Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-04
District Bills in the Senate Awaiting
Action.
INVESTIGATION OF TIE CHARITIES
Compiling Material Gathered by
the Special Committee.
IMPORTANT ASSURES

/ committee on the District OF Columbia,
has returned to the city and opened the
committee room at the Capitol. 1t is not
| likely that Chairman Mcmillan will return
| to Washington before the convening Of
Congress. the first Monday in December.
Mr.. Moore has been at work all the sum-
| mer compiling the material gathered by
the special committee to investigate the
chs rites of the District OF Columbia. which
| sat during the extra session Of Congress.
In addition to this. he has been engaged in
the preparation Of a complete history OF
charitable institutions in the District,
which he will write for the committee.
About one-half of this work is now in
type.
Some additional data is to be furnished
the committee upon the subject of hes
| pitfalls in the District by two noted MEM
bers OF the medical profession having
acquaintance with the practical workings
OF hospitals DIR. Hurd OF Johns Hopkins
Hospital. Baltimore. and Dr. Chaplin of the
pennsylvania Hospital, PHILADELPHIA will
VISIT washington soon and make thor
ough inspection Of the local hospitals. They
VIII report to the special committee the re-
suits OF their observations and such recom-
mendations as they may deem proper.
1t Is expected that by the time Congress
assemblies all Of the material necessary for
the preparation of a report and recommen-
dauon to Congress will be in the hands OF
the special committee in perfected form.
When members of the Senate District
committee left Washington at the close of
the extra session Of Congress last su inner
n was with the understanding that very
Dusy season awaited them at the regular
| session commencing in December Tne
members OF the old House committee who
were reappointed by Speaker Reed upon
the new House committee also realized
thls TACT and Chairman Babcock said be-
fore he left there would be a great deal of
hard work before the committee in the
winter.
Important Pending Questions.
1t is generally believed that the grade
crossing question will be the first important
matter taken up by the District commit
tees when Congress convenes. 1t Is thought
that the plans for grade crossings for the
steam railways entering the District will
be matuied to the point where Congress
can take hold Of the matter and legislate.
Tie Senate committee expects to have this
subject upon its table early in the session,
ana there Will probably be, long series of
meetings to consider It,
Underground electric wires will follow
the grade-crossing question as a sehject OF
consideration. Legislation by Con,,ress il
necessary upon this matter. II is the de-
sire OF the thoughtful men in both houses
interested In District matters TO ,,rovide
for an immediste extension of the electric
ignting facilities of the city, but this is
to be done only by means of underground
conduits. There will be no more overhead
wires. and. further than this, the wires
that are now strung will have to go down.
Inc nght between the two local electric
light companies is not expected 10 en-
barrass the committees to any extent 1t
Is generally understood that there is a dis
position In Congress to give eacn company
an opportunity to compete for the priyi-
iege of extending its lines and furnishing
light to the city.
The way the matter will come up I'm Con-
gress. however, will not De the discussion
merits Of.
companies. but through the question of
furnishing an underground conduit sys-
tenn The whole subject of underground
wires Will be opened involving the de-
STABILITY of the city controlling the con-
duits and the other suggestions that have
been put forward from time TO time.
A subcommittee of the House District
committee was appointed during the Fifty
fourth Congress to investigate the subway
question in the District of Columbia but
never held session. The Senate District
committee will not wait. 1t is thought, for
the House to inaugurate action. but wilt
itself undertake the investigation of :he
matter in all its several bearings
The Senate committee had the advantage
organized and getting a great deal of work
in hand, while there was no House COM
mittee in existence In this way the SEN
ate committee will be ready to report and
pass number Of bills. which Will 60 to the
House with the prestige of passage by the
Senate. and this may expedite action upon
and the House ITSELF while some bills have
already been passed by the Senate. and are
ready for immediate action in the House.
The More Important Bills.
Some Of the more important bills. with
their status in the Senate, are enumerated
below:
For the regulation of cemeteries and the
disposal of dead bodies in the District or
Columbia; May 10. 1897. passed in the Sem
ate.
To regulate the sale Of poisons in the
District Of Colurnbia-March is, 1897 intro
duced by Mr.. Gallinger. May 13, 1897 re-
ported by Mr.. Gallinger. May %. 1897.
passed over in the Senate. June 16 1897,
sundry protests. June q, 1897, recon-
mItted to the committee.
Relating to the adulteration Of foods and
drugs In the District OF Columbia-May o,
1897, passed in the Senate
Relating to acknowledgements Of instru-
ments affecting real estate within the Dis
trict of Columbia-March Is. 1897 intro
drced by Mr.. Faulkner. May q, 1897. re-
port OF the Commissioners Of the District
Of Columbia.
To provide for a municipal building and
court house In the District of Columbia
March Is. 1897. introduced by Mr.. FauIk-
ner. June g. 1897. report Of the Cemmis-
sioners Of the District OF Columbia.
To incorporate the National Florence
Crittenton Misson-March 10, 1897 intro
duced by Mr.. Cullom. June IL. 1897. re-
port OF the Commissioners OF the District
To compel street railway companies In
the District Of Columbia to remove aban-
doned tracks. and for other purposes
March 10. 1877. introduced by Mr. Mcldil-
Ian.
To provide for the maintenance OF the
Free Public Library OF the District Of Co-
iumbia-March 10. 1881. introduced by Mr..
Mcmillan. May III. 1897, referred TO the
Commissioners of the District OF Colussbfa.
To authorize the completion OF the WASH
frgton aqueduct tunnel and for other pur-
poses-March 10. 1897 introduced by Mr.
Mcmillan. May II. 1897. referred to the
Commissioners of the District OF Columbia
and to the Secretary OF War. May "a. 1897.
report OF the Secretary of War;
To incorporate the East washineton
Heights Traction Railway Company OF the
District OF Columbia-March To- 1891. intro
duced by Mr.. McMillan.
To further protect the frst day of tho
week as q day OF rest In the District OF
Columbia-Mar;h 10. 1897. introduced by
Mr.. Mcmillan. June II, 1897. report OF the
Commissioners OF the District OF Columbia.
For the further prevention OF cruelty to
animals In the District OF columhia-Narch
q. 1897. introduced by Mr. Gallnxer Nay
II. 1897. reported by Nr. oailingcr. May 10.