Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-29
Bills Introduced in Both Houses of
Congress.
THOSE RELATING TO DISTRICT AFFAIRS
Protest Against the Proposed Mu-
nicipaI Courts.
THE OLD LAND RECORDS

Justice Of the peace in the District of Co.
lumbia. and to establish five judges of mu.
nicipal courts instead. The Commissioners
have reported to the committee that the
bill is now under consideration by the Bar
Association of the District, and they have
withheld their report pending that examina.
ton.
In the meantime lengthy and emphatic
protest against the bill has come from the
Business Mems Association, through its
secretary. Mr.. Barry Bulkley.
To VestibuIe Street Cars.
The House District committee is receiving
communications from citizens favoring the
passage Of the bill requiring street cars to
be vestibuled. DR.. Ella NJ. s. Marble, writ
Ing today, says:
Il have talked with many conductors, and
FOUND them very earnest in their wish for
protection from severe weather, though
they begged not to be mentioned in connec-
ton with this matter. / have lived where
cars were vestibuled, and never knew any
thing but good to result therefrom.
They are needed more in this mild cli-
mate than in uniformly cold climates for
our men are neither hardened by exposure
or dressed to meet the severe cold waves
which frequently sweep over us during the
winter months. l trust you will give your
influence to this humane object
Taxing the Gas Company.
The House District committee has re-
ceived a communication, signed NJ. ]. B.
Parcel and Catherwood James, as follows:
The undersigned citizens Of the District
Of Columbia have noted that the honorable
Commissioners Of the District are reported
to have adversely recommended H. R., 5O45,
sent to them for examination and report
The people anticipated such result. We
mad little expectation that the board of
Commissioners would side with the govern
ment and the people in this matter.
TT is evident, however that their answer.
begs the question. They have sedulously
abstained from calling attention to the fact
that other gas companies in other localities
not more favorably situated in respect to
the cost of gas-producing materials are fur
nishtng their product at the price. and less
than the price. proposed in H. r. 5045.
The city of Cincinnati is q community
which is now enjoying gas at this price,
under a twenty-five years contract with
its gas company. The honorable Commits
sioners are also silent about the enormous
pronts OF the gas company in the past
Why should this half century of extortion
be Ignored by the Commissioners or by
Congress? 1t IS most pregnant fact, and
ought to receive the fullest consideration
The bill in question requires the gas COM
pany to pay to the city one-half it's profits
on its paid-up capital stock.
Old Land Records.
Tho old land records of the city of Wash
fnston are now divided, portion being in
the custody Of the city surveyor and a por-
ton in the office of the chief of engineers,
United States amy There is now in pro-
gress a struggle on the part of each of
these officials to secure possession of all
these records. bill has been introduced
in Congress asking that all these records
be placed in the office of the superintendent
or public buildings and grounds, and today
Mr.. Mcmillan introduced in the Senate a
bill providing for the keeping of them by
the city surveyor. The bill provides that
the chief Of engineers Of the United States
army transfer to the office of the city sur
Veyor "all records, plats, maps, surveys,
books, agreements, papers and other data"
now in his office relating to the lands.
streets, squares and lots in the city of
Washington, d. c.. and to the division of
said lands, squares and lots between the
United States and the original proprietors
of the lands in said city,
The bill further provides that the city
surveyor shall make certified copies of
these records for the use of the public as
soon as possible
Accompanying this bill is a petition to
the District committee, signed by Judson It.
Gun, president of the Lawyers Title and
Guaranty Insurance Company: w. E. Ed
mcnston, president Of the Columbia Title
Insurance Company: Thomas P. Wood
ward, presid=nt of the Washington Title
Insurance Company; NJ. Ashford, president
Of the Real Estate Title Insurance Com
pany, and w. ]. Newton, president of the
District Title Insurance Company, praying
that the bill for the transfer Of these
records to the office of the chief of engi-
neers be reported unfavorably, and that the
Dill having them placed in the custody OF
the city surveyor be enacted into law. The
petition states that these records are not
records OF the United States exclusively,
but of every one owning land or dealing
Herewith In the city of Washington and
that those in the hands Of the surveyor
have been in the keeping of that Office since
the act Of Congress SO placing them ap-
proved January Il. 1909. and are the neces-
sary data upon which all surveys are
founded, all titles are based and examined
and are in constant use by the courts.
Tha petitioners say that the transfer Of
these records TO the office of the chief Of
engineers would create the most serious
delay, inconvenience. uncertainty and injury
TO all the real estate interests of the CITY,
and would seriously interfere with the sur
Veyor in the performance of his duties with
examiners of titles in Investigations for
all sales, loans, and other real estate trans
actions, and with the bar and courts In the
trial of cases involving the titles to real
estate in this city.
The petitioners soy the act of january 12,
1909 providing that these records be kent
In the office of the surveyor has never been
complied with, but is still in force and
that great personal inconvenience has re-
suited because those having to consult
these records in the office Of the chief of
engineers arc denied that privilege, al
though they are the public records of the
city. and the source of all titles in the
city. Information from that Office is hard
to secure, except after great delay and
trouble, and Is unsafe to act upon. They
say the office of the surveyor has lately
been made fireproof; that the records
there have always been kept safely and arr.
convenient for use to all those having oc-
casion to use them.
Extension of NJ Street.
A bill for the extension Of NJ street north
east was today introduced in the Senate by
Mr.. Hansbrough. 1t provides for the ex-
tension Of NJ street. with a width of ninety
feet. from the Bladensburg road eastwardly
to a point $50 feet west of the southwest
boundary of the Benning race course
grounds. thence northeast along a proposed
avenue Of the fourth section plans of per-
nlanent system of highways to o street
produced from addition to Kenilworth. /.
thence to the Anacostia road, provided ~
per cent Of the land Is dedicated without
cost to the District Of Columbia It pro-
vIdes for the payment Of damages by the
assessment of benefits.
To Pay Potomac Steamship Company.
From the committee on claims Mr. War.