Evening star., 1902-03-20
The District Bill

TO the rOugn estimates tudl nave Deen IIldue
by senators who have the matter in charge.
about 81 100000 of revenue from the Dis
trict of Columbia. Senators and represent
atives on the appropriations committees de-
sire to have some tentative plan not only
as to a personal tax bill, but also in rela-
tion to the proposed increase of revenue
from real estate in the District as result
of the reassessment and equalization IN
taxation now being secured by the assessor
of the District before the District apprO.
priation bill is reported to the House Of
Representatives. The bill is now being
held in the appropriations committee of the
House in order that this information may
in general way be before the committee
before the bill is finally passed on. The
extraordinary improvements In the Dis
trict, such as the filtration plant, sewerage
system, reclamation Of the AnacOstia flats,
steam railway bills, &c, will require the
raising of more money than can be obtain
ed from taxation, and some estimate of the
prospective revenue that can be secured
Is necessary in order that the amount OF
the excess of expenditures over the income
can be determined approximately. This ex-
cess will require a provision In the District
bill authorizing a temporary advance to
the District from the United States treas
ury and that will doubtless be authorized
In the District appropriation bill.
House District Committee.
Besides ordering a favorable report on
four bills and dsposing Of another ad-
versely, the House committee on the Dis
trict Of Columbia at itssmeeting this morn
ing informally discussed the feasibility Of
raising the cost Of retail liquor licenses in
the District Of Columbia from the present
rate of 500 to 81 CO.,
A bill is pending before the committee,
having been drawn by the Commissioners,
for the purpose Of regulating the liquor
traffic in the District Of Columbia: This
bill does not provide for rating the license
fees, but from the discussisn in the COM
mittee this morning it is '.rident that an
amendment to this end wil.' be made, and
will receive the indorsemesst of the COM
mittee !:
''The liquor licenses here .-re ridiculously
low remarked Mr.. MerceZs to a Star re-
porter after the meeting.
1.-The amount Is 900 in Tearly all cities,
and l am in favor of not Cnly raising the
license fee here to that figure but also re-
quiring all retail liquor dealers to give
5000 bond This would put the liquor
business on a basis where good order could
be maintained, and would weed out an IN
Vulnerable lot of small and disreputable
places
Bills Favorably Considered.
Senate bill 3439, to prevent boys under
the age of eighteen years from frequent
Ing pool rooms in the District Of Columbia,
was favorably acted on by the committee
d1ter IL ndu Deen dIneHueu 81 dS ~ oppAS
only to pool rooms with bar rooms at
tached.
Senate bill 2291, creating an anatomical
board in the District Of Columbia, which
shall have jurisdiction over cadavers, was
reported favorably. This bill goes into de-
tail on the subject of the disposal OF the
pauper dead. The board which Is created
is headed by the health officer of the Dis
trict and composed of officers Of the various
medical schools Bodies of persons who die
n he n
uted pro rata among these medical schoois,
provided a wish has not been expressed by
the person before death to be buried or
cremated, and provided also that no rela-
tive or friend appears to claim the remains.
Publication of death is required also to be
made before the body shall be disposed of
for scientific purposes.
House bill 1866 which authorizes the
Secretary Of the Interior to accept payment
for and give a quit claim deed to VIM. H.
Dix Of Baltimore for lot No. 4, In square
1113, in this city. received favorable consid-
Grafton.
House bill 1906, to extend the time for
one year in which the East Washington
Heights Traction Railway Company may
lay its tracks, was also ordered reported
favorably.
H. r. $685. to amend the act regulating
the practice Of dentistry in the District,
was called up in the committee, but after
short discussion, laid on the table.