Evening star., 1898-06-22
A DIS TRICT DAY
House Passes Bills of Interest to
Suburban Railroads.
OPENING OF ELEVENTH STREET
Chairman Babcock Reviews the
Subject of Street Extension.
OTHER MATTERS OF INTEREST

sideration of District bills in the House. 1t
was nearly o'clock before the preliminary
morning business was completed and
Chairman Babcock obtained the floor.
Mr.. Babcock called up House bill 10667,
providing that the Capital Railway Com
papy be authorized to change the name of
the company to the Washington City Rail-
way Company, provided that such change
of name shall not In any way affect the
existing obligations of the railway COM
pany.
The bill was passed without debate.
Can Run Over BrightwOOd Tracks.
Senate bill 2916 was then called up. This
bill provides that the Washington, Wood
side and Forest Glen Railway and Power
Company of Montgomery county, Nd, shall
have the right to run its vehicles over the
tracks of the Brightwood Railway Com
pany and to use the power of that company
for propeling its cars, to furnish power
to that company for that purpose, upon
such terms and conditions may be mu-
tualiy agreed upon or settled by the court.
The companies are each severally
thoriZed to enter into any agreement with
each other as may be necessary to insure
continuity of traffic over the tracks of
the companies and under the management
OF either, provided that nothing contained
herein shall operate 10 relieve the Bright
wood Railway Company of any of it's char
ter obligations, limitations, requirements
and restrictions, all of which shall remain
IN Iull force and effect, and shall be binding
IN all respects upon any company operating
cars upon the route of the Briphtwood
Railway Company. Congress reserves the
rlght 10 amend or repeal this act
The bill was passed without debate
Extension of Eleventh Street.
Mr.. Babcock then presented House bill
lo4I4. for the extension of 11tn street north
west. The bill provides that the Commits
sioners of the District be authorized and
directed to extend and open 18th street
northwest on a straight extension of the
lines thereof, as now established in the
city of Washington, with width of ninety
feeE, from Florida avenue to Harvard
street, and thence with the same width
ano in straight line to Lydecker avenue
Joining said avenue with its center line
opposite the center line of Eslin avenue
anu TO fix and establish the grades of the
extension herein provided for within sixty
DAYS from the date of the approval of this
act
Regulations are provided for the method
VI concentration payment of the award
70 be maLe out of the revenues of the
District TIE Commissioners shall cause
lith street northwest, as extended under
The provisions of this act, to be at once
graded and the roadway thereof at once
paved and proper sewers constructed and
the cost thereof shall be paid by the treas
urer OF the United States. ex offco COM
missioner of the sinking fund of the Dis
trict of Columbia, cut of the revenues of
the District of Columbia, upon the war
rant of the Commissioners
Importance of the Measure.
Mr. Babcock said this bill was of great
Importance, in that it would mark the
policy which Congress proposes to pursue
toward street extension. Since the high
way act has been repealed the question
arises what will Congress do about extend
ing streets beyond Boundary street He
sad the estimated cost of this proposed eX-
tension will be about $4,000 for half
mile of street, 80 feet wide The bill pro-
Vides that the entire cost shall be paid out
OF the revenues of the District of Columbia
A Plea for the Eastern Section.
Mr.. Mudd read an amendment, which he
proposed to offer later. providing for the
extension of Pennsylvania avenue east of
the Eastern branch, to the District line. He
said the Improvement was needed very
much, and he thought the eastern portion
of the city should receive some attention.
Mr.. King of Utah said he sympathized
with Mr.. Mudd III his appeal for greater
consideration for the eastern section. How
ever, that was not argument against
the pending bill. There was a disposition in
the District committee TO treat all sections
fairly, and If Mr. Mudd should introduce
bill! for the extension of Pennsylvania
avenue 1t would receive attention.
MIR. DOckery Opposes the Bill.
Mr. Dockery asked the names of the per-
sons urging the 11th street extension
Mr.. Babcock said the people of that sec
ton of the city, without exception, desire
the improvement 1t is not urged by spec
ulators.
Mr.. Dockery said he was opposed to the
bill. In the first place, the bill makes an in
definite appropriation, which is against the
policy of Congress and good business prin-
ciples. Furthermore the $4,000 required
to meet the cost of condemnation would alb
sorp practically the entire surplus of the
District revenues. Mr.. Dockery said that if
a new policy of street extension is to pe in
ausurated it should be in fairness to all
sections of the city, SO that the taxpayers
Will have no just cause of complaint.
He predicted that the passage of this bill
and the absorption Of the District revenues
would interfere with the improved water
service of the District.
Appropriation Clause Withdrawn,
Mr.. Babcock said the awards will not be
made for two or three years, and in the
meantime the surplus will grow. Now is
the time to open this street Within five
years it will cost million dollars to open
that street, because land is to increase in |
value.
IL
would not obstruct the passage of the bill |
If the appT pTopriating clause were stricken
out
Mr.. Dockery said he would not raise the |
point of no quorum IL this amendment was
made. The provision as to the appropria-
tion was thereupon withdrawn.
Mr.. Mudd's Amendment Ruled Ont.
Mr.. Mudd then offered his amendment |
for the extension of Pennsylvania avenue
eastwardly to the District line.
Mr.. Babcock raised the point of order
against the amendment that it was not |
germane to the subject matter of the bill. !
The point of order was sustained and Mr.. |
Mudds amendment ruled it.
Mr.. Mudd Filibusters.
Mr., Cannon suggested that the property |
affected by the proposed condemnation |
would be tied UP until an appropriation is |
made to pay the awards. He thought 1t |
might be wise to provide that unless the
appropriation should be made within six
months the proceedings shall fall
Mr. Mudd offered an amendment provid- |
Ing that the awards should be made upon |
the basis Of the organic act Of 1875 as eli