Evening star., 1897-01-29
RAILROAD HEARIN G
Proposed East Washington Traction
Company Discussed.
ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST IT
Measures FavorabIy Acted on by
House and Senate Committees.
9TH E r LOCAL MATTERS S

The House District committee gave a
hearing today upon Senate bill 2S4O to in
corporate the East Washington Heights
Traction Company.
Mr.. William A. Meloy of the Washington
and Marlboro railroad appeared to oppose
the bill. He said he represented those par
ties who have been trying since 1890 to get
railroad to open up the land on the east
ern banks of the Anacostia river. A bill
was passed in the Fifty-third Congress
granting a charter, but with the Droviso
that the railroad company should build an
immense bridge across the river. This pro-
vision prevented the company from going
ahead with the railroad construction. If
an amendment could be added to the pend
Ing bill g. 2s4O granting Mr.. Meloys
company to use the bridge to be built by
the East Washington Heights company the
opposition to Senate bill 2S4O would be
withdrawn.
Mr. Meredith said he understood that this
assent of Mr.. Meloy ended all opposition
10 the bill. as he was Informed that the
East Washington company would not OBJ
ject to the joint use of the bridge.
Mr.. Blair said that Mr.. Meloys charter
provided for crossing the river at 18th
street southeast, while the other companys
nue. southeast.
Mr.. Meloy said that proposition might
be acceptable which would enable the two
roads to enter the city ever the same
routes after crossing the bridge. His road
would then come up 18th street.
Mr.. H. B. Clark said that If Mr.. Meloy's
read comes across the proposed bridge he
will have to have his charter amended
When that should be done the provision
would be added that his road should have
the right to use the tracks of other corr
panies where the routes coincide.
In the course of the hearing it was
shown that Mr.. Meloy's company had fail
ed to comply with provision of his char
ter requiring the deposit of $1,000 with the
District government within sixty days
from the passage of the act a guaran-
tee of good faith in beginning the road.
That did not forfeit the charter. however
and If the Objectionable requirement as to
a drawbridge should be removed the $1,000
would be deposited within thirty days.
Mr. Blair in behalf Of the East Wash
ington Heights Traction Company. said
he had no objection to authorizing the
other company to use his bridge and tracks
in the city, but he did not want his bill
amended to change MIR. Meloy's charter.
Whatever amendments Mr.. Meloy needed
should be made in his own charter.
The outcome of the hearing was that the
opposing factions agreed to come together
upon the suggestions made for joint use
of the bridge and the tracks within the
city.
Morse Liquor Bill Amendments.
The Senate committee on the District of
Columbia today took final action on the
Morse liquor bill, which has passed the
House Of Representatives. The Star has
published the list of changes in existing
law made in this bill, as approved by the
subcommittee having it in charge, and the
bill in that form was adopted by the COM
mittee with but two changes. One of these
o1a
brewer or distiler thereof shall be made
only to a person licensed under the proVi-
sions of this act ''or for shipment OUTSIDE
Of the District Of Columbia" The COM
mittee takes the ground that II has nothing
to do with the regulation of the sale OF
liquor shipped outside of the Dlstrlct. An
other amendment made by the run com
mittee is in the provision that the IN
terror of every bar room shall at all times
be exposed to full view from the street ex-
cept in the case Of a hotel or OF ciup pe-
ing duly licensed under the provisions OF
this act" The amendment to this provi-
sion makes 1t read except in the case OF
hotel "having only an interior bar room.
The bill, as approved by the district COM
mittee today will be reported to the senate
by Mr.. Gallinger, and it is quite likely that
ii will be passed with little or no opposi-
ton. 1t is possible that an EFFORT Will be
made 70 place hotels and clubs on exactly
the same footing with a par room, o,,s
It is understood that the bill, in the form
II has been approved. will be acceptance TO
the House of Representatives, and lts pas
sage by Congress Is regarded as assured.
Health Conditions Of the City.
The Senate committee on the District OF
Columbia proposes to have thorough In
vestieation into the health conditions OF
this city in line with provisions OF oills on
this subject which have passed the HOUSE
of Representatives. Three bills nave pass
ed the House and are now before the sen
ate committee. They are for the resula-
ton Of cemeteries and the disposal OF y oean e.n
bodies in the District Of Columbia, TO
regulate privies in the District OF CO.
iumbia," Ito prevent fhe spread Of con-
tagious diseases in the District OF Co
lumbia.''
Senator GalMnger, and upon the request OF
the latter, Senators Faulkner ana Bacon
were named as members OF q suDcommt-
tee. with Mr.. Gallinger as CHAIRMAN, ana
thorough investigation will be shortly en-
tered into Mr.. Gallinger proposes to have
hearings on the questions involved IN these
bills and will shortly give notice OF the
day on which they will occur.
Senate Committees Action.
The Senate committee on the District of
Columbia held meeting today. There
were present Messrs. Mcmillan, chairman;
Gallinger, Proctor. Wetmore. Faulkner. Glib
son and Smith, with Mr.. Charles Moore as
clerk.
The committee approved Senate bill
providing that the board Of managers OF
Graceland cemetery be allowed to mortgage
that property In order to carry on it's
work Of removing bodies from 1t. The
board of managers of the cemetery In
prosecuting their work found that they
did not have the legal power to mortgage
the cemetery property. They have found
that they cannot sell portions OF this land
to advantage and the only way open to
them to secure funds to remove the bodies
from the land is by mortgaging.
Some time ago Mr.. Mcmillan introduced
into the Senate resolution Ito establish
a commission to investigate the sources
of contamination of the Potomac river and
report what legislation is necessary to re-
move and prevent such pollution. This
resolution came UP in the committee to-
day for consideration, and the committee
instructed 1t be laid aside that a reso-
luton to be presented to the Senate by
Mr. Col m o,p1Hte