Evening star., 1897-02-26
DISTRICT IN CONGRESS
Bill to Acquire Water Right at Great Falls
Passes the Senate.
An Anti-Gam bling Bill Introduced
Other Measures of Local
Interest.

| The Senate yesterday passed Senate bill
| 1893, ITO increase the water supply of the
| city of Washington, etc" The bill provides
| for the requirement of the Great Falls
water rights. 1t tas been considered in
| the House of Representatives, but has
not been acted upon by that body. The
Senate passed the bin without discussion
as it came from the committee on the Dis
trict of Columbia.
the bill authorizes the Attorney General
and Secretary of War TO obtain title for
the United States by right of eminent do
main or otherwise. 10 all the water rights
not now owned by the United States at and
III the vicinity of Great Falls on the Po-
tcnac river. the water so taken TO be used
for any and all public purposes. and also
such land as may be necessary for these
purposes: Provided, that the property,
water rights and franchises of the CheS-
aIeake and Ohio Canal Company shall be
exempt frcm the operation of this act
1t provides that the Secretary of War
and the Attorney General in their dis
cfetion. may appoint three commissioners
to appraise the value of the land and of
the water and of the water rights taken,
ard of TIE damages TO any property by
rei son of the taking. or by reason of main
tanning said government dam at its pres
ent height, by reason of raising the
dam to such height may be necessary
for the purpose of this act. In making
the valuations the appraisers Sndii con-
slider only the present values of the land
and water rights. and shall not consider
their values to the city of Washington for
the uses for which they are taken or 10
which they may he applied under the pro-
visions of this act
The Metropolitan Extension Bill.
An effort was made fn the Senate last
evening to have the bill granting authority
to the Metropolitan Railroad Company to
he
Mr.. Allen offered concurrent rcsolu-
tiCn requesting the President TO return the
bill for further consideration. Mr.. Allen
said il had beeIi his purpose to antagonize
the passage of this hill. bat it was passed
after o'clock on the nd of February af-
ter he had left the Senate. not expecting
it would be called up
Mr.. Mcmillan replied that he was not
aware tha; any one wished to oppose the
conference report. He said the only OBJ
lection to the bill had been on the part
Of Senator Ccckrell in regard TO the issu-
arce of stock certificates.
-Ir Allen wanted his resolution adopted
at or ce. as he feared the President might
sign the bill If action was not promptly
taken. hut under Mr.. Faulkner's objection
it went over until the next day.
An Antf-GnmbIin. Bill.
Tie House committee or Judiciary today
reported a bill to protect state anti-eambling
laws from notification through interstate
gambling by telegraph, telephone or other
wise the bill provides that any person
who, with intent TO execute, conduct, pro-
mote or carry on in any manner whatever
any lottery, pool selling bookmaking or
gambling on horse races; or who, with in
tent 10 aid assist or abet in the executing,
conducting, promoting or carrying on of
any such lottery. pool selling. bookmaking
OF gambling. shall deposit with, send or
transmit by, or cause to be deposited with,
or fF1r tsaI
rany or telephone company any dispatch or
message from one state territory into
another state or territory, or from into
the District of Columbia, shall he guilty of
Il mis- temcdn1r and shall be punished for
the first offense by imprisonment of not
more than two years, by a fine of not
more than $1,000. or both, and for the sec
ond ana each after offense punished by
such imprlsOnmen. only.
No common carrier or corporati or
employe thereof. shall receive for trans
mIsS:on or ira nsmit or send from one state
or territory into another state or territory
or from or into the District of Colum bia
any dispatch message prohibited by
section one of this act: and every person
who shall willfully violate any of the pro-
visions of this 5, ction SHALL be deemed
guilty OF miSdemeanor and shall be liable
10 the same penalty is provided in said
section one.
To Pay Leaves of Absence
Mr. Hale. from the committee on print
ing. made favorable report to the Senate
today On Mr.. Voorhees, proposed amend
nrent to the deficiency bill authorizing the
public printer TO pay employees former en-
ployes and legal reI Iresentatives of former
employees of the government printing office
soch sums as may be due them for accrued
ana unpaid leaves of absence for the fiscal
Years 1857 to 1894. both inclusive for which
purpose SIi.S-9 is appropriated The pro-
posed amendment was referred TO the COM
mittc@ on appropriat tions