Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-03
LAID ON THE TABLE
ACTION OF HOUSE DISTRICT COM
MITTEE TODAY.
Adverse Action on Commissioners Bill
as to Secretary-Union Station
Site to Be Visited.

The Commissioners bill creating the Of
flee of secretary to the board of District
Commissioners, and giving him authority
to act Commissioner during the absence
of a Commissioner or vacancy on the board,
was Indefinitely laid on the table by the
House committee on the District of Colum
bia this morning.
This the first meeting of the commit
tee, and adverse action on this bill was the
only definite action taken.
The committee Will meet at 9:45 o'clock
tomorrow morning at the proposed c street
site of the new union station. After look
ing over the ground the committee will as
semble in its committee room and hear
President Loree of the Baltimore and Ohio
ard Vice President Green of the Pennsyl-
Vania railroads. Engineer Commissioner
Biddle will also be heard. The hearing,
however, is simply for the information of
the committee, and opportunity for public
discussion will not be given at this time.
The committee print of the railroad bill,
emDodying the amendments agreed to at
the last session. was distributed to the
members of the committee by Chairman
Babcock. No consideration of the measure
was given this morning.
Generally Discussed.
The Commissioners bill for a secretary
was generally discussed and it's indefinite
postponement shows that it did not meet
with the favor of the committee. The phase
of the situation which the Commissioners
have called attention to iii their annual re-
port-that some means of carving on the
business of the District in case of the alb
sence OF Commissioner or vacancy in the
board ought to be provided-was discussed
also, and the opinion generally approved by
members was that authority might well be
given whereby two members of the board
could transact business in the absence of
the third.
Other measures which were discussed this
taken, We're:
Senate bill 313O, providing for the removal
Of snow and ice; House bill 1871, to clear
up the title to certain property in the Dis
trct; Senate bill 4221 authorizing the Com
missioners to extinguish a portion of an
alley in square 1S9; House bill 1924 au-
thorizing. street railways In the District to
carry small freight express, etc These
measures will be considered further at
future meetings of the committee
The members of the committee present
at the meeting were Chairman Babcock
and Messrs. Jenkins, Mercer, Allen, Pearre,
Wadsworth. Morrel, Cowherd, Sims and
McAndreWs.
The Bill Turned Down.
The bill for secretary to the board of
Commissioners which was turned down by
the committee follows:
sage of this act the President of the
United States SHALL by. and with the ad-
vice and consent Of the Senate appoint a
secretary Of the District of Columbia. who
shall hold office for four years and until his
successor shall have been appointed and
qualified, and receive a salary Of So, 600 per
annum.
ihat he shall possess the qualifications
as to citizenship of the United States and
residence in said District that are now pre-
scribed by law for the Commissioners of
said District appointed from civil life. and
shall take an oath and give bond for the
faithful discharge of his official duties such
as those now required by law from said
Commissioners.
That during any absence from said Dis
trict OF either of the Commissioners ap-
pointed from civil life, or the disability OF
either of said Commissioners to perform
MS duties as such, the secretary shall. as
acting commissioner, discharge all the off,
cial duties of such Commissioner
ihat ne shall keep record of the acts
sitting as board, and perform such other
germane duties as the board of Commits
s1oners may from time to time prescribe
He shall have sole official charge custody
and use of the seal of the District of CO.
lumbia, adopted by the law of the Ieeisla-
tive assembly of said District, entitled .An
act adopting seal for the District Of CO.
lumbia,' approved August 3. 1871
That in the event of the temporary ah-
sence from the District of Columbia or
olsaDlilty OF said secretary to perform his
duties, he shall, with the approval of the
said board of Commissioners, designate a
suitable person, having the citizenship and
residence qualifications prescribed in Sec
ton 2, who shall during such absence or
disability perform all the duties prescribed.
In section of this act