Evening star., 1897-02-17
DISTRICT IN CONGRESS
Matters Considered Today by the House
District Committee.
The Anti-COntrnct Bill Laid on the
Table-Other Measures to De
FavOrably Reported.

The House District committee today de-
cided to lay on the table the bill Is. 3OOS)
providing that work upon District improve
ments may be done by day labor instead
of under the contract and lowest bidder
system The committee has given this bill
full consideration, and came to the conclu-
sion that the proposed change would vest
too much authority in the District Com
missloners. and might open the door to
serious abuses.
Tho committee authorized favorable re-
port on the bill to require iagmen at rapid
transit street railway crossings.
favorable report was also authorized
on the bill to incorporate the East Wash
ington Heights Traction Company, with
an amendment as follows: provided That
the Washington and Marlboro Electric
Railway Company of Maryland shall De
permitted to use the bridge and that por-
tion of the route between Pennsylvania
avenue and 18th street east and Pennsyl-
vania avenue and Railroad avenue east"
Favorable reports We're authorized on the
Senate bills relating to the estate of the
late Peter Won Essen, and to the establish
ment of the Potomac flats public park
a favorable report was authorized OH
House bill 1869, amending the act relating
to the removal of snow and ice, and House
bill 1o,036, TO incorporate the National
Grand Lodge OF the Sons of Hermann.
LOIS ana Ibe1r Claimants.
The Attorney General has written to Mr..
Mcmillan, chairman of the Senate commit
tee on the District of Columbia, regarding
the preparation of list of lots in this city
claimed by private individuals, the title to
which appears to be still in the United
States. This information was called for
by resolution adopted by the Senate May
IL, 1876. The Attorney General says in his
judgment the time required for a compe-
tent person to prepare such list involv-
ing as 1t does an examination of the
records in the office of the recorder of
deeds in the District of Columbia relating
to lots in about 100 squares, besides the
examination of a number of court records.
tax assessments, &c, would be about six
months, and that the probable expense of
this service would be about 5000
To Regulate Societies.
Senator Gallinger yesterday afternoon
made favorable report to the Senate of
the bill for the regulation of fraternal soci-
cites in the District of Columbia
Amendments to Appropriation Bills,
Amendments to appropriation bills have
been proposed follows:
General deficicncy-By Mr.. Pritchard, to
pay Roger w. Watson 214 for services as
acting disbursing clerk of the Senate; by
Mr.. Chandler, to pay Robt Stein $500 for
translating THE Future of Silver"
District Of Columbia-By Mr.. Perkins, for
improvements of Baltimore street from
Columbia road to Cincinnati street, 81, 900;
fer grading and regulating Baltimore street
to the Adams Mill road entrance to the
Geological Park, $1,000. BY Mr.. Frye, for
improving Michigan avenue, $4,000.
A Curator for the Library.
Senator Wilson has proposed an amend
ment to the sundry civil appropriation bill
providing for curator of the Congressioii-
al Library, who is to receive a salary of
5000 His duties will be to supervise the
placing of pictures. busts and statues in the
new library building and statues and other
ornaments in the grounds.