Evening star., 1896-03-09
A DOLLAR GAS BILL
The Measure Passes the House With
but One Amendment.
OTHER LOCAL MEASURES ACTED ON
The Free Library Bill Discussed at
Length.
THE ARG MENTS MADE

the committee were on hand at the OPEN
ing of the session to avail themselves of
the privilege Of presenting District busi-
ness for consideration.
The first measure called up for action
was the bill to incorporate the convention
of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the
diocese of Washington. The Senate bill was
substituted for the House bill, being in
effect the same. This bill has been printed
heretofore in The Star.
Mr.. Cannon of Illinois discussed the bill
for the purpose of stating that the church
property in the District exempted from
taxation amounts TO s25,o0o,00o.
Mr.. Odell said this bill does not add TO
The sum of church property, but divides
the property already owned.
Mr.. Babcock suggested it was to the
credit of the city of Washington that there
is $23,o10.Goo OF church property here.
The bill was passed without amendment.
Street Rniiroad Franchise Acts.
Mr. Babcock then called up the concurrent
resolution providing that there be printed
and bound into one convenient volume
at the government printing office all the
various acts of Congress relating TO street
railway franchises i'm the District of Co.
luinbia, and that 200 copies of The same
shall be furnished for the use of he SEN
ate, 3o copies for the use Of the House
OF Representatives ana 2..go ccp.cs for
the use OF and distribution by The Conn
missioners of the District of Columbia
Il he resolution was passed without de-
bate.
Days of Grace Abolished.
The following bill was then called up:
That on all notes. drafts. checks. accept
ances, bills of exchange, bonds or other evil
dences Of Indebtedness made. drawn or ac-
cepted by any person or corporation after
the lst day of January. 1S'1. and in which
there is no expressed stipulation tc the con-
trary, no grace, according TO the custom of
merchants. shall be allowed ia the District
OF Columbia. but the same shall be due and
payahle as therein expressed, without grace.
Mr. Curtis of Iowa explained lhe bill and
the reason for its passage. 1t was recon-
mended by the Commissioners who lay:
Great inconvenience and confusion re-
suit both to debtors and to bankers from
the fact that notes and similar obligations
may be paid on any one of the several
days: and where bankers act as collecting
agents grave doubt exists 10 the amount
Of interest demandable where tender OF
payment is made before the expiration of
some or all of the days of grace. IF il is
desired 10 give such additional credit as is
secured by the Gays OF grace the three days
could in each case be added to The credit
originally allowed: q draft could be drawn
at six DAYS sight instead CT as now at
three days sight.
THAT these and others easons are ro-
tent objections against further allowance
OF days Of grace, and that the present bus
incss conditions have largely. ii not en-
tirely, destroyed the reasons for the orig
inal custom, are shown by the fact that the
following named thirteen states have
passed laws similar to the pending bill. viz:
California, Idaho. Montana. Nevada. Ore
gon, Utah, Kansas. Illinois, Connecticut,
Vermont. New York. PENNSYLVANIA and
New Jersey. 1t is desired in this COM
munty to keep pace with such business
The bill was passed without amendment.
The DoIIar-Gas Bill.
The dollar gas bill was the next one to
be presented TO the House.
The gas bill was read in full. It's pro-
visions We're published in The Star last
Saturday.
Mr.. Dockery asked why the Georgetown
Gas Company is permitted to charge 81 25
and the Washington Gas Company 81 rer
thousand feet.
Mr.. Babcock said his corsmittea had
taken different method from usual In
trying to get at this gas question. They
had not considered the relative cost of gas
In other cities, but solely what il cost the
companies in this city TO make gas and
deliver it.
To determine this question OF cost the
committee took the gas company's sworn
statement basis for their calculations,
ard reached the result shown in the report
accompanying the bill. AS to the difference
between the price to be charged by the two
companies, ii was found that IL cost the
Georgetown company more than the other
company to make gas. The bill. in addt-
ton to lessening the price of gas REQUIRES
increase in the Illuminating power of the
gas from sixteen 10 twenty-five candle pow
er.
One Section Stricken Out.
Upon motion of Mr.. Dockery, section Of
the gas bill was stricken out. That section
provides:
elon
Commissioners Of the District Of Columbia
to perform clerical services and assist gen.
orally in the work required in the labora-
tories of the inspector of gas AMI meters,
and his compensation shall be $1,000 per
annum. That additional inspector of
lamps shall be appointed by said Commits
sicners, and his compensation shall be $500
per annum.
Mr.. Dockery said the District approprla-
tion bill will provide for these officials
The doilarSas bill was then passed with.
out further debate or amendment.
Free Library Bill.
Mr.. Babcock then called up the Senate
bill to establish and provide fer the main
tenance of a free PUBLIC library and reading
rocm IN the District.
Mr.. Wellington of Maryland took the floor
to advocate the passage of the BILL He re-
ferred to the fact that there are thousands
of books in this city in official libraries and
the average citizen can get q book 10 take
to his home and read.
1t is like the case of the mariner" said
Mr.. Wellington, who found water, water
everyw here and rot drop to drink
He said this is the only city of Importance
in the United States that is without IL
brary. The labor unions OF the city, the
people generally ard the public press are
unanimous in the demand for the bill. The
library ought IL be provided, and the city
should maintain it.
In respof Sc tC an inquiry from Mr.. Can
non, Mr.. Babcock said he is informed that
large sums of money and extensive collec-
tons of books are at hard, to be turned In
when the library is orgari7ed.
Mr.. Dockery offered an amendment pro-
vidIng that no liability shall be incurred
under this act unless Congress shall have
first made appropriation for the objects
herein stated.
This was acceptable to the committee and
was adopted.
Mr.. Powers Amendment
Mr.. Powers Of Vermont then offered N