Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-31
DISTRICT IN CONGRESS
Much Business Transacted By the Senate
Committee Today.
Bill to Amend the Statutes i'm Rela-
tiOn to Maria geS-Other Measures
FuvOrably Acted On.

The Senate committee on the District OF
Columbia held a meeting today and trans
acted considerable business Of interest to
the District. There were present Messrs
Mcmillan, chairman; Gallinger, Hans
brough Proctor, Pritchard, Baker, Wet
| more, Harris, Faulkner and Bacon, the alb
sentees being Messrs. Gibson, Smith and
Martin.
The committee authorized a report on Mr.
Germans bill to extend the time for the
completion of the Washington and Mary
land Railway Company, but amended the
bill to conform with House bill 4SlO on the
same subject, providing that ali the fran
chises, rights and powers conferred by said
act or either Of them, upon said railway
company, may be enjoyed and exercised as
fully and as completely as If said railway
had been completed and put in operation
prior to March 2, 1896"
In Relation to Marriages.
Mr.. Faulkner reported to the committee a
bill TO amend sections of the Revised Stat
utes Of the United States relating to the
District Of Columbia in relation to mar
riases ard his bill will take the place of
bills introduced in the Senate by Mr.. Har-
ris and by Mr.. Mcmillan on the subject.
Mr.. Faulkner had given the subject of the
marriage laws Of the District much con-
sideration, and the bill reported by him re-
vises the whole question of marriage laws
in the District. The bill is a long and in
tricate one and was fully discussed by the
committee and number of suggestions of
amendments made which Mr.. Faulkner will
incorporate in his bill, which he will then
introduce in the Senate and have the same
referred to the District committee for fur
ther consideration. The bill will provide
that any minister who wishes to perform
marriage ceremonies in the District of Co
lumbia shall be obliged to give a bond of
$500 guaranteeing his compliance with the
law. A single bond for this amount given
by minister will be sufficient to enable
him TO perform the marriage ceremony for
indefinite time
The bill will provide that before person.
male or female can secure a license, they
must, if under the age of twenty-one years,
have the consent of their parents or guard
iaEs. If female should marry under the
age Of twenty-one then she is to have. at
the request Of the next friend, trustee
appointed TO manage any property she may
lave of which she may become pos
sessed until she arrives at the age of
tWenty-one years. Any Investigations
necessary to be made preliminary to the
ISSUANCE, of licenses must, under the pro-
visions of this bfil be made by the court
officer issuing the license, the minister be-
ing thus relieved from any responsibility
Of this kind. This bill was not formally
approved by the committee, ana II any OF
the above mentioned provisions are objec-
tionable the committee holds itself ready 10
further amend the bill IL good reason for
such action should be shown. The measure
VIII probably come before the committee
at its regular meeting on next Friday.
Use of Public Parks.
Mr. Mcmillan was authorized to report
favorably to the Senate his bill to regulate
the use Of the public parks and improved
reservations in the District of Columbia
under the charge of the chief Of engineers
of the United States army. This bill was
prepared by officers of the engineer corps of
the army and has the approval of the
Secretary of War. Practically this meas
ure extends to the public parks and inn
proved reservations in the District the
same regulations now in force in the Cap
itol grounds
Mr. Mcmillan is also authorized to ia
vorably report Senate bill 1880 to provide
for the erection Of a wall around the Jail
of the District of Columbia. This bill ap-
propriates $4,000 for the erection of the
said wall, and the committee amended ii
providing that the District of Columbia
shall be charged with one-half of the
amount.