Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-05
STREET EXTENSIONS
The Commissioners Opposed to Bills
for Individual Streets.
ADVERSE ENDORSEMENT AND LETTER
What Senators Proctor and GAL
Iineer Say on the Subject.
THE MATTER TO COME UP

| The question of street extensions may
soon come before the District committee of
| the Senate in a pointed manner. When the
highway act was declared unconstitutional
| by Judge Cox the suggestion was made on
| many sides that the next step in order
would be TO introduce bill curing the de-
| fects of the original measure, SO as to en-
able the Commissioners to go ahead with
| the work of securing rights Of way through
the property now obstructing the system
attic extension Of the streets. Nothing of
| that sort has been done, however for it has
been thought wise to wait until the appeal
taken by the District Commissioners from
the decision of Judge Cox should have been
decided by the Court Of Appeals.
The suggestion has been frequently made
that all Of the objects Of the highway act
could be attained from time to time by
passing Individual bills providing for the
extension of certain streets and avenues in
the line OF the city system to form the
skeleton of the suburban system of streets
which would naturally take their direction
from the main thoroughfares. In accord
ance with this policy bills were introduced
recently in the Senate by Mr.. Mcmillan for
the extension CT 14th street to the Spring
road. and for the extension of North Capi-
tol street to the Soldiers Home grounds.
The Conn issiOnerS' object.
These bills were referred to the Commits
sioners, as matter Of course, and were
| received back today by the District COM
| mittee with the Commissioner adverse in
| dorsement. accompanied by a letter in
which the Commissioners say:
Leaving out of consideration the intrin-
sic merits Of the propositions embraced in
these bills, the Commissioners would deem
the enactment of all such measures in1mI-
cal OF the public interests, by establishing
precedents involving a departure from the
wise and comprehensive purpose of An act
10 provide permanent system of high
ways in that part OF the District of Co
lumbia lying outside of cities approved
Marc h ., 1888 Uhe highway acu The policy
contemplated IN this act was the outcome
OF many years of experience of the munich
pal authorities of this District and of Con-
gress. in dealing with the subject of street
extension, and was decided upon as the
only practical way to secure harmonious
and economical results in that direction
To depart from that policy would be a re-
trograde step, which would reopen the
whole question and involve a repetition of
which led to its adoption. The Commits
sioners are satisfied that the law, with such
modihcations II any, as shall be found
necessary to remove any questions as to its
Constltutiorality, presents the best methods
OF dealing with the subject, and therefore
are constrained to discourage legislation
| not consistent with it's general plan"
1t is probable that at the next meeting Of
the District committee, to be held a week
from tomorrow, the matter of street extern
sions Will be taken up, and the Commission
ers' action on these bills will be thoroughly
discussed. There is already developing a
strong sentiment against the proposition
advanced by the Commissioners that pend
Ing the action of the courts and perhaps of
Congress on the original highway act there
should be nothing done in the way of street
M fhn int % ~f% =,
leading members of the strict committee
who were interviewed this afternoon for
The Star are to be taken as an indicatio
The Star, are to be taken as an indication
Of the trend of opinion in the committee, the
bills in question are liable to be promptly
passed over the Commissioners veto.
Senator PrOctOr's Views.
Il have not seen the letter of the Com
| missioners," said Senator Proctor but it
does not seem to me to be a good policy to
wait for the courts to decide the constitu-
tionality Of the highway act as long as that
measure has been declared imperative by
one of the occupants of the District bench
My theory is that 1t is far better measure
of economy in public administration to sup
ply whatever necessities there may be in
the way of street extensions as soon as pos
sible after they develop, and am firmly of
the belief that II there is today any need
for street extension anywhere in the Dis
ought to be individual bills presented and
passed without reference to the Court of
Appeals or any other court, SO long as the
present plan of city streets is observed in
making such extensions. 1 cannot conceive
why the Commissioners should discourage
efforts to make systematic extensions pend
ir g the decision of the court. 1t looks to
me like an attempt to coerce Congress for
| the Commissioners to say that we shall not
make certain extensions until the highway
act is cured of its defects
Senator Gallinger said to The Star re-
porter that he was empha tically of the be-
lief that the two houses of Congress ought
| to go ahead with street extension bills Just
as fast as possible, now that the court of
lower jurisdiction had pronounced unfavor-
ably upon the highway act.
What senator GnIlinger Says.
1.-THE chances of reversal of that judge
| ment,'' he said, "by the Court of Appeals are
| too slim TO be depended upon, and it is a
| waste of valuable time for us to wait for
| such remote contingency. Property values
| in these suburban regions are increasing
constantly and each year that the extensions
are delayed the expense to the District Of
extensions becomes greater. 1 do not like
| this attitude on the part of the Commits
sioners to resist all efforts to secure individu-
| al legislation on these lines, and hope that
the bills in question will be pushed through
| if there Is real necessity for the extern
| sions. I very much doubt whether a hill
| curing the constitutional defects Of the
| highway act could be passed at this session
or the next. There is undoubtedly strong
| sentiment in opposition to that act in certain
| quarters Of the District that might have its
| effect in Congress. and think it is foolish
| to depend upon the very slight chance OF
pulling the highway act out of the hole into
| which it has fallen"
| Senator Proctor said he understood tina.
there was case pending in the Court OF
| Appeals involving very much the same con-
| ditions as those of the appeal from the de-
cision of Judge Cox on the highway act, but
| he thought perhaps the Commissioners hoped
| to secure judgment in that case within a
| fortnight that would give clue to the prob
| able action of the court on the main ques.
ton. He did not express himself on the ad-
| visibility of passing individual measures.