The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-16
MadiSOn-SamSOn- Samp :
son Street Changed
to Church.
ASSESSMENT OF DAMAGES
Commission to Pass Upon
Union Station Cases In
stead of the Courts.

Under the agreement reached last
Monday the House today took up the
/ consideration of District business. and
/ fourteen measures favorably acted upon
/ by the District Committee were passed.
/ The first bill called up by Chairman
Babcock was that 10 incorporate the
American Cross Of Honor The meas
ure makes eligible TO membership in the
/ organization those who have received
medals from the Government for life
saving. The bill was passed without
/ debate.
/ Mr.. Powers of Massachusetts. ex-
/ planned the provisions Of the bill to in
| corporate tse Washington Sanitary
1 Housing Company. and the measure was
/ passed without division.
Name of Street Changed.
The Senate bill to change the name Of
/ Madison n-Ssmson-SampsOn Street, run
ming from Fourteenth TO Eighteenth
! Streets, between p and Q Streets north
/ west, was next considered. The COM
mittee amendment designates the
! thoroushfare as Church Street. that
/ name having been decided upon to set
! tie the controversy because Of the fact
| that two large churches CFoundry and
I ST Thomas EDiscopaD are located in
I the street.
/ Mr.. Maddox Of Georgia asked why the
/ change was desired. Mr.. BabCOck made
/ explanation and the bill was passed.
The Senate bin 10 amend the code so
/ as 10 permit the members Of the Society
/ OF Friends 10 sOlemnize marriages was
passed without debate, as was also the
I bill to confirm title 10 lots ,, 3, I, and 5,
/ in square gl9.
pavu1erf of Danagas
Mr.. Babcock then called up the bin
] 20 provide payment OF damages on ac-
count OF the changes in grades Of
streets caused by the erection Of the
new Union Station. Mr. Babcock said
the object Of the measure was TO make
possible the settlement of damages
without recourse TO the courts by the
appointment Of a commission 10 adjudi-
cate the claims The bin was passed.
The bin 10 provide for the laying OF
service sewer ana water mains through
unsubdivided subdivisions provoked the
opposition of Representative Burkett a
member Of the subcommittee on appro-
priatiOns. which prepared the District
appropriation bill
The bill provides that II such cases
assessments against the land shall not
/ be collected until the land is plated or
the sewers tapped
Mr. Burkett said it was not good pol
Icy TO extend sewers through unim-
proved county property. He further
argued that the bill took power away
from Congress and conferred il upon
the Commissioners. On a viva vOce vote
the Speaker declared the bin lost Mr..
suited as follows: Ayes. 76: noes, o.
. Mr. Maddox made the point % no quo
rum. The Speaker counted 2Zl present.
and declared the bill passed.
Relief for Script Holders.
The bill for the relief of certain hold
ers OF tax script was passed without
opposition.
Mr. Maddox asked for an explanati ton
of the bill TO provide for the sale of
/ Chesapeake and Ohio canal bonds own
ed by the District.
Mr. Babcock said these bonds were an
asset of the District. Until recently
they had been regarded as worthless.
but "a there had been proposals for
their purchase the Commissioners had
asked for authority To sell them. The
( measure ne said stipulates that tIHv
right reserved to reject any or all bids
/ The bill was then passed.
Mr. BabcOck asked unanimous consent
TO dispense with the reading of all OF the
provisions of the three bills to extend
Twenty-thIrd, Eighth Street northwest.
and Schooi Street. He said they were
long and their provisions similar to those
OF all such bills. All the assessments,
he said, were 20 be paid by the owners
Of abutting property; there would be no
cost TO the District.
Inattention to Business.
Much confusion prevailed in the House
which gave little or no attention 10 the
bills Mr.. Maddox again called atten-
ton TO this fact, and said IL was en-
tirely apparent 10 everyone that there
was at least 100 less than a quorum
present Yet he added, these bills
are being rammed through, and no one
except members of the committee
knows what they contain.
There IS 50 much noise that no one
can hear the bills read, and we are just
as we'll aware OF their contents before
they are read as afterward.
The Speaker said he had counted 22l
present, and had counted accurately
but II was nevertheless within the
power Of any member TO insist upon a
quorum at any time.
An Easy Way.
"Oh. well" said Mr.. Maddox. Il think
it would be Just as well il we simply
consider all the bills which the gentle
man from Wisconsin has as passed
without considering them at all"
Laughter.
Mr.. Cowherd explained the bills 10 the
satisfaction of Mr. Maddox. who did nor
press his objection, and the three bills
were passed
ne toIlIiil Itec substitute for the
Commissioners electric wiring bill was
passed without division after its pro-
visions had beenNXplained by Mr. Camp
bell, member OF the District Commit
tee. Mr.. McCleary of Minnesota asked
II the provisions of the bin would af-
feet electric wiring in private dwellings.
and was assured that ii would not
Best Lumber, $3.50 Per 100 Feet.
Frank Libbey & Co. 9th & y. Y. Ave
ADV.