Evening star., 1898-05-09
Bills of Local Interest Passed by the
House.
TIE HIGHWAY REPEAL ACT
Measure Extending the Supreme
Courts jurisdiction.
OTHER MINOR MATTERS

This was District day in the House, and
after the Dewey resolution and bill had
been acted upon Chairman Babcock OBJ
tained the floor. He called up House bill
$685.
This bill provides that the Commission
ers of the District of Columbia be author
lied and directed to abandon the alley
abutting the south SO feet, by a width of
333 feet of sublot Sc, and the west 1880
feet by width Of 35 feet of sublot S5
square 465, the land to revert to the pres
ent owner of lots s. and &c. Charles Scha-
fer, provided he pays an amount equal to
the sum that would have been assessed
against the land embraced within the area
of the alley from the time it was laid out
to the time it is eXtinguished.
The bill was passed without debate.
For the Relief of Anna MerkeI.
Mr. Babcock called up House bill 1856
This bill provides that the Commissioners
of the District of Columbia be authorized
and directed to refund and repay to Anna
Merkel, or her legal representatives. the
sum of SI1.2I, being the residue of interest
and penalties upon arrearageS of general
taxes paid by her on lot 300, in square 131,
for the fiscal years 1892, 1893 and 1894.
Representative jenkins explained that
these lots had been unlawfully assessed and
penalties and interest attached. The taxes
had been refunded, but action of Congress
was required to refund the penalties and
interest
The bill was passed.
Supreme Court Jurisdictfon.
Mr.. Babcock then called up the commit
tees substitute for Senate bill 1910, to
amend the law relating to the jurisdiction
Of the District Supreme Court in orphans
cases. A further object of the bill is to
give to the Supreme Court of the District
Of Columbia holding a special term for or
phans' court business plenary jurisdiction
for the administration of both the personal
and real estate of the decedent
The bill was passed. 1t is a measure of
six printed pages.
To Repeal the Highway Act.
Mr.. Babeock then called up the bill to
repeal the highway act. The bill provides
as follows:
THAT the act of Congress approved
March =, 1893, entitled An act to pro-
vide permanent system of highways in
that part of the District of Columbia lying
outside of cities be- and the same is here
by, repealed, and all proceedings thereun-
der are hereby declared null and void, and
the owners of land affected by such pro-
ceediDgs whether by the laying out or the
extension of streets or by the proposed
abandonment of old streets. shall have
hereafter the same free use and enjoyment
of their land though such proceedings
had never been instituted; provided, how
ever, that no subdivision in said outside or
-unsubdivided part of the District of Co.
lumbia shall hereafter be permitted of pub
lie record unless approved by the Commits
sioners of said District as being in substan-
tial conformity to the general plan of the
city of Washington, and no street or high
way in the aforesaid outside part of said
District shall hereafter be extended or i'm
proved in any respect whatsoever at the
public expense by grading, paving, light
ing. sewering or otherwise, where such
street or highway does not substantially
conform to said plan of the city of Wash
ington.'
The bill was amended so as to provide
that nothing shall prevent the regulation
or Improvement Of any street established
prior to the year 1885, and upon which
public money was expended prior to that
year.
The highway repeal bill was passed.
Mr.. Babcock then yielded the floor to
Chairman Hull of the military committee
to call up a war Dill, the House agreeing
that Mr. Babcock may call up District bills
tomorrow.