The evening times., 1896-02-21
District Has a Large Number to
Be Acted on This Session.
IND0RSED BY TIE BANKERS
Favorable Action on n Bill to Abolish
Days Of Gruce' on Obligations.
The Complexion of the Lydecker
Tunnel-Minpr District Mattersand
Daily Orders


the Commissioners for their considera ton.
In some instances the same subject is
covered in two bills, one introduced In each
House, but in a great majority OF cases
the items represent separate measures.
Nmety-seven OF the totalnumber have been
passed upon by the board, and report re-
turned In each case to Congress. in many in
stances the report being duplicated to each
House, and some requiring several pages Of
typewriter paper to convey the Commits
sioners' reasons for the action taken.
Among the important measures still in
the hands of the board, awaiting its Off
cial action, are these: Senate bill 267,
duplicated insthe House, for the construc-
ton of a bridge across the Potomac; House
bill 1928, 10 incorporate the Columbia
Telephone Company; House bill 1855, pro-
viding for District representation in Con-
gress; House Ajii 267, concerning the direct
tax due the District; House bill 251, adding
Februarx.l2ie}.he e list OF national holidays;
| House bill eeee, creating farmers whole
sale market; -hpuse bill 1855, to amend
the District liquor law; House bill 2S2S,
duplicated In the Senate, for the relief of
W. II Murtaugh; House bill 22S6, dupli-
| Gated in the Senate, providing for the
redemption of outstanding certifi-
Gates OF old board OF audit; House
| bill 1877, to preserve the sanctity of the
| Sabbath; Senate bill 1914, in the interest
| of the Homeopathic Medical College; Sen
! ate bill 4SI, duplicated in the House grant
| ing right OF way to Standard Telephone
| Company; House bill 1863, to extend Four
| teenth street; House bill 1878, duplicated
| in the Senate, to grant the Home Telephone
! Company the right of way in the District.
In addition to these there are numerous
| bills for the extension of street railways
! and the admission Of new lines. and also a
| number of measures for relief of various
| individuals.
The consideration OF these bills consumes
greatdeal ofthe time of the Commissioners,
since, in most cases hearings must be given
to parties interested. and many Of them,
after beng first read and digested by the
board, are sent to the attorney for the Dis
trict for his opinion as to whether or not
there are legal objections to the enact
ments.
CITIZENS FAVOR THE BILL.
Days of grace on promissory notes,
drafts and similar obligations will prob
ably be abolished just as soon as Congress
can take action on the pending bill intro
uuCet Tor that purpose.
The Commissioners made a report upon
the mea sure today, recommending favorable
action. and in this they are indursed by
two petitions from leading citizens, in
Guiding the officials of fifteen of the local
banking institutions. Another petition
is signedby considerably more than one hun
dred business firms.
In support OF their recommendation the
Commissioners incorporate in their coIE-
municatiun an extract from one of these
papers, which is to the effect that great
Inconvenience and confusion result both to
debtors and to bankers from the fact that
notes and similar obligations may be paid
on any one of several days, and when
bankers act as collecting agents grave
doubts exists as to the amount of interest
demandable when tender of payment is
made before the expiration of some or all
of the days of grace"
II is also suggested that il it is desired
to give additional credit, such as is Sc
cured by days of grace, the three days can
in each case be added to that originally
allowed-that is. a draft can be drawn at
six days sight instead of three days.
The Commissioners recommended that the
bill be amended by striking out the second
section and providing that the measure
shall take effect January 1, 1897. instead
of from and after the passage" of the
same.
Chairman Babcock of the House District
Committee has written to the Commission
ers requesting a report from them upon
House bill No. 3345, to regulate transfers
on the street railways of the District. In
response to the request the board today
notified Mr.. Babcock that arrangements
have been made for hearing on Monday
for certain parties interested in the bill,
and that Il report will be made as soon there
after as practicable.
COMPLETION OF THE TUNNEL.
The District Commissioners forwarded
to Chairman Mcmillan of the Senate Dis
trict Committee report upon Senate bill
2122, which Is intended TO provide for
the completion OF the Washington aque-
duct tunnel" In accordance with the re-
port of the plans of the board of experts,
as set forth in the report made January |
II, 1896.
The Commissioners adopt, as their re- |
Spouse to the Senate inquiry, an exhaustive |
review of the measure and the necessity |
for completion Of the tunnel, as made by |
Capt. Edward Burr, assistant to the En- |
gineer Commissioner.
Capt. Burr cites that the AQue1uct tun- |
mel is one portion of a general plan for in |
creasing the water supply of the city. |
To complete the system, he avs, there re-
mains the new reservoir with the existing
reservoir, and the link connecting it with
the present supply. That link is the aque-
duct tunnel. The completion Of the tunnel
alone, as contemplated in the bill, would /
still leave the system incomplete and un-
serviteable, and the construction of the |
reservoir should be provided for at the
same time.
The board OF experts unanimously report
ed that it is feasible to complete the tun-
mel, with its appurtenances, ready for
service for the sum of 1897 1897, and that
II knows OF no more economical method for |
bringing an increased water supply from
the reservoir in Georgetown to Washing
ton. and it's inadeQuacy when completed.
without the reservoir. is used as an argu-
the system according to the original design.
"In six years" Capt. Burr says. 1.-THE
consumption Of water has increased to such
an extent, due to the rapid growth Of the
city, that the supply mains are largely over
taxed. The supply at some points, notably
on Capitol Hill, is deficient, and no relief
can be expected until the supply is in
creased" Two years must elapse, Capt.
Burr says, even il prompt action is taken.
before an increase can be obtained through
the completion OF the tunnel. and both
discomfort and danger must be experienced
at times by residents in the higher localities
The passage of n bill making appropria.
ton for both tunnel and reservoir is most
urgently recommended.
PLENTY OF TOY TBEATERs.
II Won were among the hundreds l