The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-29
DISTRICT BILLS PASSED
Local Legislation Engages the At
tention of the House.
A Motion to Reconsider the Note by
which the Measure Authorizing a
consolidation of Lighting Com
paDics Was Rccommittcd Defeated
REORGANIZATION of the Police.

Several District bills were considered
by the House OF Representatives yester-
day. Mr. Babcock, Chairman of the Com
mittee on the District of Columbia, called
up his motion to reconsider the vote on
the recommittal of the bill authorizing a
consolidation of the Washington and
Georgetown Gas Light Companies and the
electric lighting companies and the mo-
ton was defeated.
There was very small attendance OF
the members of the House when the mat
ter came up, and Mr.. Hepburn said he
| hoped Mr. Babcock would not press his
| motion, as he did not wish to raise the
point of no quorum. Mr.. Babcock said he
did not see. then, how business could be
| proceeded with until quorum should be
| present.
| Mr.. Robinson of Indiana asked If Mr.
! Babcock would not withhold his motion
tin Senator Towne should conclude the
| speech which at that time he was de-
| livering. Mr. Babcock insisted pressing
| his motion. Mr.. Hepburn raised the point
| OF no quorum. which was sustained, only
| ninety-one members being counted A
| call of the House was ordered.
The District Gas bill when recommitted
to the District Committee Monday Janu-
| airy Il, was, on motion of Mr.. Grout re-
| committed with instructions to report a
| Dill reducing the price of gas for five
| successive years. till the rate of s. cen S
thousand feet should be reached Mr.
Babccck at the time gave notice of a mo-
ton to reconsider. A quorum was obla n
ed at 2 Is, whereupon Mr. Babcock took
the floor in support of his motion to re-
consider.
Mr.. Hepburn arose for a parliamentary
enquiry and asked if a motion to recon-
slider was debatable Me Moody, in the
chair, ruled that it was. Mr.. Babcock
said that the Grout amendment was not
appropriate to the pending bill; it was
opposed by great interests in Washington
and II adopted would place the gas com
panies at a serious disadvantage in com
petition with the electric lighting com
panles. He asked in conclusion that the
bill go back to the committee without in
struction.
Mr.. Hepburn opposed the motion to re-
consider. He reviewed the legislative
history of the Gas bill. He charged that
'he Dill was introduced on January II.
and reported on the day before II was
called up. Mr.. Babcock b1untIy declared
that MIR. Hepburn was trying to mis-
lead and deceive the House" He said
that the bill was introduced on January &.
In outlining the progress OF the bill, Mr..
Hepburn said, 'the gentleman from wis
consin INF. Babcock) is entitled to all
the credit he can get out of this trans
action. Mr.. Hepburn charged that the
purpose OF the bill is 20 flood the District
with watered stock
Mr.. Babcock, in replying to Mr.. Hep
ourn, said that in 1896, by an examination
OF the DOCKS of the Washington Gas Light
company II was proved that the cost of
gas, distributed, per thousand feet was
eS cents. Since then the price of coal
OILS, machinery. and iron piping has. Mr.
Babcock said, gone up.
Inc previous question on the motion was
ordered, and it was, on a division. de-
leated-S1 ayes, IS noes Mr. BabeocI,
called for the yeas and nays. and the roll
call was ordered. The motion was lost
80 yeas, 102 nays.
AT $3.50 O'Clock the House resolved itself
INTO Committee of the Whole with Mr.
DalZell in the chair. for the considers tion
OF the bill Ito amend certain sections of
the Revised Statutes OF the United States
relating to the District OF Columbia as to
the Metropolitan Police" popularity known
as the Police Reorganization bill
Mr. Mudd offered an amendment giving
htteen days leave TO special policemen
This amendment was defeated on division
by ito Is. The bill was favorabIy re-
ported TO the House, and within ten min
utes after being called up, was passed
without a division.
Mr.. Jenkins called up the bill to amend
an act to incorporate the Masonic Mutual
Relief Association of the District of Co
lumbla and il was passed
The bill allows the number of the d.
rectors of the Masonic Mutual Relief AS
ISOLATION OF the District of Columbia to be
increased from twenty-one (the number OF
lodges in existence when the number of
directors was fixed at twenty-one) to /
number corresponding with the number of
lodges that may exist In the District of
Columbia. Also IT strikes out the sec
tons OF the charter authorizing separate !
classes of members; and further allows !
insurance up to 81. 000
Mr.. Babcock called up the bill raising |
the age limit of girls who may be admit |
ted to the District Reform School from |
sixteen to seventeen years and it was |
passed without discussion.
A bill ITO reincorporate and preserve |
all the corporate franchises and property /
rights of the de facto corporation known !
as the German Orphan Asylum Associa- |
tion of the District OF Columbia was
called up and without debate or division |
passed.
The incorporators named in the bill are:
Jacob Jose, Louis Kettler. William Ket-
tier, John Walter, Frederick Imhoff |
j
Appich, George ]. Seufferle, George Brett
barth, Christian Heurich, Werner Koch,
John A. Grieshauer, William r. Veerhoff.
Clement a. Didden. George Bessler, John
F. Schneider, and Otto Wehner
Section legalizes all previous acts Of
this association.
Section 3 of the bill provides that the
German Orphan Asylum Associa ton of the
District OF Columbia is authorized, II such
be deemed necessary, to institute in the
Supreme Court of the District of Column
bia proceedings in equity ty bill against
all persons and corporations wnO may set
up any claim to any of the property rights
Of the original corporation or de facto
by this act vested in the cor
poration created hereby for the purpose OF
finally the rights of any such
adverse claims and of having its right and
title to all such property rights finally
affirmed by the decree of said court; pro-
vided. however. that nothing in this act |
shall be held in any wise to disturb or
affect any reserved lien which the United
States may have under existing law upon
any Of the property Of the said original
corporation or the said de facto corpora
ion.
Against the Hyatt Patent.