Evening star., 1897-01-21
DISTRICT IN CONGRESS
A Petition for New Telephone Company in
the District.
Those Favorfng and Those Opposed
to the Morse Liquor Bill
Given q Hearing.

today a largely signed petition in favor
of the passage of Senate bill 1915. to in
corporate the Columbia Telephone Com
pany. 1t was appropriately referred.
Tne petition charges that the people of
the District are now forced to pay exorbi-
tant prices for limited and inefficient
telephone service" because of an alleged
combination between the Bell Telephone
Company and the Western Union Tele-
graph Company.
las citizens of Washington" the petit
ton concludes, I'VE are entitled to prompt
and immediate relief at the hands of Con-
gress and we earnestly request your early
and favorable consideration Of this BILL
Petitions In Regard to District Bills.
Senator Gallinger presented numerous pc
titions to the Senate today, the majority
Of them being from the W. c. r. U. OF
Peterboro'. N. H., relating to District Of
Columbia bills pending in Congress. Ac-
companying these was a letter from
Frances Willard of the National w. c. T.
u. appealing for the passage of the Morse
whisky bill
Senator Gallinger also presented letters
strict the practice Of vivisection in the
District These were from college pro-
fessors and presidents throughout lie coun-
try.
Stables in Alleys.
Senator Baker. from the District Of Co
lumbia committee. this morning reported
adversely the bill introduced by Senator
Nelson to enable the Commissioners to
refrse a permit to erect stables in Union
court, known as square 35S. The DILL was
indefinitely postponed.
The committee, in reporting the bill.
states that the legislation contemplated
would have the effect of counteracting the
legislative n0licv of Congress do
with alley houses.
school Wanted I'm lexington.
delegation of citizens of lexington,
| consisting of Mr.. W. G. Henderson, Mr.
w. F. Fowler, Mr.. 1. B. Linton. Mr.. T. p.
Kane and Rev. G. 8. Dunton, appeared be-
fore the House appropriations committee
today to urge an appropriation for in
creased school facilities for lexington. The
Commissioners have recommended four
room building, but later investigations
made by the citizens show that an eight
room building will not be too large to ac-
comnodate the school children.
To Regulate the Sales of Poisons.
Senator Gallinger introduced in the Sen
ate today a bill to regulate the sale of
poisons in the District of Columbia. 1t is
the same bill introduced recently in the
House. Accompanying the bill was a re-
the District the extent of the opium
habit in the District. By request of DIR. S.
c. Busey, president of the society, Senator
Gallinger asked that the report be printed
and considered in connection with the bill.
Government Employer Association.
The bill introduced in the House January
ii by Representative Walker of Virginia
for the Incorporation of an association for
the mutual protection and benefit of gov
ernment employees. heretofore mentioned in
The Star, was introduced in the Senate to-
day by Senator Mcmillan.
A Morse Bill Hearing.
There was a large gathering of ladies
and gentlemen this afternoon in the room
of the Senate committee on the District
| of Columbia The subcommittee, which
| has charge of the Morse liquor bill, had
given notice that it would have a hearing
at o'clock to all persons Interested for
or against the measure.
Among those present in advocacy of the
| bill We're President j. l.. Ewin and about
a dozen representatives of the Anti-Saloon
| League of the District of Columbia. includ-
| ing A. E. Shoemaker. attorney for the
| league, and Mrs. Margaret b. Platt of the
W. c. T. L. DR.. Mary Walker WAS con-
| spicIous figure in the committee room.
In opposition to the bill there were pres
ont Messrs. Eutterwor:h and Hazelton. at
tOrneys for the saloon men. and Hessrs.
Davidson.
Senator Proctor. chairman of the sub
committee. stated that each side appearing,
| for and against the bill would be allowed
one hour in which to present their argu-
nlentS.
President Ewin opened the hearing by
defining the objects of the bl He spoke
Of boys getting beer on Sunday from brew
cries and becoming drunk.
Senator Faulkner inquired whether Mr.
Ewin knew this to be fact. and the
latter replied that he did not of his own
knowledge. but said that it was a matter
of common report and newspaper talk A.
N Garfield spoke up and said he had seen
the things referred to by Mr.. Ewin.
L have SEEM, said Mr.. Garfield, boys
get kegs of beer from breweries and go
into an alley and get drunk
A. E. Shoemaker, Mrs. Platt and Andrew
Wilson presented arguments in behalf Of
advocates Of the bill
Representatives of the saloonkeepers then
followed, and were given an hour in which
to present their arguments