Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-28
TO co To THE HOUSE
Favorable Reports Authorized
on Local Measures.
CHANGES IN TAX LAWS
OMNIBUS BILL TAKEN UNDER
CONSIDERATION.
Meeting of the District Committee This
Morning--Commission Heard in
Regard to the District Bill.
CHANGES IN TAX LAWS

At the meeting of the House committee
on the District of Columbia this morning,
Chairman Babcock presiding, number OF
local measures were considered and favor
able reports ordered. The committee also
considered for more than an hour the omni-
bus bill submitted by the Commissioners
amending various provisions In the tax
laws, particularly those of the personal
tax law relating to corporations. NO de-
cision was reached In regard to the meas
ure. The members OF the committee are
especially interested in the proposed reduc-
ton of the tax on trust companies ana
building associations They want further
time to consider the matter. and will prob
ably grant hearings to the representatives
of the interests affected.
To Remove Snow and Ice.
The committee authorized a favorable re-
port on House bin 1927. to provide for the
removal of snow and ice from the side
walks The bill was amended SO as tc pro-
vide a specific fine of s. and costs for
failure to remove snew from the sidewalks.
The present law provides a fine of 81, which
has been found insufficient. The Commis-
sioners proposed a fine of mot more than
So" The committee thought there Shoulo
be no opportunity for faVoritism, and 50
prescribed a specific fine. The bill makes
available an appropriation of 5000 TO en-
able the Commissioners To remove snow
when the property owner has failed to do
so. The cost of the work is to be assessed
against the property and collected with
the realty tax. The time for removing
snow is fixed within the first four hours of
daylight after the ceasing of any fall Of
snow"
Railway Company Given More Time.
A favorable report was ordered on House
bill 1881, TO extend the time for the COM
Dletion of the East Washington Heights
Traction Railroad Company for twelve
months from the date of the passage of the
act This bill was amended in accordance
with a recommendation by the Commission
ers by adding proviso to the effect that IL
the railroad is not completed ana In opera
ton within the year prescribed The company
shall be subject to peIlsfFf- Of 500 ior each
day that cars are not running. Tho COM
mittee ordered printed in connection with
the report on the measure copy of reso-
lutions adopted by the East Washington
Heights Citizens AS - ion IN which IL 10
stated that the section n r.ow without street
railroad facilities. In urging the passage OF
the bill the resolutions state:
1.-The repeated efforts of the citizens or
this section TO secure street railway faciii-
ties have resulted in complete failure until
the control of the East washington helgnts
Traction Railroad Company passed INTO the
hands of the present mana cement, Wmch,
it is declared has succeeded where all oth-
ers failed in building in a substantial man
ner, thoroughly satisfactory to and approv
ed by the Commissioners of the District OF
Columbia the most difcnit part or TINS
railway, and has on The ground matefia-
rails ties and poles, all of the best qeallty-
to continue construction OF the road whch'
when completed, will give US the desired IA
clities to develop the greater portion OF the
territory lying east of the Eastern prdhch; n,
Favorable report was made on House pllI
1885, amending the D1sulct cooe' Se0"'i
S95, to read as followI
every vessel coming to anchor IN any
other portion of the navigabie Waters III 'ho
District of Columbia shall also be so fnooreo ~
under the direction of the harbor mtster'
or the pilot of the police boat acting IN the
harbor masters absence, as not TO oDstruct
the channel and be secured with an ahchor
at how and stern as to keep the long axis
of the vessel parallel with that OF the
channel and prevent it from swinging SO as
to obstruct the free passage of the channei
by other vessels.
The committee also dec ded to favo'ably
report House bill 1917. which prohibits the
docking of horses tails and names
Licenses as to Bath Establishments.
House bill 1860, to further regulate the
issue of licenses to Turkish, Russian ana
medicated baths was amended N tie pen
altv clause and ordered to be reported
favorably. The bill prevents any female
giving a bath or massage treatment 10
male and vice versa. AS orlginaiiy dra"h
the measure provided a fine of not less than
$40 or more than $50, with imprisonment
not to exceed 10S days. The committee re-
duced the maximum fine to $loO ana the
IMPRISONMENT TO ninety days.
The committee acted favorably upon
House bill 2S71, to incorporate the Mutual
Investment Fire Insurance Company OF the
District of Columbia. the incorporators OF
which are: Richard j. Beall, Andrew y.
Nash, William o. Dennlson. X. o Mem,
Bernard Leonard, Howard Beal and John
Wright.
A favorabl report was ordered on House
bill 4344 for the relief of VincehZo Gerardi
of this city. The measure recites that Ger
ardi who is about sixty years OF age, pur-
chased property in this city before he was
a naturalized citizen: that he has Deen
resident of the District of Columbia FOR inc
past thirty-o years, and is now natura!-
lied and reputable citizen.
The bill proposes to relieve the real estate
owned by Gerard from the operation or an
ar. TO restrict the ownership of real estate
In the territories to American citizens, ap-
nroyed March g. 1887. All forfeitures incur
red by force of the act in respect OF sucn
real estate are RENTED.
TnCAT RIII, I'M THE SENATE.