The evening times., 1896-05-25
DISTRICT Dlls igsstD
House Dispases Of q nsmhsr Of
LEGAL Measures.
FIGHT FOR CHEAPER GAS
.nds sconf-r-oce csa aifts... NAMED
Effort Win ~ Mad. ts tssVe ssi-
Dollar Chas-.. ta-.-rted -Ex,.a-ssn
Of Street Railways

The last Di-trsct asF ~ ~ s.---isn va.
obtained only sffcF hrs1sie effsrts "a the
part of Chssrsssa fisi-sss q 500 th.-n with
the stipulation thsi oStF q l1ititssi p,-rr,i
should be consumes
The leaders OF ths nee-- secsned Ia feci
that the Distric; hat irru eivra suffbcient
consideration and tne cHnmttee should
be satisfied with what had ALREADY been
given But Mr.. Babcocs's per-isiency won
out and a concession was made.
The dollar gas bill, amended by the Sen
ate to $1.l5 per thousand cubic feet and
a sliding scale of reductions at the rate OF
3 cents per year, was read at length. and
Nj. Babcock moved DOn-cUDcurrrncc and
requested conference. TIE motion WIS
agreed To, and the chair appointed Messrs.
Babcock. Odeli and Richa rison as con
fcrecs on the part OF the House.
STREET RAILWAY EXTENSIONS.
The bill extending the routes OF the
lexington and Soldiers Home and Belt
Line Railroads. which was pending when
the House adjourned two weeks ago, was
taken up as the unfinished business. Mr.
HoPburn's amendment, providing that With
in thirty Us cars must be running over the
unoccuPicd tracks on G and North Capitol
streets. was adopted.
Mr. Hill offered au anne ndment that at no
time shall there be outstanding in bonds
more than 10 per cent or the total cost OF
the road. Mr.. Hopkins moved that the
amount be reduced to 30 per cent. He did
this TO prevent the watering OF stock.
Mr.. Cannon asked ifit would not be equiv
alent to saying that the extensions shall
not he built 1t all a nd Mr.. Richardson said
that a similar provision had hot been i'm,
posed upon any other road in the District.
Mr. Babcock said tina the pending bill was
the most stringent one of that class ever
brought before the House. aud he thought no
unnecessary hardship should he placed uron
the road. He was willing to accept Mr..
Hill's amendment, but believed Mr.. Hop
kins' too severe.
The amendment of Mr.. Hopkins wasadopt-
ed-60 yeas, AZ nays.
THE DEFICIENCY BILL.
Immediately after the opening of the
Senate the general deficiency bill was
taken up.
Under the Treasury schedule is the Sem
ate amendment apprOpriating S159,s 500
for the F1rd's Theater disaster payments.
When it came up Mr.. Platt wanted infor-
nation on the term personal representative,
one scctinn OF the amendment provides that
ir any one dies before payment is made the
Secretary Of the Treasury is directed to
pay the amount to the personal repre-
sentative OF the persons So dying.
Mr.. Faulkner explained that it meant the
same as an executor, but upon request OF
Mr.. Piait promised to lookaasso the ex-
preston and see if it should be changed to
legal representative.
BELT LINE EXTENSION OPPOSED.
Mr.. Hepburn Offered an amendment strik-
ing out the section authorizing the Belt
Line to make a number of extensions. He
said this road now owned more than ten
miles OF double tracks, but had persistentiy
refused to operate a portion OF their line,
and had not given the public the benefits
10 which they are entitled under the Origi-
nal charter. When action was brought in
the courts to compel operatioSo of the un-
used tracks the Belt Line came N nd clva-
lierly said they could not be compelled To
do SO, as tEey had sold those portions to
another company. Now they came to Con
gress nd asked for permission to ma ke still
other extensions.
Mr. Babcock said that throughout the
entire session he had persistently opposed
all street railway extensions that might
seem unnecessary or OF a speculation char
aCter. The committee had eliminated all
but two short extensions, which seemed to
be needed TO perfect the system. The bill,
he said, could M, be made more stringent.
Mr.. Rusk explained that the extensions
LEFT in the bill are absolutely necessary to
complete the arrangements made to dis
timore and Washington electric line now
approaching cnmpletio The failure of the
bill would seriously cripple both roads.
The Belt Line had already been injured by
the elimination of its proposed Geological
Park extension.
Mr.. Hepburn's amendment was disa greed
to.
Mr.. Baker offered an amendment strik-
ing out the section permitting the Belt Line
to remove its tracks from certain streets.
which was rejected, but later reconsidered
and adopted.
OTHER MEASURES CONSIDERED.
The bill amended was then passed
The Senate bill for the relief of Nicolai
Bros. was passed without discussion.
The House bill authorizing the Baltimore
aud Washington Transit Company to enter
the District aud form connection with the
Bright wood Electric Line was called up.
Mr.. Baker offered an amendment limiting
the rate of fare within the District to D
cents. which was adopted, and the bill
passed.
The Senate bill TO amend the act in
cooperating the Washington and Great Falls
Railway Company was read in full for the
benefit or Mr.. KEN. The Senate amend
ments were concurred in and the bill
passed.
The Senate bin relative to the property
rights of married women was read in full
for the qualification of Mr.. Howard. who
was performing picket duty during the
temporary absence of Mr.. KEN. Certain
amendments offered by Mr. Hulick for the
perfection OF the bill were agreed to with
out debate, and the bill was passed.
The House bill authorizing the sale Of
property belonging to insane persons, and
the investment OF the proceeds for their
benefit. was explained by Mr.. Shannon,
who said such legislation was rendered nee
essary by a recent decision of the Court
OF Appeals.
Under the District of Columbia schedule.
the amendment to pay rent for District
buildings and to pay physicians 81 500 for
vacciuating 1880 persons was passed.
All the other amendments made to this
bill under this schedule were passed without
debate. They were published in The Times
Satur1nv