Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-01
DlSTRICT IN CONGRESS
District Commissioner Bills to Abolish
Grade Crossings in 1900.
Explanation in Regard to the ReguIa-
ticn to Walk Horses at Seventh
and Pennsylvania Avenue.

MT. McMlllan introduced III the Selate To-
day bill prepared by the District Com
missioners to abolish grade crossings in the
District of Columbia The bill provides:
THAT on and after the 1st day of Janu-
ary. 1899. it shall be unlawful for any
steam railroad to cross at grade any street,
road or avenue in the District of Columbia
under penalty of 500 for each and every
train or locomotive that shall thereafter
cross any street, road or avenue in said
District at grade, to be recovered in the
Police Court of said District as other fines
and penalties are recovered.
That all steam railroad companies op-
Grating in the District of Columbia are
hereby required to commence the work of
elevating or depressing their tracks at all
grade crossings of streets, roads and ave-
nues in said District within eighteen
months from and after the passage of this
act, in accordance with plans to he ap-
proved by Congress or the Commissioners
of the District of Columbia, under a pen
atty of 500 for each and every DAY that
any such company shall neglect to comply
be recovered in the Police Court of the
District of Columbia as other fines ard
penalties are recovered"
In a letter to Mr.. Mcmillan Commissioner
Ross states that this bill is not intended as
substitute for any legislation that may
be in preparation in the committee for the
purpose of abolishing grade crossings
A similar bill was introduced in the House
by Mr.. Babcock
Against New Gns Company.
The Commissioners, in a letter to Mr.. Nc
MILAN, chairman OF the Senate committee
Oh the District of Columbia, recommend ad-
verse action on Senate bill HOS, ITO incor-
porate the National Capital Gas Light, Heat
and Power Company of the District of Co
lumbia-' The Commissioners think it un-
wise to tear up the street payements for the
purpose of laying second set of gas mains
in view of the congressional control of ex-
lStlng companies with reference to illumi-
mating power, quality and price of gas and
every other matter concerning present gas
company charters, and also in view of ex-
peeted legislation which contemplates the
municipal lighting of public spaces and
buildings by electricity generated by the
power of Great Falls. The Commissioners
letter concludes:
The Commissioners have recommended
in reports on various bills that the price of
gas in the District be reduced. and that the
quality be improved. The Commissioners
believe that the subways in public spaces
should belong to the public, and that there
does not appear to be sufficient reason in
this case to warrant departure from tha [
policy
Against a Young Woman's Home.
The Commissioners have reported ad-
versely on Senate bill 14l9, ITO provide a
home and employment for reputable girls
and young women in the District of Co
lumbia who are without means of sup
port and are unable to obtain work. The
Commissioners submit a report on this bill
by Mr.. Tracey, superintendent of charities
for the District of Columbia, in which va
rious institutions doing work sought to be
done through the above bill are cited, and
he says the new proposed home is not
urgently needed.
BrfghtwOOd Railroad Extension.
The Commissioners have reported to the
Senate committee on the District OF Co
lunbia their views on Senate bill yO6, ITO
amend the charter of the Brightwood Rail
way Company" They recommend amend
ing the bill providing that the railway COM
pany shall upon completion of it's proposed
ETC., on Umatilla street. east of 9Th street
and on 5th and Nermillion streets, and re-
store the streets now so occupied to good
condition. and provided:
That the right of said company TO Use
an overhead single trolley on a street or
part OF street shall cease six months after
the date of the approval of anhtct Of Con-
gre5s appropriating money for: or other
wise authorizing, the paving of the road
way of such street or part of street, except
in connection with continuous track rails;
and, provided further, that the right to use
overhead single trolley in any public space
nection with continuous track rails, snail
in any event cease ON July l, 1S9.'
The Seventh Street Crossing.
A few days ago Mr.. Mcmillan, chairman
of the Senate committee on the District of
Columbia, wrcte to the Commissioners, ask
ing why they were enforcing a regulation
v hich required teams to be walked over
the 9th and 7th street railway crossings
on Pennsylvania avenue. The Commission
erS, in their reply, state:
This regulation was adopted for the pro-
lection of the thousands Of passengers
who are taken up and discharged daily by
the street cars at the points named, and
after numerous complaints had been made
ard verified of the great danger to which
they were subjected on account Of the
reckless driving. Many of the persons who
transfer at the points referred to are old
and infrm aid as the avenue is broad
they are liable to be knocked down and
seriously injured by passing vehicles. One
man was killed at New York avenue and
18th street, and number of persons have
been more or less seriously injured on the
avenue at the Ith and 9th street crossings
by carriages.
The press and many citizens demanded
that something should be done to protect
human life at these dangerous points, and
after careful investigation and mature de-
liberation the Commissioners made the reg
ulations referred to, which they felt IN duty
hound to do, under the tenth clause of sec
tion 1 of the act To authorize the Commits
sioners of the District of Columbia to make
police regulations for the government of
sad District. Since the regulation has
been in force not single accident has oc-
CURED at any of the points covered by it,
For Rapid Transit.
Mr.. Wright of Massac husetts yesterday
Introduced a bill prepared by the commit
tee on railroads of the North Capitol :nd
lexington Citizens Association to amend
the charter of the lexington and Soliiarc,
Home Railway Company of the District of
Columbia so as to require rapid transit on
the lines of said company in place of the
present horse-car service