Evening star., 1896-02-14
LOCAL LEGISLATION
Business Of Interest Transacted by
the Senate District Committee.
MEASURES TO BEFAVORABLY REPORTED
What Chairman Mcmillan Says as
to Grade Crossings.
OTHER ACTS CONSIDERED

Considerable business CT interest to the
people OF Washington. was transacted this
morning 10y the Senate committee on the
District of Columbia. There were present
Mr.. Mcmillan, chairman; 4iessrs. Galiinger,
Hanshroush, Proctor. Wetmore, Harris
Faulkner, Gibson and Bacon. Mr. Pritch-
ard was absent in Chicago and Mr.. Baker
Is at his home in Kansas. Messrs Smith
and Martin were also absent
Senate resolution IA, introduced by Mr.
Harris, providing for a compilation and
publication of the laws relating to street
railway franchises in the District of Coum-
bia, which has been reported upon favorably
by the Commissioners, was referred back
to the latter for further information. The
committee wishes to know what plan the
Commissioners have for the compilation ard
publication of these laws, and especially to
know how the expense incurred in that work
viii be borne, as the Senate resolution does
not provide an appropriation for it.
No Compensation for Mr.. Crane.
Senate bill 1856, introduced by Mr.. Gal
hnger by request, providing for the relief
Df the legal reprL seHtatives of John A.
Crane, was ordered to be reported adverse
" This bill asks for remuneration for the
services of Mr.. Crane in calling attention to
certain abuses in the District which led to
Investigations which resulted in saving
money for the District. The committee
however. could not see how it could com
pensate MIR. Cranes representatives for
such services, for, if such a course were
pursued, there would be no end of couDeIt-
sation demanded by people who bring about
reforms and indirectly save money for the
government.
Senate bill 2O0l will be reported to the
Senate favorahly. This bill authorizes the
Iale of title of the United States to certain
tracts of land in the District of Columbia
lc Margaret Shusrue, Caroline Lochboeh-
er and John r. Scott.
Senate Din 32T9 which authorizes the re-
assessment of water main taxes in the Dis
Tict of Columbia, was referred to the Com
mlssioneTs in View of certain amendments
asked Ter by attorneys of this city. These
attorneys ask that provision be placed in
This bill providing that such reassessments
thall not apply to cases now pending in
lhe courts, and the Commissioners will be
asked for an opinion on the advisability OF
IuCh an amendment
House bill 47S5, to incorporate the Ma
honal University, was ordered to be re-
ported favorably- National University has
peeE running for about twenty years under
II. Incorporation under the general law and
through this bill seeks Incorporation under
special act
Billiard and Pool Table Bill.
House bill Ji9O, to license billiard and pool
tables in the District of Columbia, will be
reported favorahy. with certain amend
rnants to make it conform with the Senate
bill on the same subject.
Mr.. Cullom's bill defining the qualiGca-
lions OF the chief inspector and deputy in
Spectcrs of plumbing in the District will BE-
reported adversely.
When the above bills have been reported
10 the Senate the total number of bills dis
posed of by the Senate committee up to the
present date will amount to twenty-six in
humber. There are now ninety-seven bills
and resolutions pending before the commit
tee for action, many of which have received
consideration from subcommittees and will
shortly be placed before the full committee
fer consideration.
The Senate committee on the District to-
Jay received a communication from Mr T.
VI Carter, an attCrney-at-law of this city,
IN regard to the sub iect Of providing pure
water and the disposal of the sewage of
The city Mr.. Carter states that the pest
Ee1ce visited Hamburg a few years ago as
result of the careless disposition Of the
Sewage of the city, and should be an exam
pie to prevent like visitation to Wash
lnSton. He accompanies his communica-
ton with bill which he requests shall be
presented to the Senate. This bill appro-
PIRATES SJO,OO to be expended under the
direction of experienced and practical scien-
lists TO be selected for that purpose. The
duty of this board of scientists shall be to
test the methods now in operation. not only
In Paris and London, bJt in other European
ard American cities, fer the best DISPOSAL of
sewage and the best method of water fill
tTation; also to ascertain whether there are
any more economical, healthfrl and bene-
fetal methods which have been advanced
BY practical and experienced scientists, ami
which might be applied to the needs of the
District of Columbia.
The Matter of Grade CROSSINGS.
Members of the Senate COMMITTEES are
quite well pleased to know that the chief
engineer of the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company and the Engineer Commissioner
OF the District of Columbia have consulted
In regard to plan TO do away with grade
crossings on the line of the Pennsylvania
railroad in this city. The thing most de-
sired by the committee is that the railroad
company and the Engineer Commissioner
shall decide upon some practical ard salts
factory plan, and when this is done the
committee VIII be prompt to take action,
giving the necessary legislation for carry
Ing out this project which mas 50 long beer,
a subject for contention in the District If
the pLar proposed by the engineer of the
pennsylvania railroad does not meet the
approval of the Commissioners the Dis
trlct committee will expect the Commission
ers to suggest what notifications of that
Ilah are necessary, and it is believed that
II VIII be possible to evolve a plan salts
factory to all parties concerned.
II the bridges, which it is proposed to
nave span the railroad tracks involve too
steep a grade, it is expected that the Engi-
neer Commissioner will irsiSt upon a better
plan, but members of the committee IN
derstand that the grades of the approaches
SS' VIM III Ao LhStdiCe exceed
tbree teet to mile, and as four and a
haI1 feet to the mile is sometimes allow
abie where steep grade cannot easily be
avoided it is thought that the grades will
probably be satisfactory
ME- McMilian, chairman of the Senate
committee, had assurances several wears
ago from the president of the Baltimore
ana Potomac Railroad Company that that
company was ready to provide a suitable
system OF grade crossings within the city
OF washington. and he has lately received
assurances that the company Is ready and
aIi4lous 70 go ahead in this matter to the
satisfaction of Congress When the SUBJ
Ject was agitated about three years ago it
seemed likely that an early solution of
the question of grade crossings on the
Baltimore and Potomac railroad could he
reached. but the nani, or, sl.I.-.i<.