Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-01
Testator's Rightto Will His Children
to Whom He Pleases.
ELECFRICLIGHT ANDPOWER FRANCHISE
Purchase of Anal ostan Island Fa-
vored by the Senate Committee.
S q N D r Y M A T 7 E r s

of more than ordinary length, yet the re-
suits were not numerous. This was be-
cause the members Of the committee spent
considerable time in a discussion of the
intricacies of the bill defining the rights of
married women in the District of Column
bia and relating to the disposition OF chill
dren by will. This matter has been pend
ing before the committee for some time
and has attracted the interest of all the
lawy er members of the committee. 1t was
recently discovered that the subcommittee
on the bill, Senators Faulkner and Gal
linger, We're deadlocked on the matter and
accordingly Senators Baker and Martin
were added for the purpose of breaking up
the tie. At today'S meeting the bill was
discussed in detail and at the conclusion
OF the debate Senator Faulkner was di-
rected to make favorable report after it
had been amended in many particulars.
In its amended form the bill will recog-
hiZe the parents of minor children their
natural guardians and will repeal the law
now said to be in force in the District
whereby father dying can will a minor
child to the guardianship of any other
rarty than his wife if he so desires. This
law, 1t will be remembered, was given wide
notoriety during the recent trial involving
the custody of the Slack children. The
amended bill will make the surviving par
ent the guardian of the child SO far as its
person is concerned, but the father or The
mother dying may will that another party
tran tho surviving parent may become the
guardian of the child as to property and
certain legal rights. The custody of the
child, however, according to the bill as it
Will be reported, cannot be taken from the
surviving parent. This is the main point in
controversy, and the bill, therefore, receives
favorable consideration from that point of
view.
The Electric Light Franchise.
Much of the remaining time at the dis
pcsal of the committee was devoted to the
pending bill. Senate 2o44. to authorize the
extension of the lines of the Potomac Light
and Power Company, involving the dispute
ever the electric light privileges, both in
the city and county. The committee is dis
posed to grant certain privileges to the Po-
toNlac company and as heretofore stated in
The Star, 1t is possible that the bill will be
reported favorably, granting this company
the right to furnish heat and power inside
the city limits and light outside of the city
limits. The representatives of the COM
pany, however, have recently embarrassed
their friends on the committee by asking
Tor further privileges and for more rights
than the committee feels warranted at this
time in granting. For instance, they have
brought up certain awkward street railway
problemS by proposing to establish a switch
in Georgetown between the Tenlevtown
railroad. which is owned by the same parties
as those nominally controlling the Potomac
company and the Metropolitan railway so
as to run the Tenleytown cars through the
city of Washington by underground electric
current, of course, traversng the entire
metropolitan system east and west and con-
Meeting at the eastern end with a branch
leadins TO Anacostia, there utilizing the
tracks OF the AnacoStla Railway Company
1nis proposition, of course, arouses the
opposition of the metropolitan Company
and complicates the situation with regard
to the AnacoStia railroad, which Is already
sufficiently embarrassing.
Peculiar Complications.
1t is understood that this Potomac Com
pany is the representative here of one of
the great trolley syndicates of the north,
and in view of this fact which is generally
accepted, the committee is disposed to act
slowly in the matter Of granting privileges
to the Potomac Company. Therefore, after
a considerable discussion today it was de-
clded to have the bill reprinted with the
pending proposed amendments, and to hold
special meeting at some future date If
such can be conveniently arranged, to con-
slider this entire question Of the rivalry be-
tween the electric light companies The
situation with regard to the United States
Company is peculiarly interesting since
that corporation has power whatever
under the decision of the court to make a
single extension in the city limits, and is
greatly embarrassed by the rulings of the
District Commissioners, yet it has come
forward with no proposition to Congress-
and there is pending not single scrap of
legislation looking to its relief or to the
protection of it's forty-five miles of con-
duit. 1t is thought that perhaps the secret
of this inaction lies in the fact that the
committee is disposed to force this COM
pany to take out local charter in lieu of
its West Virginia charter whenever it asks
for new legislation, and it is not to the
interests of the company to take this STEP
To Buy AnaIostan Island.
The matter of the purchase of Analostan
Trl,r
and Senator Gallinger made a verbal report
of visit which he has recently paid to
that property for the purpose of inspecting
it with view of ascertainng it's avail
ability for by the government and it's
character as a real estate bargain. AS q
result of his report the committee de-
cided to present to the appropriation COM
nlittee an amendment appropriating $11c,-
5UU for the purchase of the island. This
| is the amount estimated by the District
Commissioners for this purpose. 1t more
than covers all existing mortgages and
provides as well for certain others who
are interested in the title. The amend
ment to this effect offered later in
| the day by Mr.. GallinGer.
The Gas Question.
In accordance with the recent action of
| the committee in reporting favorably the
| amended dollar gas bill Mr.. Gallinger was
| directed to report adversely Senate bill
| 140S, to incorporate the National Capital
| Gaslight. Heat and Power Company. The
acceptance of the compromise gas BILL
which regulates the prices to be charged
| by the old company, necessarily settled the
! question Of Incorporating new companies,
| and in accordance with this policy propo-
sitions to the latter effect will henceforth
! be negatived.
Senate bill 2123 providing for a test of
| the improved methods for the disposal of
sewage and water filtration of villages
| and cities, was considered and adversely
| acted upon, and an unfavorable report was
| ordered to be made upon it in accord
ance with the recommendation of the
Commissioners
The same action was taken with regard
| to Senate bill 2S42, to incorporate the Co
| iumbia Subway Company. introduced by
Mr.. German. ThS Commissioners made an
| adverse report ufon this proposition, and
tfeir action was followed. by the Senate
| COMMITTEES.
Standard Oil Pipes.
! A favorable report was ordered upon
Senate bill 2S7O, to permit Rene C. Baugh-