The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-13
ACTION ON DISTRICT BILLS
The House Considers Several Mat
ters of Local Interest.
Chairman Babcock. Cleans the Cal
endnr of All Measures Reported by
i.aI Traction Compnny's Extension
Mr.. Bcrry's Thrce-Cent Fare Bill.

Yesterday was District day in the House
and Chairman Babcock. of the District
Committee, was successful in clearing the
calendar of all the measures reported by
the committee. Only one bill provoked any
debate, and that was the one authorizing
and requiring the Capital Traction Com
pany to extend its tracks west of the State,
War, and Navy building.
The House having disposed of the un-
finished business, Mr.. Babcock was recos-
nized and he called up the resolution in
troduced by Mr.. Levy of New York direct
ing the Secretary OF War to furnish the
House with all the information and corre-
spondenco possessed by the Department
relating to the Long Bridge. The resolu-
tion was agreed to.
The bill requiring the Capital Traction
Company to extend its tracks in Southeast
Washington was called up and passed. The
bill requires the company to extend its
tracks, beginning at the main tracks at
the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue
and Eighth Street southeast, along Penn
sylvania Avenue with double tracks to Fiji
teenth Street east; thence by single track
south in Fifteenth Street to X Street south,
east in X Street, north to Pennsylvania
Avenue, and westerly in Pennsylvania Ave-
nue. to Fifteenth Street east.
In reply to question from Mr.. Hepburn
of Iowa, Mr.. Babcock said the company had
not asked for the extension, but that it
was demanded by the citizens.
The next bill called up provided for an
extension of the Capital Traction Com
panys tracks west OF the State, War,
and Navy building. The bill provides that
the Capital Traction Company be required
| to construct the necessary tracks and
| make connections, beginning at the inter-
section of Seventeenth Street and Pennsyl
| vania Avenue northwest, south on Seven
teenth by double tracks to G Street,
thence west on G Street by single track
TO Twenty-fifth Street, north on Twenty
fiftt Street by single track to Pennsyl-
vania Avenue. Also beginning with the
tracks at Seventeenth and G Streets, south
on Seventeenth Street by single track to
+ Street, west on + Street by single
track to Twenty-siXth Street and north
on Twenty sixth Street by single track to
Pennsylvania Avenue. The company Is re-
quired to complete the extension and have
the cars operating In one year. Quite a
lively debate followed the reading OF the
bill.
NJ Babcock said this was the same bill
passed by the House last Congress.
Mr.. Berry took occasion TO make few
remarks on the subject of three-cent car
fare. He hoped the chairman would not
press any railroad bill until something had
been done to secure three-cent fare.
Mr.. Babcock said the District Commit
tee was not pressing any railroad legisla-
tion. The measures now before the House
were important and authorized certain i'm
proyements which had been demanded by
the people.
Mr.. Berry wanted the railroad franchises
put up and sold to the highest bidder.
Then three-cent fare would come. Nothing
was so much sought. he said, as street
railroad franchises.
NJ. Cannon said the street railroads
werc monopoly. and should be amenable
to legislation. He wanted a universal
transfer. II was better. he said. that there
be but one company instead of a dozen.
And he believed the time would soon come
when there would be a universal transfer
Mr. Berry contended that Congress had
the power to compel the street railroads
gress should exercise that power.
Mr.. Cannon said he would reduce the
fare whenever it could be done. He hoped
the time would come when the two COM
panies would be consolidated.
Mr.. Sims OF Tennessee said the bill
under consideration was a populistic bill,
inasmuch as it required the railroad to do
something for the people.
After some further discussion the bill
was passed.
Mr. Babcock called up the House joint
resolution to amend the act TO extend
Rhole Island Avenue. 1t was passed with
cut debate.
The next measure passed was a bill to
amend the charter and change the name OF
the Potomac Insurance Company o,
Georgetown.
The bill to amend the charter of the
East Washington Heights Traction Rail-
road Company was next called up After q
brief explanation by Mr.. Mudd of Maryland |
the bill was passed.
The next bill called up provided for the |
extension Of Columbia Road east OF Thir- |
teenth Street. The report on the bill says |
in part:
This is a bill for the extension of |
Columbia Road east o. Thirteenth Street |
northeast, through block %, to connect |
with the western terminus of Steuben |
Street.
Columbia Road is at present the only |
thoroughfare between Washington Heights |
and Columbia Heights, and is the only east |
and west street north of Clifton which does |
not run through to Sherman Avenue.
THE amount OF land TO b. acquired is |
II ESQ square feet, which 1t Is estimated |
will cost so cents per square foot, or only |
S24. 500"
The bill was passed.
bill 10 relieve Joseph Bacigaluppi from !
the operations of alien ownership act was
passed; also a bill to quit claim the title Of |
lot 10, square 10ii, to John II. Garese.
THE MEXICAN FREE ZONE.