The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-20


answer to a courteous question -
Mr.. Pearre-If the language Of the
gentleman from Illinois represents his no.
tons Of courtesy then l cannct commend
it TO the House.
Mr.. Mann said he had known nothing
of the bill until he had learned of il
through the public press. Il then saw that
it locked like the bccdle bills l have seen
in Chicago"
Does this look to you like Doodle
biIl?"
1T does"
Then presume it was that which at
tracted your attention.
The Chairman called the disputants to
order and announced that the time of
the gentleman from Illinois had expired.
Mr. Cowherd took the floor in defence
of the bill. He said the committee had
undertaken to bring in a fair bill and one
to which there could be no reasonable OBJ
lection. He said that all the objections
so far made were general except in one
instance. which he would meet with the
necessary amendment. He spoke of the
bond of s100. 900 which the new company
is to furnish, and which it viii forfeit
to the United States il it sells out to the
old company or fails to carry out any of
the provisions of the bill. With the gen
tleman from Iowa (Mr. Hepburn. he
doubted the law of Justice Barnard's de-
cision. but il must stand until reversed
by some higher court for a retrial. Years
would be consumed in this, while the peo-
pie of the District Of Columbia were pay
ing 5000, 900 for a service which another
company was willing to go under sond
to furnish for one-half that amount. He
believed that telephone rates in the Dis
trict were 100 per cent too high.
Mr.. Mudd of Maryland spoke in behalf
thaf ffa
present telephone rates were too high.
and he was also convinced that good
service could be furnished to telephone
subscribers at the rates named in the
bilL
In the course of his remarks Mr. Mudd
said that it should be observed that the
Commissioners OF the District have the
right to prescribe the conditions and reg
ulstions under which all conduits pro-
vided in the bill may be laid, and that
the same shall be planned and construct
ed so as to form part of the general
subway system which the Commissioners
are authorized to prepare. The incorpo-
rators are prohibited from selling its
charter or franchise under penalty OF for
feiture. The company, when organized, is
restricted in the sale of its property and
franchises by provision of the act sub
jecting the purchasers to all its restric-
tions and liabilities, and by the imposi-
tion upon their other properties of all the
restrictions, liabilities. and penalties OF
this act.
Mr.. Babcock then offered as an amend
ment a. provision in express terms that
the rate of $50 should be charged for
single wire phones. used in residences.
He demanded the previous question, and
the committee amendments, including that
offered by Mr.. Babeock. were carried.
Mr. Moody of Massachusetts moved to
recommit for amendment that all the capi-
tai stock should be paid up. This was
also defeated.
The bill wss then passed without a roll
call.
The Douglass Memorial.
Mr.. Babcock called up the bill incor-
porating the Frederick Douglass Memorial
Association, which was passed.
There was then passed the bill amending
an act entitled An act in relation to
taxes and tax sales in the District of Co
lumbia." This bill amends section 4 OF
the act of February 2s. 1898, and, as
amended, the section reads:
Sec. 4 That the owner or authorized
agent of the owner of any property sold
as aforesaid. or any other person having
an interest therein at the time of sale.
may redeem the same from such sale at
day of sale by paying to the Collector of
Taxes, for the use of the purchaser. his
heirs and assigns, the sum mentioned in
the certificate of sale therefor, with in
terest thereon at the rate of Is per centum
pc rannum after the date OF such certifi-
cate of sale"
This bill was prepared by the Commits
sicners Of the District of Columbia and
at their request in the House.
1ata frgfa
in the District of Columbia" was ! ext
taken up, but, after some discussion, was
without -detriment to its posi-
tion on the calendar. The bill creates a
department OF insurance under the direc-
tion of the Assessor, who Is eX-officio
superintendent of insurance. who by the
terms OF the bill is allowed one insurance
clerk, who shall be an expert on insur-
ance, and shall devote all OF his time and
energies TO the insurance business.
The bill authorizing the formation Of
guaranty companies in the District Of CO.
lumbia was taken up and passed. This bill |
provides that any company now author |
lied or which may hereafter be author |
lied by act of Congress TO do an insurance |
business in the District OF Columbia. hav- |
ing a paid-up capital OF not less than |
$3.50. .000, may engage in security, guar. |
anty and indemnity business; and where |
upon any obligation which said company |
is authorized to ensure it may act as sole |
surety thereon and may be accepted by |
the court or other officer or person author |
lied to approve the guficiency of any !
bond or undertaking"
Wesley Heights Railway.
The House then considered and passed |
House bill 1902 to incorporate the Wesley
Heights Railway Company of the District |
Of Columbia The inoorporators are NJ C. !
Butler. John T. Arms, Thomas E. Wagga-
man, Henry d. Fry, and John f. Wagga- |
man, of Washington.
The company is authorized to construct |
and operate a street railway along the fol- |
lowing named route: Beginning on Pros |
pect Avenue at the Union Passenger Sta |
ton of the Capital Traction Company; !
thence westerly along Prospect Avenue and |
Prospect Avenue extended TO a point near |
the east side Of Arizona Avenue, or for said |
distance or any portion thereof on a route |
coinciding with the route OF the Washing
ton and Great Falls Electric Railway; |
thence on property TO be acquired by said |
company to Arizona Avenue; thence north
eriy along Arizona Avenue to a projected |
avenue running northwest through the in
tersection of Forty-ffth and Galveston
Streets; thence along said projected avenue
10 Forty-flfth Street; thence north on For
" fifth Street 10 Lowell Street; thence west
on Lowell Street to and into an extension
1f the aforesaid projected avenue; thence
northwest on said projected avenue to a
point where Forty ninth Street. when ex-
ended will intersect said avenue; thence
forth on Forty-ninth Street to the District
inc: Provided, That where this route lies
between the lines Of proposed highway
he company shall acquire right of way,