.
Potomac Light and Power COMPANY
Senator Mcmillan today introduced the
bill recently prepared by the District Com
misStoners to authorize the extension of
the lines Of the Potomac Light and Power
Company.
This bill is presented to the Senate by
Senator Mcmillan just as it came from the
Commissioners, IN order that the official
proposition on the subject may be laid be-
fore the District committee when it comes
to take up this matter of wires and con-
Quits. There is disposition on the part
Of the committee to make an inquiry into
this subject just as soon as the bills on the
gas and water supply questions have been
finally disposed of. 1t is thought that this
matter of wires and conduits Is as yitally
important to the public as the question of
gas, for 1t involves many of the same con-
d!tions and complications.
The officers of the Potomac company have
been quite active of late around the com
mittee. urging that the bill formerly intro
duced to much the same purpose as this
one should be pressed to an early consid-
Grafton. Recent developments in the Dis
trict In the overhead wire and conduit d s.
puteS between the rival companies and the
Commissioners have attracted much at
tention to the general subject, and some
members of the committee feel that the
whole case ought to be opened, without
special regard to the claims of any one
company, and that the legislation emanat
ing from any such Investigation should be
framed in the interests of the whole peo-
pie of the District for dong time to come.
The Commissioners bill grants the Poto-
mac company the privileges it desires, and
that were embodied in the former bill, pro-
viding for the contingencies of municipal
ownership and for the use meanwhile of
the poles and conduits of the company for
the public service. This bill will go to the
committee basis for the legislatio
that Is to be evolved. The work will not
be hastily done, as urged by the Potomac c
company, but the matter will be carefully
and thoroughly sifted
Mr.. Moses Protest.
Senator Mcmillan today received a letter
from the firm of w. B. Moses and Sons,
protesting against the stoppage of the Ana
costa cars at the market, as proposed by
the bill now pending before the Senate Dis
trict committee.
= To Relieve A. H. Herr's Estate.
Senator Mitchell today made favorable
report from the committee on claims on the