Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-02
LOCAL LEGISLATION
House District Committee to Hold
Its First. Meeting Thursday.
BILLS REFERRED TO COMMISSIONERS
Proposed Measure to Improve Tax
Department Methods.
CRAMPED FOR QUARTERS

The House committee on the District of
Columbia will hold it's first meeting of the
session next Thursday morning at IL
o'clock. Notices to this effect were sent
today by Mr.. Harry Barney. the clerk, by
Chairman Babcock's direction, to members
of the committee. The meeting will be de-
voted to organization and appointment of
subcommittee.
A number of local bills have been intro
duced in the House and referred by the
committee to the District Commissioners
for report, but thus far none has come
back with the Commissioners action. The
subcommittee will not act until the Com
missoners report.
Bills Before the Commissioners.
The following bills, introduced at this
session, now before the Commissioners:
H. r. 459 introduced by Mr.. Kleberg):
For the relief of Christian Dengler.
H. r. 97S (by Mr.. Gordon: For the ex-
tension of LIE Droit avenue and S street.
H. R. 1914 (by Mr.. Mudd): For the ex-
tension of Columbia road east of 18th
street.
H. r. 1045 (by Mr.. Mudd): Authorizing
the extension of Wyoming avenue.
H. r. 1916 (by Mr. Mudd): Authorizing
the extension of kalorama avenue.
II. r. lib (by Mr.. BelD: To restore med
ical freedom to the people of the District
H. K. 1114 (by Mr.. DalzelD: To change
the names of the numbered streets of
Washington
H. R. 25i4 Cby Mr.. Latimer): To abolish
the office of justice of the peace in the Dis
trict of Columbia.
H. R. 2545 (by Mr.. Latimer: For the ex-
tension of New Hampshire avenue
H. r. 273f (by MIR. Jenkins: To change
the name of the Potomac Insurance Com
pany Of Georgetown.
H; r. 215s tby Mr.. Lamb: For the relief
of the estate of William B. Todd, deceased
H. r. 21!S (by Mr.. Mudd): To incorporate
the Columbia Telephone Company
H. r. 2S26 (by Mr.. RichardsoD: Author
izing and recurring certain extensions of
the Capital Traction Companys line
H. R. 2.44 (by Mr.. Wachter): To permit
the Washington Telephone and Telegraph
Company to operate in the District of Co
lumbia.
H. r. 1896 tby Mr.. Jenkins: To redeem
certain outstanding certificates of the board
of audit.
H. r. 33i2 (by Mr.. Jenkins: To open
street through block 2o5 between 14th and
1!th streets northwest, concurrent with
Wallach place and Caroline street.
H. r. 3543 tby Mr.. Jenkins: To regulate
and fix the hours of service for policemen
and tiremen in the District of Columbia
II. r. 35l1 ihy Mr.. Ketcham): To inspect
and correct the accounts of certain en-
ployes of he District of Columbia.
II. r. 1897 (by Mr.. Pearre): To incorpo-
~
Historical Association. "a similar bill, H
r. 1902, by Mr. Allen of Mane)
II. r. 1917 (by Mr. Curtis: To provide for
education of the blind.
Improved Tax Department Methods.
Chairman Babcock has received from
the Commissioners the draft of a bill,
which he will introduce in the House to-
morrow, appropriating $4,000 for improv-
ing the business methods in the tax de-
partments, including the temporary hire
of clerks. In letter accompanying the
bill the Commissioners say:
THE object of this bill is to provide for
carrying into effect certain recommended
tons for the improvement of the methods
of conducting business in the tax depart
ments made by committee appointed by
the Commissioners to make an investiga-
ton and report upon the subject.
THE recommended changes which the
Commissioners approved consisted to
great extent of the adaptation of a card
system to a large portion of the records
now kept in books, and, it is believed,
would result in saving of time, labor
and material to the District of Columbia
and conduce to the public convenience by
the greater accessibility and facility for
reference it would afford.
The recent transfer of police headquar-
tiers to the Harper building on street
will allow the Commissioners to give more
room TO the collector OF taxes, and
with the aid of an appropriation as herein
asked. enable him and the assessor to bet
ter arrange their forces and methods for
the conduct of the office business and the
accommodation. of the public
Cramped Committee Quarters.
Some changes have been made in the
District committee room. The Increased
membership of the committee has necessi-
tated enlargng the table and the room is
now more crowded than ever. The present
quarters are entirely inadequate for COM
mittee of the size of this one, and which
has as much business to transact in the
course of a session When important bills
are under consideration and the public
hearings are demanded, it is impossible
for all those who desire to attend the
hearings, and whose presence might be
desirable and necessary, to get in the room.
The ventilation is atrocous and every one
is crowded uncomfortably.
A Three-Cent Car Fare.
Representative Berry of Kentucky pro-
poses to introduce bill in the House re-
quring the street railway companies to
inaugurate a system of Scent fares within
he of h