Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-08
TO BE CHURCH STREET
CONTROVERSY OVER THE NAME
OF MADISON AND SAMSON.
Commissioners Again Heard by the
House District Committee-Water
Mains and Sewers.

The House committee on the District of
Columbia today granted a further hearing
TO the District Commissioners on matters
or local legislation. The Commissioners
were heard in executive session, and at the
close OF their statements the committee
took action on several important bills
One Of the most interesting things done
by the committee was the solution of the
controversy which had recently arisen over
the proposed change in the name of Madi-
son street. The street running from 14th
to 18th street northwest, between and Q
streets, is severally known as Samson,
Sampson and Madison streets bill was
introduced at the beginning of the present
session Of Congress to change the name of
the thoroughfare to Samson street through
out it's entire length, in honor of the late
Or samson. first president of the Column
bian University. The bill aroused consid
cradle opposition, which was expressed at
a hearing given last week by the House
District committee.
Will Be Named Church Street.
At its session this morning the committee
decided to cut the Gordian knot and en-
deavor to meet the wishes Of all parties
concerned by changing the name of the
thoroughfare to Church street. 1t was
argued that Church street is most appro-
pirate name, in view of the fact that two
important CnuTcnGS are now located on the
thoroughfare. st. Thomas Episcopal Church
stands at 18th and Madison, and the new
Foundry M. E. Church stands at 18th and
Madison streets 1t was the general un-
derstandng before the committee that the
name Of Samson will be given to some thor
oughfare in the near future, a thoroughfare
of even more relative Importance than the
one at first proposed.
The committee discussed with the Com
mssioners House bill $500, proposing vari-
Gus amendments to the tax laws, corre-
spending bill having recently been passed
by the Senate; Senate bill g. to regulate
electrical wiring; Senate bill 2s7s. for the
laying of water mains through unsubdivid
ed tracts of land, and several other meas
ures. The bill to regulate electrical wiring
was given careful consideration by the COM
| mittee and various amendments were pro-
posed. 1t was finally decided to refer the
measure to special subcommittee, COM
posed of Representatives Campbell, Davis
and Cowherd. This committee is to perfect
the measure along lines indicated by the
general committee and to report it for fur
| ther consideration at the next meeting.
Laying Water Mains and Sewers.
The committee authorized favorable re-
3sporf on the Senate bill for the laying OF;
water mains and sewers through -unsubdi-
vided tracts The bill covers the entire
| subject of laying water mains and the
assessment Of the cost against abutting
property. Its essential feature however is
tne paragraph Whlch permits the laying of
main and service sewers through tracts of
land not yet subdivided. and provides that
the assessments shall not be levied until
such time as the land is subdivided or the
water main is tapped for use. 1t was
argued before the committee that this law
was necessary in order that water and
sewer service might be extended to thriving
suburban settlements which might be sep
arated from the city proper by large tracts
OF land on which the owners had not built
or winch had not been sGbdivided. The
bill. has passed the Senate and now requires
only the approval of the House to become
a law. The Senate bill was not amended
In any way.
To Extend sth Street.
The committee also authorized favor
able report on the Senate BILL 1854 for the
extension of Sth street. or Wright's road.
The bill was SO amended, however, as to
follow the lines of the street extension
bills passed by the House last Wednesday,
placing the whole cost on the District Of
Columbia.
The Senate in this BILL as In all other
street extension measures coming from that
body at this session. had provided that the
cost of the extension should be borne equal
ly by the United States and the District.
After discussing the bill to amend the
tax laws in various particulars the COM
mittee turned the bill over to Representa-
tive CoWherd. who is to rewrite the meas
ure, after conference with the subcommit-
tee on judiciary, and report it to the House
The House bill will be made to conform as
nearly as possible to the bill recently
passed by the Senate
Commissioner Macfarland in compliance
with a request from the East End Suburban
Citizens Association, called the attention
Of the committee to II. r. 5SO4, for the. ex-
tension of M street northeast, and Senate
bill 5123, for the widening of Bladensburg
road. The committee declared full consid-
GRAFTON would be given to both measures