Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-29
Retent on Contracts.

The first bill passed was that regulating
the zetent on contracts with the District of
Columbia. The present law compels the
District government to retain 10 per cent
on all contracts for public works except on
building and grading. This. it has been
found, works q great hardship upon small
contractors by tieing up 10 per cent Of
their capital on all of their work. including
pavements, bridges and sewers, and In a
large measure prevents competition by rea-
son Of the fact that If a person is a fire.
quent bidder much of his capital is with
held as retent and Is unavailable.
Thus contractors with limited capital are
embarrassed when called upon to compete
with others with large capital. The pur-
pose of the bill is to relieve the contractors
from useless retent on their work where
It is absolutely unnecessary that a five
year retent should be had. In the case OF
bridges, sewers and concrete work of all
kinds the retentS are usually ascertainabie
within one year. Therefore it is mani
fest injustice to retain money according
to the committee, beyond the time neces-
sary in which to discover and correct any
defects in public works.
Procuring of Warrants
sdr. Morreu called up ouse bill 100.
which is intended to facilitate the procuring
by the police of warrants of private citi-
zens on legal holidays and at other times
when the clerk OF the Police Court is mac
cessibIe. The bill makes provision that any
justice of the peace may at any time, in
Guiding Sundays and legal holidays on
complaint under oath or actual view, issue
warrants returnabie to the Police Court
and such warrants shall be issued free of
charge. The bill was passed.
Construction of Fire Escapes.
The bill to compel the construction of fire
escapes on buildings in the District of CO.
lyyr thraa Or mo is1 hajc
over thirty feet in height used for various
purposes was then called up. Representa-
tive Tayier of Ohio. in his report to the
full committee on this bill. said that ian
investigation conyinces us that by far the
most dangerous fire traps in this city are
those buildings more than thirty and less
than fifty feet In height occupied as flats
or tenements. They entirely escape In
spection and regulation under the present
law"
The regulations In the bill are not intend
ed for the better protection OF property but
rather for the protection of the occupants
of such property. The committee also held
that the present law was entirely made
Quate for compelling nonresident owners
to comply with its provisions, and an
amendment was inserted authorizing the
Commissioners to erect a fire escape and
tax the expense against the property The
bill passed without opposition.
Requiring Accurate Weights.
The House then passed two bills, relating
to the office OF the sealer of weights and
measures One provides that accurate
weights must be used in all places where
sales of commodities In the District are
made, and the other prohibits any person
from selling coal or coke in the District
unless the weight of the load is certified in
writing.
Sale Of Infiammable Oils.
NJ. 1Fnrraf1 thar elias - t.tt,
ported by Representative Taylor of Ohio to
the full committee to place a license tax on
the sale of infiammable oils
The purpose of the legislation Is to I'm
prove governmental oversight of the SELL
ing and storing of infiammable oils, ex-
pIosives, fireworks. &c, and to charge
business. Under existing law the Com-
missioners have no authority to charge q
license fee and the committee believes