Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-27
A DISTRICT DAY
LOCAL MEASURES THAT PASSED
THE HOUSE.
Spirited Debate Over Anacostia, Sur
rattsville and Brandywine Bilt-To
Vestibule the Cars.

To-day was District day in the House, and
a number of matters of pending legislation
affecting the District were considered anu
passed. There was very spirited opposition
:, the Anacostia Surrattsville and Brandy
wine bill, but it was finally passed
A few minutes before the House convened
this morning Chairman Babcock of the DIS
trict committee moved that the House re-
solve into committee of the whole for con-
sideration of the bill to authorize the Ana
costa Surrattsville and Brandywine Rall-
way Company to extend its tracks In the
District. The bill as passed by the senate
authorized the road to operate for the car
rying of freight as well as passengers, but
this was stricken out and the question was
on the passage of the bill as amended. The
route of the proposed road Is as follows:
Beginning where the Walker road inter
sects the dividing line between the District
and Prince George country, Nd, thence
along Walker road to Good Hope, thence
along Good Hope road to Harrison street,
Anacostia down Harrison street to Munroe
street, Anacostia. to Junction with the
Anacostia and Potomac River Railroad
Company
Fought at Every Step.
Representative Bartlett of Georgia con-
Quoted the fight in opposition to the pas
sage of the bill. and every step was hotly
contested IHeIe- were cl4ls AoitJ 'hi SS
members of the House on the floor when
the bill was taken up, and on the first
vote the measure was passed by vote of
q to ~. But MFR. Bartlett called for tell
ers and tire bill was then defeated. ~ TO ~
Mr.. Babcock then raised the point OF no
quorum and the roll was called, after which
the District committee chairman made a
brief explanation of the measure. The bill
was then favorably reported by vote OF
40 TO 63.
Representative Bartlett continued his op-
position in the House, however, when MIR.
Babcock moved the passage of the bill as
reported from committee of the whole, and
on the count by Speaker Cannon it was
found that again no quorum was present.
But the doors were closed. and again the
roll was called. and the bill passed The
vote was l53 to 80. and Mr.. Babcocks mo-
ton that conferees be appointed to con-
fer on the amendment was agreed to.
To Put ALI Telegraph Wides Under
Ground
Mr. Batjcock then called up the Senate
bill providing that all overhead telegraph
wires in the District be placed in under
ground conduits. telegraph wires are
now. The time in which this must be done
is left to the discretion of the Commission
ers. The bill was passed, with one or two
slight amendments.
The bill appropriating $500 for the relief
up. Representative William Alden Smith
of Michigan interrupted at this point to
demand by what authority Pennsylvania
avenue had been disfigured by stands placed
on the public reservations. After Represen-
tative BabcoCk had succeeded in smoothing
Mr.. Smith down and convincing him that
his question was out of order at that time
the measure was explained by Representa-
tive Cowherd and passed
The bill providing for the extension of NJ
street was passed without debate.
To VestibuIe Cars.
Representative Pou's bill making it OBJ
ltgatory upon all street railroads in the
District to operate vestibuled cars between
November and April 1 was then taken up.
MIR. Pou explained the provisions of his
measure, stating that the reasons for its
passage were too apparent to offer food
for debate. Representative Baker of New
York took occasion to thank the District
committee for reporting the measure, which
he characterized an excellent one, and
which, he said, would have good effect in
securing Legislation for his own city of
Brooklyn. The bill was then passed.
The bill authorizing the levying of GER
tain special assessments in connection with
sewer construction, street extension and
the like was then briefly considered and
passed without debate.