Evening star., 1896-12-18
OF LOCAL INTEREST
District Measures Acted Upon by the House
..e> ~....a Of Representatives.
Text of Two Bills That Were Passed
After The Stars Report
Closed Yesterday.

in the House closed yesterday afternoon.
Mr.. Babcock called up the bill to provide
for the issue of drawback certificates In
payment of claims against the District on
account of the destruction of the old North
ern Liberty market. The committee on ap-
propriations evidenced a disposition to op-
pose the bill from the start, and Mr. Dock
cry questioned the members of the District
committee closely upon the measure. Upon
Mr.. Dockery's motion, an amendment was
adopted striking out the provision fixing
the compensation of the auditor who shall
settle the claims. An amendment offered
by the committee was also adopted, pro-
viding that no claims shall be allowed and
no drawback certificates shall issue upon
such claims until the District Commission
ers shall have first approved the same The
blil was then passed.
Text of the Measure.
The full text Of the measure as passed is
as follows:
That the auditor of the Supreme Court of
the District of Columbia is hereby empow-
cred and directed TO examine and audit for
settlement all claims for property taken,
injured or destroyed by reason of the de
struction or removal of the Northern Lib
erty market, in the city Of Washington. D.
e, In September, 1872. as also all claims for
payments made for the purchase rent or
use of any stall or privilege in said market
house and for license for conducting any
business therein, to the extent of the unex-
pired term of said purchase, rent use or
license.
Sec. =. That when the auditor has ascer-
tanned the amount of the loss as above de-
scrlDed' III any case growing out of the re-
moVal or destruction of the market as
aforesaid, he shall issue drawback certifi-
cate, signed by him auditor to the party
or parties who suffered such loss or dam
age, or to their legal representatives stat
ing the amount found to be due and Oh
what account issued, and shall keep a reg
1stry thereof: and such drawback certjfi-
Gates, with interest thereon at 1866 per cent
per ahnum from September T. 1872 shall be
received for arrears of taxes due the Dis
1876. "
Sec. 3. That said auditor shall make a
tapuIaf statement of all claims presented
the persons owning the same, and the
amount found to be due ON account of each:
and for the purpose hereinbefore snecified
said auditor shall have the power to sub
poena witnesses, administer oaths and ex-
anime witnesses under oath, and shall have
Iull access to all of the records books
papers and vouchers of every kind whatso-
ever of the late board Of public works and
the District of Columbia, and shall provide
py ialr and equitable rules, for the exami-
ne,a iia,lon ol tne same by claimants or their
attorneys. Said auditor shall give notice
Tor the presentation Of the claims herein
before specified in such manner as he NAV
deem necessary, and no claim shall be aud
,,eu ,'i. or aiiowed unless presented within
ninety days after the first pubIicat ton of
such notice: and said auditor shall make
1uii report Of all his acts and proceedings to
the Commissioners of the District of CO.
iumbla. Said auditor shall complete his
work under this act within two years from
Its passage. and be paid the necessary
costs, expenses for clerical and other ser
wees, stationery, books. advertising and
otner 1ncidentals Under this act, on the
order OF the Commissioners of the District
or Columbia on the request, iii writing. of
the said auditor, out of the surplus reye-
nues of said District:
provided, That no claim shall be allowed,
ana no drawback certificate shall issue
upon such claim, until the Commissioners
or the District of Columbia shall have first
approved the same
70 Extend North Capitol Street.
Inc Dill for the extension Of North Capi-
toi street to the Soldiers Home was then
called up. The substitute recently offered
py the Commissioners was presented in
lieu OF the bill on the calendar and con-
sidered.
MT. blue or Kansas, member of the ap-
preparations committee, obiecled to the bill
because 1t carried an appropria tion He
salo such matters should be referred to the
committee on appropriations, and that that
committee should have control of all appro-
priations for the District He moved.
therefore, to strike out the appropriation
Mr blue subsequently withdrew his amend
ment. After some further discussion. the
bill was passed. The bill in full is as fol-
lows: 80 O
That the Commissioners of the Distr;ct of
Ceiumola are hereby authorized and direct
ed to proceed with the opening Of North
capitol street northward through the prop-
ertY OF the Prospect Hill cemetery and to
pay the owners Of the land necessary 10 he
taken for public. use in the extension of
said North Capitol street according to the
report of the appraisers appointed bv the
supreme Court of the District Of Columbia
March l6. 1884, to appraise the land neces
safy Tor the extension Of said North Capitol
S.,ee. S,i as said report Was confirmed by the
supreme Court of the District of Columbia
June 22 1854, and finally adjudyed by the
Court OF Appeals of the District of Column
ola March 4, 1898, so far as the same re-
Cemetery. LIN
That the following sum is hereby appro-
priated out OF the revenues Of the District
OF Columbia for the purposes following,
nai an fiIty-one thousand six hundred
@ anu eishty-six dollars to pay the award of
said appraisers. confirmed and adfudgad as
aioresaio. All acts or parts of acts incon
sistent here with are hArsoy repealed.
dnls closed. the District business, and the
i'ouse proceeded with the legislative bill.
Text of the lexington Bill.
ihe Auu ana aH.endeds text Of the Eckinp-
ton railway extension resolution, which was
passed earlier in the day. Is as follows:
That the time granted by the act an
proved June 10. 1896. within which the said
lexington ana Soldiers Home Railwav
Company OF the District of Columbia and
the Belt hallway Company of the District
OF Columbia shall begin TO- equip those nor
tfons OF their respective lines which are sft
uated within the boundary of the cifv of
washington with compressed air motors
1897. AS -
Sec. 2. That If said compressed air mo-
tors shall be adopted, said companies shall
completely equip their respective lines with
1893 -
Sec. 8. That IL said compressed air motive
power shall not be adopted on or before
July l, 1897, then said railway COMPANY
shall. within one year from July 1. 1881
equip the respective lines in the city OF
Washington with an underground electric
system. Provided That In case the said
companies shall fail to comply with all the
requirements OF this act by the time herein
fixed, the said companies and each of
them. shall forfeit and pay to the Com
missioHers of the District Of Columbia the
sum of 500 for each day after such failure.
And, provided further That IL said com
panies shall fail to operate all of their re-
spectiye lines as provided ny an act entitled
AN act to extend the Ao5,f as NJ cots .-atI