Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-08
HOUSE DISTRICT DAY
A Lively Time Over Local LegiS-
Iation.
STREET EXTENSION BILLS
Method of Appraisement and Con-
demnation Criticised.
CHAIRMAN BABCOCK EXPLAINS
Debate Participated in by Messrs.
Hepburn, Gaines, Sims, Davis
and Grosvenor.
STREET EXTENSION BILLS
CHAIRMAN BABCOCK EXPLAINS

This was District day in the House. The
first of the Fifty-ninth Congress. Repre-
sentative Babcock OF Wisconsin, chairman
OF the House District committee, came On
the floor armed with seven bills OF inter
est to residents of the District. and il was
expected that none of them would start
any debate But IT seems that members or
the House have decided views on the street
extension system Of Washington and ON the
manner in which appraisements and con-
demnations of land are made. They aired
these Views today, and for While the fur
few.
THE Washington real estate ring" came
in for some hard knocks and it IS probable
that as a result of the mixup there may
be some change in existing methods
Fish Wharf Privileges.
The first bill called up by Mr.. Bahcock
today had to do with the fish wharf Mr..
Campbell of Kansas explained TO Repre-
sentative Champ Clark of Missouri that
ever since 1865 this fish wharf privilege
had been in the nature of absolute
monopoly. The law OF that year provided
that the fish wharf should he located on
some suitable dock between 1lth and 14th
streets, and 1t happened that for all these
years only one wharf had been available,
and only one bid had been submitted year
by year. The Commissioners thought that
the revenue derived from the t1sh wharf
privilege was not as large as 1t should p".
and so they had prepared draft of bill
Representative Shackelford of Missouri o.
fered amendment providing that the
privilege should not be granted for more
than one year and with this change tho
bill was passed. The bill provides for con-
petition in bidding. and will undoubtedly
have the effect Of increasing the Districts :
revenues from this source.
The House then adopted a bill providing
a penalty of SD fine and lluprlSDnnent az
not more than thirty days IN jail for per-
sons who without authority and improperly
wear the badge or insignia of ythe Grand
Army Of the Republic or other 'ss1ssdisr or
Mr.. Babcock then called up House bill
s46l which provides FOR the abatement of
nuisances in the District of Columbia by
the Commissioners. The measure was
passed without debate as was House bill
4tG3, which amends the act providing for
the appointment of sealer Of weights and
measures so that the latter and his as
sistants may be bonded In the penalty OF
5000.
Reclamation of Anacostia Flats.
A Senate bill directing the Commission
to report on the reclamation of the
Anacostla flats stirred up some little de-
bate Representative Fitzgerald of New
York Mann of Illinois and Sulzer of New
York stepped to the front and wanted to
know why an act had been brought In for
this simple purpose instead of Joint reso-
luton.
Mr.. Rabcock said he did not know. and on
motion of Mr.. Mann the bill was laid aside
in order to give him time TO prepare a reso-
luton covering the same subject.
Mr.. Babcock then asked unanimous coIl-
sent for consideration OF the House bin
providing for the extension of kalordma
road in the House as in committee of tho
whole Mr.. Hepburn objected. however. and
the House then resolved itself into commit