The morning times., 1897-01-19
DISTRICT DAY IN THEHOUSE
Several Bills of General and
Personal Interest Passed.
A BRIDGE ACROSS THE BRANCH
Legislation Regarding Taxes and
Tax SaleS--The Washington and
Glen Echo Railroad Authorized
10 Acquire Right of Way and
Enter the District.

1t was Distrctday in the House yesterday,
but almost half the Legislative session was
consumed in other business before Chair
man Babcock could get the floor. As II
was, however, several measures of i'm
portance were called up and passed
The first to run the gauntlet was the
bill to authorize the construction of a bridge
across the Eastern Branchin line with Massa-
chusetJs avenue extended, eastward. In
recomme nding the passage of this bill the
District Committee gave the following
reasons:
l. The large population lying east of the
Eastern Branch and in its Immediate vi
cinity has at present no convenient access
to the city.
g The bridge would open up very
large territory to street-car facilities.
which are absolutely necessary to the de-
velopment OF this section OF the District.
3. 1t would open up direct communica-
ton for all the Marlboro travel which now
has to make long detours toreach the city
f. 1t would benefit almost exclusively
the poorer and working classes, who are
being driven into the suburbs TO find
homes, and who cannot afford to buy
in sections now reached by street ears
because of the high price of real estate
B. 1t offers less distractions, in the way
of the width of the Eastern Branch and of
the crossing of steam railroad tracks,
than would be met on the line of any other
street between the present Pennsylvania
avenue and Bennings bridges.
g. Practically all of the ground lying
east of the Eastern Branch required for
nh, t,N
the Bowen road would be dedicated to the
government free OF charge.
z The increase in the value of prop
erty benefited by such bridge would
soon return the cost OF the bridge to the
Treasury in increased taxes.
The bill met with no opposition.
Tie next bill was that relating to taxes
and tax sales. This was debated at great
| length, amended in some particulars and
| passed The bill has already been printed
| at length in The Times.
The bill to authorize the Washington
| and Glen Echo Railroad Company to oh
tain a right of way and construct tracks
| into the District 500 feet, which was intro
duced last Saturday by Mr.. Wellington OF
Maryland was passed without dissent
| ing voice This railroad, which has its
| eastern terminus near the northern boun
| dary of the District in Chevy Chase, will
| under the provisions OF the above bill, be
| empowered TO obtain right OF way and
| construct its road and lay double tracks
thereon into the District distance OF 600
| feet and no farther
The bill to secure the title to certain real
| estate in the District owned by George w
| Watson was another measure that received
| favorable consideration. A good many
| years ago Mr.. Watson, who is u veteran OF
| the late war, bought n house and lot stu
ated at the corner Of Eleventh and ! streets
| southeast There was technical flaw upon
the title when Mr.. Watson purchased the
| property, though this was not known Il
| bim nor to the former owner.
The bill which passed yesterday give,
Mr.. Watsona clean title to his property ant
relieves him of any further worry.
4 JOINT resolution providing for addi
tonal teleRraphic and electric light facili
ties during the inaugural ceremonies was
passed.
Mr. Babe ock endeavored to get up th'
| bill providing for the erection of memoir
ial building in the District by the Dangh
tiers OF the American Revolution, explain
ihS tlihSO pii' ''i'i i.iH 'ttAi ~ bllN
wrong committee, that of public build
ings and grounds.
Mr.. Iotkery made the point of orde
that rs the bill had OF been referred o
req crted from the District Committee The
latter had no right to bring it up.
Mr.. Morse said the ladies proposed I,
erect a building 10 cost SEC0, 600, and al
they asked was a little piece of unused
government ground to erect il on. He Sait
the building would be an architecture
ornament to the city, and he was at ;
loss to understand how any one coul'
object.
Mr.. Blue, of Kansas, said he underston,
it was the purI ose of the Daughters T.
erect the building in one of the publ
parks. This was denied by Mr. Morse
WHO said it was only intended to tax
a plot OF ground in the vicinity Of th,
Bureau of Engraving and Printing.
The Speaker sustained Mr.. rockery'
POINT of order, and said if there was
| single objection the matter could not T.
considered.
And then Mr.. Blue, in a voice of thunder
objected.
THE CAPITAL ROADS PERMIT.