Evening star., 1897-02-24
The Water Main Tax Bill Passes
the House.
INTERRUPTIONS
Other District Bills Called Up by
Chairman Babcock.
RISOME DISCUSSION

Although the House agreed by unanf-
nous consent last Monday to. give today
for the consideration of District bills, Mr..
Powers of Vermont interposed this after
noon with conference report on one of his
Pacific railroad bills. Inasmuch as a con-
ference report Is privileged and could be
called up at any other time without loss
Of place, Mr.. Babcock endeavored to have
II wait until the District business should
be out of the way Mr.. Powers, however
persisted and District business had to give
way.
After half an hours delay upon this mat
ter the committee on accounts came for
ward with report relative to some House
employees which consumed more time.
An item in the report to pay three clerks
of committees $500 to prepare a digest
of the work of their committees aroused
a great deal of opposition. Seeing that
the District day was likely to be wasted
Mr.. Tracy (Mo), who brought in the re-
port, asked to withdraw 1t. Mr.. Johnson
Qnd). however, whose committee clerk
was one of the proposed benetcaries, OBJ
jected, and insisted upon action.
Humorous Speech.
Mr.. Johnson of California enlivened the
proceedings by making a humorous speech
In opposition to the report. The matter
was further discussed until nearly 2
O'Clock, and by vote Of y to 80 was re-
ferred to the committee on printing, but
Mr.. johnson Of Indiana raised the point OF
no quorum.
The Speaker counted those present and
announced a quorum, but Mr.. Johnson
demanded tellers. This, however, was re-
II sed, and the motion to refer was car
ricd.
Finally, shortly after O'Clock, Mr. Bah
cock obtained the floor and called up the
bill to amend the law relating to the re-
moval of snow and ice. This bill has pass
ell the Senate, and the House, on Mr.. Bab-
cocks motion, concurrcd in the Senate
amendment. Then it was discovered that
there was clerical error in The bill, and
1t was sent into conference for correc ton.
The bill to relieve Francisco Perna from
the operations of the act t. restrict alien
ownership of land was called up. This per
son being an alien. bough. land in the Dis
trict without being aware of the law pro-
exercise the rights Of ownership. Mr.. Blue
of Kansas opposed the DILL. Mr.. yelling
ton of Maryland explained the case and the
bill was passed.
The Water Main Bill.
Mr.. Babcock then called up the bill to
authorize the reassessment of water main
taxes in the District of Columbia. The
effect of this bill. according to the report.
''is such that an owner of unsubdivided
iaiiu SdH open streets through MS property,
and need not fear the levying of assess
ments for the water main. arbitrarily laid.
so long as he does not subdvide the land
into lots and blocks. On the other hand
the District would be fully protected, since
1t could insist upon the complete subdivis-
lon of the land into lots and blocks as
prerequisite to the laying of water mains
In all cases where that Is desirable; and
In any event. should this measure become
law. the District would be able to collect
its assessments as soon as water had been
introduced into the abuttinS lot"
The bill was passed without amendment
Mr. Babcock then called up the bill dedi-
eating the Potomac flats as a public park,
under the name Of Potomac Park
A point of order was made that this bill
should be considered in committee of the
whole. and the House resolved itself into
committee for this purpose.
Mr.. Babe eek said the object of the bill
was to preserve the reclaimed flats from
being used for any other purpose than
that of a public park. Mr. Dockery of
fered an amendment providing that one
half the sum already expended by the
United States in reclaiming the flats shall
be reimbursed to the United States by
the District Of Columbia.