Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-28
A DISTRICT DAY
Local Matters Up in the
49, House.
PUBLIC LECTURES BILL
Passed After Considerable Discussion
by Members.
MANY STREET EXTENSIONS
Adopted without Debate - Amend
ment to District Banking Laws
Recommitted to Committee.

proposed amendment adds to section 491g
Of the code the following:
And where a part of any lot, piece, par
eel or tract of land has been dedicated for
he opening extension, widening or straight
ming of the street. avenue. road or high
way the jury. in determining whether the
remander of said lot, piece parcel or tract
is To be assessed for benefits and the
amount of benefits. II any. to be assessed
thereon shall also take into consideration
he fact of such dedication and the value
Of the land so dedicated"
The object of this amendment ls merely
allow the jury making the award In con-
,lemnation proceedings for the opening, ex-
rnson. widening OF Strengthening OF streets,
venues roads or highways to take INTO
..nnsideration when assessing dement's, the
.alue of the land dedicated by individuals
public uses.
Free Evening Lectures.
House resolution 24746 was called up. 1t
authorizes the board of education to con-
tinue to conduct bureau of free evening
lectures
Mr.. Madden of Illinois said the committee
IN appropria lions had considered this SUD-
ject and had concluded not to authorize the
expenditure. He hoped that the Dill Wouio
not pass. The committee on appropria,
lions had felt. he said. that there was no
real demand for free lectures and the Dill
was designed mainly to furnish places Tor
some people.
xnew how many people had attended the
lectures while they lasted, and upon Mr..
Madden replying in the negative, MI. Nor
rel said that more than 1000 people had
attended them.
Mr. Madden said these lectures are not
intended for school children, but for adults,
and adults should pay for their own educa-
ION.
Mr. Fitzgerald said that II these lectures
are authorized they should be conducted
Tor people whose early education had been
neglected
Mr. O,cott said that such an amendment
would be willingly accepted.
Continuous Strife Over the ectures.
Mr.. Fitzgerald said there had been con-
tinuous strife over the lectures and their
subjects. and the result has been that the
object of the appropriation has been de-
feated. He protested against the selection
of subjects far beyond the comprehension
Of people whose education had been neg
lected The lectures had been held in the
city library, and on account of the sur
roundngs many people had felt delicacy
IN attending. .... ....-. =. ..-..--
Mr. Olcott said he would accept an
amendment providing that they should De
held In the public schools.
Mr. Bennett of New York favored the
bill He said he was a self-educated man
and he sympathized with those who do not
have advantages of education In their
youth. This bill will give advantages to
those to whom they have been denied.
Mr. Olcott in behalf of the committee, Of
tered amendment providing that the
lectures shall be held in the public school
buildings. Mr. Simms of Tennessee asked
hat amendment be adopted fixing the
ntire cost on the District of Columbia, but
Mr. Olcott declined to accept it. Mr.. SimmS
read the list of lectures heretofore delivered
md ridiculed the subjects. He said that
he entire list was such as would beat any
man for office in his district who proposed
20 spend public money on them.
Yeas and Nays Called For.
The Olcott amendment was adopted and
tellers were demanded on the passage of
he bill On the vote by tellers the ayes
were "A and the nays 76 The friends of
the bill then called for the yeas and nays
on the floor.
On a yea and nay vote the free lecture
bill was passed by vote of 112 to 1O3
Passed Without Debate.
Mr.. Babcock then called up House reso-
luton 1910 for the opening of Albemarle
street from Wisconsin avenue't to Murdoch
Mill roaG. The bill was passed without de-
pate.
House resolution 24932. for the extension
IF School street from it's present terminus
, Irving street was then called up. The
port says that the extension Is necessary
give better access to the public school
It the corner of School and Lamont streets.
The bill was passed.
II. X. 1926 was called UP. 1t provides for
opening street to be known as Mills ave
7ue from 24th street to Rhode Island ave-
aue northeast with width of fifty feet.
The bill was passed.
Banking Bill Amendment.
III. r. 1868 was called up. Representa-
i've Mann of Illinois asked for an explana-
lion of the bill. Representative Olcott re-
sponded with an explanation that it was
Intended to correct certain abuses which
aad grown up under the banking laws of
:he District
The general purpose of the proposed
"gislation. which was drafted by the Com
hissioners OF the District of Columbia. on
he recommendation of the controller of
ne currency, and has the unqualified ap-
proval OF both the Commissioners and the
controller. is to place all classes OF bank
'ng institutions in the District Of Columbia
under the same governmental supervision
which the national banks, the trust COM
3anies and savings banks are subjected to
n the District OF Columbia.
Report Of Committee.
The report of the committee said:
THE amendment which your committee
recommends. exempting the regularly IL
,ensed private banks. was recommended by
,he Commissioners after the bill had been
that this provision will result in exempting
from the provisions of the act four CO.
partnerships which have been doing BUSH
Iess in the District. one since 1856. and the
!oungest since 1880. These firms do not
onduct a general banking business, do not
receive savings deposits, the chief element
Of their business being for the convenience
II their patrons for whom they make in
-estments. Your committee is also inform
Il that the controller of the currency APP
.royes this amendment, and II therefore
BELIEVES that the bill herewith reported
should be enacted into law
Mr.. Stafford OF Wisconsin expressed the
opinion that the committee amendment rel
alive to private banking firms would give
something OF a monopoly to the four or FIVE
private banks now established.
Mr.. Babcock explained that four or five
Trims here whose business 10 practically
ronfined to brokerage and the controller
thought they could not come under the pro-
visions OF the bill. Without the amendment
proposed by the committee And which sub
'equently has been agreed to by the control
.er the bill would drive these firms out OF
business because they coulu not deposit
rom their customers to protect their ac-
counts
Mr.. Mann and Mr.. Sheriey said they
feared that the amendment would confer n
all tx..s H. - IL r.