Evening star., 1900-06-06
LocALIR!LLSP6SsED
Congressional Action Taken on Dis
trict Measures.
MANY WENT THROUGH One HODSE
Affirmative Action Expected Next
Session.
ON COMMITTEE CALENDAR

Congress, during the session that has just
| closed, has provided for many improve
ments in the District of Columbia, and on
the whole. has enacted legislation that
cannot fail 10 receive the approval of the
friends of the District. In both Senate
and House of Representatives there has
been a very lively interest in the welfare
OF the District Many municipal needs
have been provided for and a number cf
enterprises have been begun which will
result in very widespread benefit to the
capital.
| Senators Mcmillan and Allison. Represen-
tatives Babcock, Cannon and Grout and
scores of others have expended much la
Dor in order that local needs might be
properly cared for. ard generally there has
been evidenced an appreciation of the
necessity for providing for the capital city
in keeping with the nation it represents.
In addition to influence exercised by the
friends of the District in Congress leGisla-
ton promoted and often wisely di-
rected by the persistent work of the board
of trade
The larger part of the important local
legislation of the past session of Congress
is usual. contained in the District Of
Columbia appropriation bill. This hill APP
pr0priatcs $1.5IG.SG9.31 for the expenses of
the District and public improvements.
me SchOOl Re1Orm.
The legislation for the reorganization of
the public school system of the District
places the responsibility for the success of
the schools directly on Il board of educa-
ton and provides for an organization.
which, ii is generally believed will i'm
prove conditions. Not a small part of the
reform that was accomplished by the in
vestgation into the affairs of the schools
was the increase of the salaries of 4S
teachers from $500 to $425 per annum. max
ing the latter figure the lowest salary paid
to a teacher in the graded schools of the
| District.
The weakness of the former street extern
| sion law. as shown in the Court of Appeals,
| has been remedicd.
| Plans for Filtration.
Muddy water and an insufficient sewer
age system have long been disgrace to
the capital, but ii forward step has been
taken in order to dispose Of both of these
| troubles in the comparatively near future.
Plans for a filtration plant TO serve the
entire city with pure water for all pur-
poses have been prepared by the chief of
| engineers. and while Congress has not been
committed to any definite pt", an appro-
priation of S2oo,O1 has been made to lay
the foundation for either the American or
English system of filtration, the exact sys-
| TEN to be determined before additional
| money is to be asked for
For preparation of dcta-ed plans and
! specifications Tor - sewage DISPOSAL system
| complete. S2U.tSD was ;:ppTopria ted.
The appointment of a commission to sub
nit plans for the enlargement of the White
| House and for the treatment of that
| ton of the District south of Pennsylvania
| avenue and north of + street southwest
ard for a suitable connection between the
| Potomac and the Geological Parks was
| authorized. These plans will simply be ten
| tative. and Congress vii! decide just what
| improvements are desirable before any
money is appropriated to carry them out.
| The New City Hospital.
municipal hospital is also now assured
as sloO,0o was appropriated for The pur-
| chase of a site for that purpose within the
| District
For the first time a provision has been
made for the collection of ashes by the
| municipality we'll as garbage.
| An appropriation of 5000 was made to
enable the Commissioners to provide trans
portation and a suitable place of detention
| for children under sixteen years of age and
of girls and women over sixteen years of
age who are arrested by the police or are
| held witnesses pending examination
This reform was brought about because of
demoralizing conditions under which women
and children kept when arrested
| charged with some minor offenSe, or when
| held for examination.
Another innovation in the making of an
| propriatons in the District is a provision
| of $1,000 for the instruction and employ
| ment of the blind who actually resi-
| dents of the District. This worthy enter
prise contempates making the blind self
| supporting instead Of forcing them through
lack of opportunity to become mendicants.
The District National Guard.
The District militia will be in far better
condition than in its history as a re-
suit of legislation during the past session
of Congress. Provision has been made for
the employment of a retired army officer
as adjutant general, and $1,000 has been
| appropriated for the pay of troops other
than government employees when called out
| on duty.
The city will also gain considerably in
| creased facilities in its street car service,
| as the Metropolitan Railway Company s
| authorized to extend its line old 18th
| street, and the Capital Traction Company
| is authorized to construct an extension west
| of 18th street and south of Pennsylvania
| avenue. In a short time there will be but
| two railroad companies in the District as
a consolidation bill allows all roads other
than the Capital Traction Company to form
a single company.
Street sweeping by hand having been
proved to be success Congress made a
provision extending the amount of hand
work during the next fiscal year.
Bridge Over Rock Creek.
For continuing the construction of a
| bridge across Rock creek on the line of
Massachusetts, avenue extended. $4,000,
$4,000 was appropriated, and for bridge
across Rock creek the line of the road
way from Quarry entrance. $4,000 was ap
! propriated. For continuing the improve
ment of the Geological Park there is an al
lowance of $75.OO.
| Provision is made to increase the number
of beneficaries of the Columbia Institution
for the Deaf and Dumb from sixty to one
hundred
The sum of s24.GO0 is appropriated for
completing the isolating hospital connected
with Garfield Memorial Hospital
New Engraving Bureau Buildings.
Two large buildings are provided in con-
| nection with the bureau of engraving and
| printing. One is to cost 100000 and to face
B street. in the grounds of the bureau. and
| the other outbuiIdings to cost $1l5.O0O.
! While this legislation has been accom-
| plished much may be expected of the next
| session of Congress. for the reason that
| great many bills have passed either the
| Senate or House, and now await only the
| action of a single body.
Passed by One Body.
| The bill to incorporate the Washington