Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-12
automobile turning corner at six mile.

automobile turning corner at six miles
hour.
The vote being taken the amendment was
lost. Representative Gillett then offered
another amendment providing that auto
mobiles be permitted to speed as fast
they pleased outside OF the fire limits,
long they slowed down to twelve miles
an hour when passing a person or vehicle
FMS amendment was likewise lost and the
measure was then passed as reported
Mr.. Babcock then called up the House
bill providing for the temporary mainte-
of the Long bridge over the Potomac
river and providing further that all vehi-
cles Weighing when loaded more than two
tons used in the District shall have four
inch tires. Mr. Babcock explained the pro-
visions OF the measure, but Mr. Sims OF
Tennessee remarked that as drawn tue
measure had proved universally unsatis-
factory and he asked that 1t be recommit-
ted to the District committee, which was
done.
Removal Of Snow and Ice.
The Commissioners snow and Ice bill was
then called up by Mr.. Babcock. and was
explained by Mr.. Kline OF Pennsylvania,
member OF the committee Mr.. Kline called
attention to the fact that at present there
Is no law regulation in the District OF
Columbia to compel the removal of snow
and ice from the sidewalks, the law passed
by Congress February TO- 1904 having been
get as de Uy the COURT OF Appears III q uC-
cision by Justice Morris. now retired. which
described emphatically or without aualifi-
cation that the duty of removing snow and
fee rested upon the municipality and not
upon the private citizen.
The bill was then passed without objec-
ton.
Congress having failed to respond to the
suggestion that an appropriation be made.
Mr. Kline said the Commissioners endeay-
ored TO solve the problem by enacting a
10 ffrrN 1Nac sod non
old laws of the corporation OF Washington,
which directed that snow and ice should be
removed from payements, under a penalty
OF fine or Imprisonment But the Court OF
of-Appeals decided that the Commissioners
had no authority to make this regulation,
not going so far as to say, however that
the regulation In itself was void but en-
phaslzing the authority through which the
regulation should be enforced. In other
words, Mr.. Kline pointed out, the court
did not say that If the regulation had been
enacted by Congress it would still have
been without effect.
He admitted that 1t was uncertain that
the court would uphold the law. even II this
bill should be passed, but he said the Com
missioners are anxious to exhaust every
possible means of securing an effective
snow and ice law before they are compelled
to do the work through an appropriation
made by Congress. This legislation was
asked therefore, he said, in order that for
the third and last time an effort may be
made to secure a law which will meet the
approval OF the Court of Appeals.
II this last effort does not prove sue
Cessfui Mr.. Kline said. the Commissioners
would then appeal to Congress for an ap-
preparation to clean off the and ice,
but they did mot feel justified in inviting
this charge upon the community until ev
cry otheI effort had been tried and found
wanting The cost would necessarily be a
large one. for he did not believe 1t likely
that the great majority OF people in the
community would undertake to do for
themselves that which the municipality
was compelled to do for them.
The next bill called up was that TO IN
corporate the American Institute for Drug
Proving. The committee had amended the
measure SO as to make Il read the Ameri-
can Homeopathic Institute for Drug Prov
ing
Champ Clark's Protest.
Representative Champ Clark of Missouri
wanted to know why Congress should In
corporate drug company.
Mr.. Clark declared that District business
fast becoming a nuisance and that
Congress ought to get rid Of the whole
business Any member of Congress- he
said. would make good member OF the
common council of Washington If they hap
pened 10 live here. but under present con-
didons a member OF Congress had to fol-
low Chairman Babcock or one of his lieu
tenants OIL faith. Mr. Clark said that so
far as he was concerned he generally voted
the other way on faith.
AT the close of somewhat rancorous dis
cussion the bill was laid upon the table
The House then took up consideration of
the Juvenile Court bill, and will follow
action on that by discussing the bill which
increases the pay and hastens the promo
ton OF the metropolitan police.
BY unanimous consent Representative
Grosvenor called up his bill directing the
board of visitors OF St. Elizabeth's In
sane Asylum TO investigate that institution
Representative Clayton OF Alabama and
Representative Clark of Florida stated that
they had Withdrawn their objections.
The Clark amendment providing that all
sittings of the investigating committee
shall he public was agreed to and the bill
was passed. ...-rs