Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-21

he would give him a chance.
Mr.. Dalzell said that within fifteen min
utes a prominent citizen had called him out
and asked for an opportunity to be heard.
Mr.. Babcock then moved to recommit the
bin to the committee on the Dlstrict Oh
Columbia.
MIR. Gront's Amendment Adopted.
Mr. Grout offered an amendment instruct
ing the committee to report the bill with
provision that gas shall be furnished at 80
cents a thousand feet after July l, 1902; at
30 cents after July /, 1903; at 20 cents after
July 1904 and at 60 cents after 1905.
Mr. Babcock made the point of order
that the amendment was not germane, but
the Speaker overruled IT.
Mr.. CIRCUITS amendment was then ADOPT
ed. and the bill was rccommitted with the
instructions above.
Passed without Debate.
Mr. Babcock then called UP House bill
1929. as follows: That the directors or
Providence Hospital are hereby authorized
to erect additional buildings and make such
improvements for hospital purposes as they
may deem proper on square 16i, city OF
Washington, District of Columbia. now
owned and occupied by that INSTITUTION,
and for such purposes may mortgage OF
otherwise incumber the square to raise
money for the buildings and improvements
hereby authorized, and the limitation Oh
value of real estate owned by providence
Uospital contained in the act approved
ApriI :. 1864 Is hereby removed.
The hill was passed without debate
Court Powers Over Delinquent Chill
dren.
Mr. Babcock then called up House bill
1906 To enlarge the power of the District
courts in cases involving delinquent chill
drcn.
The bill provides as follows:
That the Judges of the Criminal and Po-
lice Courts of the District of Columbia are
hereby authorized and empowered. at their
discretion, to commit to the custody ana
care of the board of childrens guardians OF
the District of Columbia children under
seventeen years of age who snail De con-
Nicted of petty crimes or misdemeanors
which may be punishable with fne or nm I'M
prisonment; and said board OF chlldren
guardians shall place. under contract, sucn
children in such suitable homes. instltu-
tons training schools for the care OF
children as Ii may deem wise and proper.
No court shall commit child unoer
seventeen years Of age. charged with OF
convicted of n petty crime or misdefneahor
punishable by a fine or imprisonment. 10
JAIL workhouse or police station. but II
such child be unable to give bail or pay
fine it may be committed to the boaro OIL
childrens guardians temporarily or PEI.
manentIy in the discretion OF the court,
and said board shall make some sultaDie
provision for said child outside the m
closure of any jail, workhouse or poilce
station. or said court may commit suCH
child to the reform school under the laws
now providing for such commitment
For the purpose Of aiding the court IN a
proper disposition of cases referred to in
section L the board of children's guardians
IS authorized and directed to designate ono
Of IT'S employees as a probation ofiicer'
whose duty shall be to make such invesu-
CATION In cases involving children under
seventeen years of age as the court may
direct, to be present in court In order to
represent the interests of the child when
the case is heard. to furnish the court such
duff
may require, and to take charge OF any
child before and after trial as may be d.
rected by the court.
The bill was passed without debate.
Advances to the District.
The bill providing for advances Of funds
To the District government out of the
United States treasury then called up.
The committee amendments We're adopted.
limiting the advances to June 80, 1902, and
requiring the District to pay . per cent
interest on deferred payments after that
date.
Mr. jenkins explained that these amend
ments were suggested by the appropria-
lions committee.
Mr. Mudd offered an amendment to strike
out the per cent interest requirement. Mr..
Nudd said that the proper policy about
street extensions was to share their cost
between the city and the government. 1t
was we'll known that the departure from
the principles az the organic act was re-
sponsibIe for the deficit in the District rev.
.uileS He did not think the District should
De required to pay interest. in the circum-
stances. 1t was a harsh policy, resem-
bling the action of a guardian Lending
money at interest t. his ward for expenses
which ought to come out OF his own FUNDS.
Mr. Jenkins said that personally he be-
lieved the money should be advanced with
out interest but that the appropriations
COMMITTEES had announced its opposition
10 the bill proposed, so the District COM
nittee had agreed 10 the interest clause
The Personal Tax Question.
Mr. Hopkins said he had heard that the
deficit was due to the fact that personal
property taxes were not collected in the
District OF Columbia.
Mr. Jenkins said that kind of attempt
was mad6 to tax personal property. but
that no doubt some personal property es-
capped taxation.
Mr. Hopkins wanted to know what steps
were contemplated to correct the evil.
Mr.. Jenkins said the law was ample. but
that people would evade 1t. Men would go
to church and engage in prayer and go
right away the next day and perJure them,
selves on their personal taxes. He said
that this existed everywhere.
Mr.. Cowherd said 1t was an open fact
that some of the District Commissioners
and some of the most prominent citizens do
not believe in personal taxes; they want to
make this city a harbor OF refuge Tor r1cn
men 10 come with their personal property
for Investment here. He believed that the
subject should receive attention, not. per-
laps at this session. for it was of great
Importance, but that it ultimately should
be taken up, and he had introduced Il bill
AZ basis for the work.
Mr.. Jenkins said he in favor of per-
sonal property taxation. and that If any Of
the officials were shutting their eyes 10 the
law he was not aware of il. He had been
told that the officials tried to enforce the
law.
Mr. Mudd's amendment to strike out the
interest clause was defeated and the bill,
d reported by the committee. was passed.
Water Main Assessments.
Mr.. Babcock then called up the bill to
amend the act for water main assessments.
The bill has been published in The Star.
II provides for personal service of notice of
assessments. 1t also provides that water
main assessments shall be payable IN three
instead of four installments. at present;
that the rate of interest the deferred
payments shall be 6 per cent instead of 10
per cent. as at present and omits the pro-
vision in the existing law which allows an
abatement of per cent for the prompt
payment of such assessments.