The times., 1898-06-23
DISTRICT DAY IN THE HOUSE
Mr. Clark Was Among the Many
AbSentees.
LOCAL BILLS CONSIDERED
Capital Railway Authorized to
Change Its Nnme-A Long and
WOrdy Fight over the Extension
of Eleventh Street Results in u
Compromise - District Taxation
Methods Criticfsed.

In pursuance of an order made Monday.
al the request of Chairman Babcock, the
House yesterday devoted its attention,
after 1 o'clock p. m, to District business.
Mr. Clark of Missouri, who had threat
ened to put stop to ali further legisla-
ton for the District unless a quorum was
kept present, apparently reconsidered, as
he was among the many absentees.
The first bill called up provided That
the Capital Railway Company is hereby
authorized to change the name of its
company to the Washington City Railway
Company; provided that such change OF
name shall not in any way affect the
existing obligations of said railway COM
pany.''
The bill was passed without debate.
The Senate bill authorizing the Wash
inGton, Woodside and Forest Glen Rail
way and Power Company of Montgomery
County. Maryland, 20 run its cars over
the tracks of the Brightwood Railway
Company, and to use the power of that
company for propelling its cars, was
passed.
The bill provides that in case the .wo
companies are unable TO agree upon terms
and condi. icns then the question shall
be settled BY the Supreme Court of the
District
The next bill taken up was the House
bill for the extension of Eleventh Street
northwest.
1t directs the District Commissioners to
extend and open Eleventh Street north
west on a straight line extension of the
. lines thereof with a width OF ninety
feet. from Florida Avenue TO Harvard
Street, and thence with the same width
and in a straight line to Lydecker Ave
rue. joining said avenue with its center
line opposite the center line Of Eslin Ave-
nue.; also to fix and establish the grades
within sixty days from the approval Of
the act
The usual court proceedings for the
condemnation of the land and the assess
ment for damages are provided for.
On motion of Mr.. Babcock the House
went into Committee of the Whole. as
some OF the members insisted upon dis
cussing the bill.
Mr.. Babcock stated that the bill was
one Of the most important yet reported
by the District Committee; that it pro-
posed 10 fix a policy for the extension
of streets. He referred to the passage of
the highway act and saiG IT had been so
dimcult to execute that law that Con-
gress had been called upon to repeal it
that no street was opened as the law re-
quired and hence the act was repealed
The question was what would Con-
gress do with these irregular subdivi-
sions. He said no part OF the city was
more in need of such improvement as all
that section of the northwest shut off
from the territory lying beyond. The ex-
pense would be $4,000. At present no
expensive improvements lie in the path
Of the proposed extension. He had not
heard single objection TO the PROPOSE
ton from any resident of the District:
The Improvement is universally an
proved. The entire cost is 70 be paid by
the District and there was not sufficient
money on hand TO pay It. If the improve
ment be left 10 the future, said Mr.. Bah
cock, property would increase in value
and the cost would be greatly enhanced
Mr.. Dockery suggested that no reason
had yet been given for the improvement
He wanted TO know who owned the prop
erty and he wanted detailed information
on every point
Mr.. Mudd offered an amendment pro-
posing TO include in the extension Penn
sylvania Avenue extended east from the
east side of the Anacostia River to the
District line. so that that extension might
be also authorized.
Mr. Mudd said if the street extensions
were to go on he wanted all the city in
cluded. He was opposed to eXtravagant
appropriations for improvements on the
luXurlous northwestern portion of the city
while the eastern and southern sections
received no attention at all. He was in
favor of extensions but he intended to
insist that the eastern part of the Dis
trict should be included. Mr.. Mudd add
ed that his amendment would benefit a
populous part of the District and one that
ought to be improved.
Mr. King asked if anybody had request
ed the Improvement proposed.
Mr. Mudd replied that the need of the
Improvement was so obvious that il d'd
not require petitions. The people of the
eastern part of the District had been neg
lected so long that they despaired of get
ting recognition. He said that an expendi-
ture of 5000 or $4,000 would cover the
cost of the proposed improvement.
Mr.. Mudd said that If Eleventh Street
were to be opened he proposed to have
Pennsylvania Avenue east opened also
Mr.. Dockery said the amendment was
obviously out of order, because it was not
in keeping with the policy of the bill
Mr. Mudd-.'I want to change that pol
icy"
Mr.. King said he sympathized with Mr.
Mudd. II was an undeniable fact that
one portion OF this city had been favored
over all the others. He charged the re-
sponsibility upon the Appropriations Com
mittee. He thought the eastern part of
the District had been neglected and it
ought TO receive prompt attention but he
wanted Eleventh Street opened and OBJ
jected TO having it handicapped with the
Mudd amendment.
IL Mr.. Mudd would introduce a separate
bill embodying his amendment, ne (Mr.
King1 would SuDDort if
Mr. DOckery asked for the names of
the citizens interested in this improve
ment He feared that real estate agents
and spectators were back of 1t.
Mr.. Babcock denied that He said Mr..
Dockery could take the city directory
and read the name of every person re-
siding in the northwest section of the city
as desiring the Improvement.
Mr.. Dockery opposed the bill. He said
the bill made an indefinite appropriation
If the Improvement costs $50. 900 it will alb
sorb every dollar of the surplus of the
District. The District has he said, about
$l.0OO.000 surplus. OF that the amount of
$4,000 would be required to extend the
Lydecker tunnel, and S23 900 to pay for the
land condemned to reach the Connecticut
Avenue bridge over Rock Creek Mr..
Dockery said expenditures under the pres
sure OF local interests are constantly in
creasing and here was a bill that would
wipe out every dollar of the District sur
plus.
Mr.. Babcock replied that there were
millions of dollars worth of property in
the District escaping taxation because
the District does not need the money
Let the expenditures be authorized and
more money would be received from taxa
ton.
Mr.. Dockery retorted that that was an
assertion that the District authorities are
derelict in collecting taxes He added