Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-05
OF LOCAL INTEREST.
Bill introduced in Which Washing
tonians Are interested.

Representative Walter p Brown,ow OF
Tennessee introduced in the House today
a bill compelling doctors to write their pre-
scriptfons in the future in plain English as
well as In Latin. The bill is especially In
tended to apply TO the District of Column
bia. the several territories and the insular
possessions. and to affect sections Of the
country where whisky or other intoxicat-
Ing liquors sold contrary to law on the
Sabbath day. 1t is especially intended to
habit of prescribing whisky for their pa
habit of prescribing wbiskey for their pa
TENTS on Sunday. this frequently being
done under the guise of Latin.
Statistics gathered from wide sources by
Mr. Browniow show that an extraordinary
number of fatalities have taken place from
the fact that the prescriptions were writ
ten in Latin, when If they had been writ
ten In legible English valuable lives would
have been saved. The prevention of mis-
takes on the part of druggists and their
clerks. as we'll as on the part of individuals
themselves, is included in the scope of the
bill. 1t is claimed that number of influ-
entlal members of the House are behind
the bill and that it is likely to pass.
The Senate this afternoon passed House
bill 122. to require the erection of fire.
escapes on certain buildings in the Dis
trict. 1t provides for such tire-escapes in
all buildings three or more stories in height
or over thirty feet in height. constructed or
used. or intended to be used, as a tene-
ment house, apartment house, fiat. hotel,
office building, store, hospital, seminary,
academy, school. college, institute, dormi
tory, asylum. sanitarium. hall or place of
amusement. The bill was passed by the
House of Representatives. on The 10Th of
January, and was recently reported from
the Senate committee on the District of
Columbia VII minor amendments. 1t is
in conformity with the recommendations
of the District Commissioners and pro-
vides penalties for the failure of either the
owner, lessee, occupant or person having
control of such buildings
The amendments do not affect the gem
eral scope of the bill, that 1t is likely
that it will not even be sent to confer
ence. The fine for failure to comply with
the law as provided by the bill in the
House was from SO to 500 and the fur
ther fine of $50 for each day of failure to
comply with It, In the Senate this fine of
$50 per day is reduced to So. The Senate
also amended the bill giving the Commits
sioners of the District discretion to eX-
tend the time in which owners of prop
erty should be allowed to provide frees
capes.
Representative Bingham of Pennsyl-
vania has reintroduced his bill of last
session providing for the purchase by the
government for $4,000 of the painting
of the Historic Portrait Group by A. G.
Heaton of this city, which contains the
likenesses of eighteen promoters of the
new library building. The bill also pro-
vides that the painting when acquired by
the government shall be hung In con-
splcuous place in the library building.
The Secretary of the Interior sent a COM
munication to Congress today requesting
inclusion in the general deficiency bill of
an item of $4,000 to make up the def
cheney for printing and bintling in the
Interior Department for the past fiscal
year.
The chairman of District excise board
sent to Congress today the report Of tho
board for the license year ended October
81, 1865. 1t appears from the report that
the board granted 518 bar room licenses
and 1875 wholesale liquor icenses: rejected
nineteen har room licenses and fifteen
wholesale liquor licenses. From March 4,
1906 to March.ea, 1906 thirty nine persons
law, four being licensed dealers. The fines
imposed amounted to $9,1o0 of which only
$3.50 was collected. the rest being served
out in workhouSe sentences.