The morning times., 1896-05-12
LOCAL BILLS JARED HARD
Minority Bars Legislation On the
Last District Day.
FOUR HOURS IN THE HOUSE
Among the Important Measures with
drawn Were Those Relating to
Rights of Married Women, North
Capital Street Extension and Eek
1ngton Road Extension.

Nearly four hours yesterday were occu-
pied in the House for the consideration of
local measures.
but Notwithstanding this seeming super
abundance of time, and the probability that
it was the last regular District day OF the
present session, all attempts at what might
be termed important legislation were rem
dered Intellectual.
This fanure apparently due largely TO
the fact that a minority of the House Dis
trict Committee seem determined 10 de-
feat every local bill that is not framed
in conformity with their every whim and
In which all their minor technical quibbles
are not fully recognized.
This minority, although afforded the OPP
portunity yofcrosS-eXaminationa the various
hearings given by the full committee, and
having voted against favorable reports be-
ing made on certain bills that do not eX
actly suit them, but which are entirely
satisfactory to majority of the COM
mittec, refuse TO abide by the decision of
the majority and antagoniZe the bills in
t." uouse, often TO their postponement or
defeat.
OPPOSED BY THE MINORITY.
1t can be seen at a glance that such u
method of procedure is disa StTuus. When
ever a bill is thus anita gouiZei by a small
minority, who compensate for numerical
strength by kicking up a great cloud of
dust the idea is at once suggested to the
House that there must necessarily be
something wrong with the measure or it
would not thus be opposed by portion
Of the committee reporting il fayorably.
AS consequence the final outcome is
that the conclusion is reached that 1t is
better to defeat the proposed legsIa-
tion rather than take the chance ~ its
possibly being improper or irregular.
AS result OF this desire on the part
Of the minority to coutrol the District
Committee the following important bills
We're yesterday withdrawn because their
defeat seemed a foregOne conclusion:
The Senate bill relating to the rights
of married women.
The House bill TO extend North Capitol
street to the Soldiers Home.
The Senate bill to extend the routes OF
the lexington and Soldiers Home and
Belt Line Railways.
Two OF these bills, it will be observed,
had passed the Senate, after long and
careful conSiderat lou, were favorabIy re-
ported by the House District Committee.
and yet failed of passage by reason OF
minority opposition.
When the District Committee first OBJ
tained possession of the floor the Senate
amendments to the bill regulating tbs
practice Of medicine and surgery in the
District. were agreed to and the bill now
goes to the President for his approval.
NORTH CAPITOL EXTENSION
The Senate amendments to the bill regu-
lating the business of storage were also
agreed To. The Senate bill authorizing
Rene C. Baughman TO lay certain pipes
for the distribution of petroleum. was
passed without debate. The Senate bill
Relating TO tie testimony OF physicians
before the District courts was passed
after some discussion. The Senate bill
lating to the rights of married women was
discussed for a time and laid aside. The
House bill providing certain harbor rcgu-
iations for tie District was passed with
out amendment. The bill amending the
law providing for the removal OF snow nd
ice from the Sidewalks and cutters Cf.
this city, was passed. The bin comforting
title in lots 13 and IA. square 959, WAS
indefinitely postponed. The hill selling
for 81 900, the title TO lot >, square 1l13,
was passed.
The bill 10 extend North Capitol street
10 the Soldiers Home was taken up. Mr.
Curtis of Iowa, suggested amendments
authorizing the work TO be performed
under the general street extension act
and that the Commissioners may. in lieu
of condemnation proceedings, acquire right
of way through Prospect Hill Cemetery
for S26 600, and through the property of
ANNE T. bUEbOuT IOi T-p,OOp.
FROM DISTRICT REVENUES.
Mr.. Dockery said that all the necessary
expenditures should be made entirely from
the District revenues. He said the regular
District appropriations bill carried a suffi-
cient sum for street extensions. The act
of March g. 1898, providing for a general
system of highways requires the District
to bear all the costs arising under that bill.
He was opposed to special bill saadilng
half of the money expended upon the
general government.
A long discussion followed, which was
participated in by Messrs. Richardson.
Curtis of Iowa, Dingley, Hulick. Blue,
Miner, Baker, Hopkins Shafroth, Nc
Millin, Cannon, Babcock and Others. Mr..
Blue said the bill should be defeated, as
it was exceedingly bad business. He de-
ciared the District Committee had arro-
gated TO itself not only the right to
designate some special street to be opened,
but TO appropriate a large sum Of money
to perform the work. Bills OF this char
acter, he thought. should be considered and
reported by the Committee on Appropria-
tions. One committee had gone into the
jurisdiction of another.
Mr. Dockery Offered an amendment pro-
viding that all the expenses of extension
and condemnation shall be paid from the
District revenues. Mr.. Baker Offered an
amendment providing that all benefits and
damages shall lie assessed independent of
the highway act.
Mr. Hulick Offered an omnibus amend
ment and spoke 1T great length in support
of 1t.
UNDER THE HIGHWAY ACT.
Several speakers called attention to the
| fate that the highway act is now hung up
i'll the courts. but members of the committee
said the North Capitol street extension
Unml6 he SuhfPpt tn the decision nf the
| courts. The amendment making the ex-
| tension under the general highway act, in
| stead of chapter / 1 of the Revised Statutes,
and providing for buying the land from
Prospect Hill cemetery and Mrs. Barbour
| were Withdrawn.
Mr. Hulick rene wed his amendment, when
! Mr.. Curtis withdrew tile bill.
The bill relating to the right of married
women, previously laid aside, was again
taken up, and Mr.. Hulick began talking it
TO death, beginning in the year 1865 and
| coming down to modern times, quoting
| copiously from the statutes III so doing.
Mr.. Hulick Offered nine or ten amendments
and suggested that while they remain pend
| ing the bill he withdrawn. This was done.
The bill to extend the routes of the Eek
| ington and Soldiers Home and Felt Line
Railways which passed the Senate April
| 25 last, was taken up and several commit
| tee amendments adopted. Others were Of
| fered and pending when the House ad-
journed.