Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-09
LOCAL LEGISLATION
SEVERAL BILLS ACTED ON By
SENATE DISTRICT COMMITTEES.
Extension of Monroe Street Referred
to a Subcommittee for
Examination.

Noiuiiipia Hefu a meeting this morning,
| and after session of couple of hours
| authorized reports on several important
| bills of local interest.
A favorable report, without amendment,
was authorized on Senate bill 49, au-
| thorfzing the chief of engineers to sell at
| public auction house 2o4 L street north
west, In this city. On September 9, 1904.
! the. United States, through the Depart
ment Of Justice, obtained possession of
! this property, which had escheated to the
United States for the reason that the
owner died interstate and no heirs were dis
covered. 1t was thought best that the
| property should be sold if the proper price
can be obtained for 1T, and the bill is to
authorize that action.
To Regulate Sale of Drugs.
| The committee also authorized a favor
| able report on Senate bill 2070, to regulate
| the practice of pharmacy and the sale of
| poisons In the District of Columbia. The
! committee recommends the bill for pass
| age by the Senate without amendment.
| This bill was sent to the Senate by the
| Commissioners it having been prepared
by the commissioners of pharmacy Of the
| District who had devoted more than six
| months to its careful consideration. The
law regulating the practice of pharmacy
| in the District was passed in 1873 and is
ent conditions.
! Thirty years ago drug habits were reia-
| lively unknown. Cocaine had not been DIS
covered, while today 1t is shown that CO.
| caine is sold to large extent In this CITY,
| SO that the cocaine habit is growing to an
appalling extent. Drug stores, 1t is Sald,
sell cocaine Under conditions that encourage
! its the sale of these drug-habit drugs ex-
| remeded If the bill is passed. as 1t promo
| 1t sthe sale of these drug-habit drugs ex-
| cept upon the original prescription OF le-
,~I aafi iowa n
| dentist or veterinary surgeon. The bill has
the support of the Medical Society of the
| District.
A favorable report was also authorized on
| Senate bill 2S77, which increases the fine IN
| cases of persons injuring public property IN
| the District of Columbia. 1t also provides
| that the taking and carrying away OF the
property of another in the District without
right to do so shall be misdemeanor, pun
| ishable by fine not to exceed Sl00 or I'm
prisonment of not over six months or Doeh
| The committee ordered laid on the table
Senate bill 2099 for the extension of w and
Adams streets.
Extension Of Monroe Street.
| Senate bill 5000. authorizing the exten-
| sion of Monroe street northeast, was re-
ferred to a subcommittee consisting OF
Senators Scott, Burkett and Dubois The
Commissioners have laid great stress upon
the necessity for the extension of Monroe
street. as it Is regarded as being very i'm
portant for citizens In the northeastern
PORTION of the city. This bill allows the
street to be extended in way so as to
do away with grade crossings. The bill
proposes that the entire cost of the extern
sion shall be assessed against the property
benefited and 1t is believed by the Com
missioners that the benefits will extend over
the greater part of Brookland, as the do
ing away with the grade crossing will in
ure to the benefit of practically the whole
of Brookiand
mssioners state that they have long de-
sired the abolition of grade crossings on
that part of the branch of the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad at Michigan avenue, for
merly Bunker Hin road. The railroad COM
pany has declined to build this bridge, on
the ground that the legislation is not oper-
alive. It has been found, they state, that
this solution of the grade crossing question
is not the best because 1t is practically i'm
possible for the Baltimore and Ohio Rail
road Company to change its level at this
point account of the heavy grade, and
to carry the roadway of Michigan avenue
either above or below the present railroad
tracks would necessitate such heavy grades
as would make it difficult for the street
railroad and heavy wagons to use the road.
The better solution, they believe, is the one
proposed in the bill.
The proposed extension goes through a
tract of land which was purchased about
three years ago by the Sulpician Fathers
for the erection of buildings for educational
purposes. The Sulpician Fathers before
purchasing the tract requested the Com
misSioners to change the system of streets
laid down to be extended through the tract
This seemed to be -desrable in view of the
fact that that section of the District or
Columbia is largely built up with various
educational and religious institutions affil
lated with the Catholic University. If the
plan had not been changed it was within
tie rights of the Sulpician Fathers to con-
struct their buildings in the line of the
street. as under the law this could not be
prevented while the proposed streets re-
manned private property. The bill pro-
vides that payment shall be made for the
land taken, but leaves the question of bene-
fits entirely TO the jury. The Commission
ers do not regard this extension as of any
benefit to these fathers, and in order to rec
move all doubt the latter desired to have a
provision inserted in the bill directing the
jury not to make any assessments for bene-
fits against their land In this particular
case the Commissioners believed that such
a provision would be just. and ft Is said
that course is approved by the citizens or
Brookland.
Bills in the House.
A number of bills of interest to the Dis
trict were introduced in the House today
One introduced by Chairman Babcock of
the House District committee amends the
act providing for the payment of damages
growing out of the construction of the
union station. Mr.. Babcock's bill provides
tHat III any person, or III the District Com
mssioners. are dissatisfied with the award
of the appraisement commission special
Jury of seven shall be appointed by the
court to reappraise the property in ques-
ton and make an award.
Another bill introduced by Representa-
tive Babcock empowers the Commissioners
to pass regulations prescribing the penalty
of 800 fine and six months in jail for turn
| ing in a false alarm of fire within the Dis
| trict.
Another measure put in the basket by Mr.
Babcock makes ii a misdemeanor in the
; District of Columbia for any male person
to abandon wilfully neglect to provide
! for the support of his wife and children
| in destitute circumstances. The penalty
| provided for violations Is 500 fine and
! not more than twelve months In jail.
Representative Charles Lands Is the au-
\ thor of bill introduced today to authorize
the preservation as public park of nearly
| 5000 square feet at the northwest corner
OF 18th street and Columbia road
Another bill introduced by Mr.. Lands
| provides for the extension of School street