Evening star., 1902-01-27
Local Bills Had Right Of Way in the
House.
FIVE MEASURES PROMPTLY PASSED
Commission to Condemn lnsani-
tary Buildings.
FOR NEW AQUEDUCT BRIDGE


right Of way in the House today. and the
five pending local measures were taken
up as soon as the routine opening business
was transacted.
The first bill considered provided for the
Incorporation Of the Eastern Star home for
the District of Columbia,
The bill was passed without discussion.
A bill to regulate the hours of service of
the employees in the gas laboratory at the
District building was passed. Under section
3 Of the act of June o. 1874, they are re-
quired to perform service from until 8
O'Clock each day. Under this section as
amended they will be obliged to work from
8 until O'Clock, and thus be placed on
the same basis as all other employees of the
District government
The bill Of the District Commission
ers requiring typhoid fever occurring in
the District to be reported to the health
department was passed, after a brief ex-
planatlon py Mr.. Norton of Ohio.
Drawing of Jurors.
Mr.. jenkins bill to amend the District
code regarding grand Jurors was passed.
The bill provides for the drawing of grand
jurors to serve until the April term Of the
court. when they can be drawn under the
provisions Of the code. 1t also provides
for 5uries for the Police Court where the
same condition exists as in the grand
Jur1es. The joint resolution which passed
both houses Of Congress and was approv-
ed January D. loo2, was not approved early
enough TO be OF any service.
Arreara8es of Taxes.
The bill to receive arrearages of taxes
due the District to July /, 1900, at 6 per
cent per annum, in lieu Of penalties and
costs, was also passed
The bill provides that the rate Of int
to be collected of any person owing arrear-
ages of general taxes prior to July l. 1899,
now due to and the liens for which are
held by the District of Columbia, shall be
per centum per annum, in lieu Of the rate
and penalties now fixed by law, and all
accrued costs: Provided, That this act
shall apply only to taxes paid on or before
the 1st day Of July, 1903.
Insanitary Building Commission.
Senator Mcmillan today introduced a bill
in the Senate creating a commission for
the condemnation of ansanitary buildings
in the District Of Columbia Mr.. Mcmillan
announced some time ago his interest IN
this matter and requested the Commissions
ers to make report on condition Of build
ings regarded as fnsanitary, with recon-
mendations for correcting this undesira BILE
condition. The bill introduced by Mr.. Nc
MILAN today Is similar to measure that
was considered in the Fifty-fifth Congress.
1t provides that the senior assistant to the
engineer Commissioner, the health officer
and the inspector Of buildings be constitut-
ed commission to examine into the sani-
tary conditions of all buildings In the Dis
trict, and if unfit for occupation by human
beings by reason Of their insanitary con-
ditton, the commission is empowered TO
condemn them and to require the occupants
to vacate within thirty days from their
order of condemnation. The commission Is
to give ten days notice to the owners OF
such buildings to show cause why they
should not be condemned.
If any owner Of a building condemned will
in satisfactory manner correct the con-
ditions which led to the condemnation the
building may again be occupied. The bill
provides that buildings built of wood hav-
ing an assessed value for taxation of not
more than 500 which have been condemned
shall not be again occupied, but shall be
demolished by the owner within the time
specified by the commission. penalty
clause is attached to the bill for violation
of it's provisions. The Commissioners of
the District are also authorized to employ
an inspector at 81 200 per annun, who shall
examine into the sanitary condition Of all
buildings in the District and make re.
ports to the Commissioners For the pur-
pose Of carrying out the provisions of this
act 10000 are appropriated.
To Rebuild Oqueduct Bridge.
Mr.. Mcmillan introduced bill in the
Senate today which provides for the recon-
struction of the Acqueduct bridge, at q
cost Of 100000. This bill provides that
this work shall be done under the direction
OF the Secretary OF War, one-half of the
cost to be charged against the District Of
Columbia. It will be remembered that Sc
rtous defects in the piers Of the Aqueduct
bridge were discovered a couple of years
ago and that Congress made an appropria-
ton to strengthen the piers and to make
them safe as far as possible. The piers
had very wide cracks in certain places and
these have been filed up with masonry
The bridge Is regarded as entirely sfe at
the present time, but Is not looked upon as
sufficiently strong to stand the strain that
would probably be put upon such bridge
during the course Of number Of years.
When the work Of repairing 1t was begun
it was recommended by the War Depart
ment that a new bridge would be desirable
to entirely replace the present structure
Inspection Of Vehicles.
A bill introduced in the Senate v6aay by
Mr.. Mcmillan contemplates an Inspection
of automobiles and all other forms of We
hicles that may be used in the District Of
Columbia. 1t provides that license fee of
81 per annum be charged proprietors and
drivers Of all vehicles for the conveyance Of
passengers or hire in the District. A IL
cense Is to be granted to such vehicles only
after they have been inspected by the DO
llCe OIuCer UeIdlleQ AS Inspector OF hacks
and after they had been pronounced by him
to be safe, sanitary and slightly. This bill
will chiefly affect the running of automo-
biles and locomobiles, and the inspection OF
such vehicles will be Of a nature to insure
passengers that they will run no risk in
hiring them.
To Refund Certain, Taxes.
Senator CockreH introduced bill in the
Senate today authorizing the Commission
ers to refund certain license taxes. They are
directed to refund both the Wholesale and
retail liquor tax collected from dealers who
were engaged in the business March 3, 1893.
that tax being declaredf erroneously collect
ed. For the purpose Of carrying out this
provision the bill appropriates s. SS7.
To Vacate1 Once.
Senator Gallinger introduced in the Sem
ate today bill recently introduced in the
House of Representatives by Representa-
tive Gi1lett of Massachusetts, The bill pro-
vides that any Office In the classified serv-
ice of the United States. held by any per-
son who at the time ofthe passage OF this
act is over seventy years OF age, shall he