Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-04
LOCAL LEG|SL ALTON
How the District Has Fared in
Congress.
MANY OPENINGS OF STREETS
East Front of Treasury to Have
Granite Pillars.
MONEY FOR FAIRGROUNDS
Other Laws Enacted, Those Which
Failed and Those Still on
the Calendar.

The Fifty-nnth Congress has marked
very material improvements for the Dis
trict of Columbia, which has followed legis-
lation contained in many bills. During the
entire Congress the committee on the Dis
trict of Columbia of the Senate received
3a3o bills, besides about fifty amendments
to appropriation bills all containing pro-
posed legisla ton for the District of Column
bia, and all referred to that committee for
investigation and recommendation to the
Senate.
The Senate committee favorably reported
to the Senate eighty bills that had origi-
mated in that body and sixty-six bills that
had originated in the House of Represent
atives. OF this entire number of local bills
ninety-seven have become laws.
The bulk of this legislation was enacted
in the last session of Congress, as is gen.
orally the case The long session of Con-
gress gives opportunity to inaugurate new
measures of Importance, with reasonable
hope that before the two years OF the Con-
gress have ended action can be secured by
both houses and opposition overcome The
second session being very generally given
over to consideration of appropriation bills,
it has not been customary to attempt i'm
portant legislation except in urgent cases
during that session.
Large Consideration to Local Affairs.
But since Congress assembled in Decem-
Der LEGAL interests have occupied a very
considerable portion of the time of Con-
gress. Many of the most important meas
ures have failed of enactment, but they
have received very thorough consideration,
which, 1t is believed, has laid the founda-
ton for legislation in the next Congress
Senator Gallinger, chairman Of the Senate
committee on the District Of Columbia, has
devoted a very large amount of time to all
of these matters, and in SO doing has had
the valuable assistance of Mr.. John H.
Walker. clerk of his committee, whose
knowledge of local affairs is so very
tensive. Senator Gallinger has not only
attended to the affairs of the District at
his end of the Capitol, but has also. as
member of the committee on appropria tons,
been actively engaged, in connection with
Senator Allison, chairman of that commit
tee. and others, in framing legislation to
meet the needs of the capital.
Representative Babcock on the House
side has also devoted a great deal of time
to local affairs as chairman of the District
committee and in that work he has had
the valuable assistance of Mr.. Harry w.
Barney, clerk of the committee.
The session which has passed has seen
legislation for the opening, widening or ex-
tension of many streets in the District of
Columbia and in that way has done much
to open up additional land for practical use
for home purposes 1t has passed legisla-
| ton which will prevent any further action
in making streets and avenues narrower
| than contemplated under the highway plan.
This provision brings to a conclusion
number of cases in which citizens have
| protested against the narrowing of road
ways. In instances in which such work has
already been begun, so that to insist upon
| the old width would make necessary the
tearing up of paving. Congress has content
ed itself by permitting such narrowing of
roadway to continue. But it has effectually
provided that hereafter no street or avenue
| in the District shall be paved less in width
| than the width now provided by law except
,f nctt-
mates made by the Commissioners.
Extension of Streets.
The sum of $4,000 has been appropriated
| for opening widening and extending alleys
/ and minor streets in the District. This will
permit a continuation of the work of
claiming the more undesirable living places
of the city and do away with the partial
slums that have developed in alleys.
| The valley of Rock Creek will probably
! be beautified in it's lower portion that is
| now so unsightly. This is the part of the
! the city as 1t empties into the Potomac. A
! provision of the District appropriation bill
! appropriates $4,000 for the preparations of
plans and estimates for the treatment of
| the valley of Rock creek from Massachu-
sets avenue to the mouth OF the creek,
both by the open valley method and by
conduit. 1t is expected that these plans will
be ready for consideration by the next Con-
gress, and If a desirable solution of the
problem for the Identification of that por-
ton of the creek can be agreed upon the
work of retaining this unsightly section
will probably be begun.
The appropriation of $4,000 for the pur-
chase of playground sites is regarded as
one of the most important advances that
has been made by this Congress in max
ing practical Roadway for the attainment
of breathing spaces for school children.
This appropriation was made Immediately
available, so that by the time pleasant
weather comes. unless there Is some hitch
in negotiations. additional play grounds
should be available.
very great improvement to the appear
ance of 18th street will be made by, the
substitution of granite for the soft stone
used in the east front of the Treasury
building. The front of the building facing
18th street is now of sandstone. SO soft that
when it was recently attempted to clean
down the building 1t was found imprac-
ticable to touch these pillars and other por-
tons of the east front which were badly
of the building were cleaned down and
given a fresh appearance This improve
ment will cost about a quarter of a million
of dollars. but it will transform the Treas
ury building into very much more impos-
ing and up-tO-date structure.
Aqueduct Bridge.
The Aqueduct bridge, which has long
been in an unsatisfactory condition, is to
| be strengthened by a reconstruction of pier
No l. for which $4,000 was provided. to-
gether with an unexpended balance Of for
mer appropriations. Provision is also made
for periodical examination of the remain
ing piers of the bridge, so that careful
watch may be maintained to see that this
structure does not become dangerous.
The Connecticut avenue bridge having
been practically completed, Congress appro-
priated $4,000 for paving approaches to
that structure, providing that this bridge
shall be completed by July of next year.
There are quite number of improvements
in the outlying sections of the city, among
which is the construction of macadam
roadway along the west side of section of
Potomac Park, to extend from the inlet Of
the tidal reservoir to the foot of 26th street.
For this work and for improving the
grounds on either side of the roadway the
sum of $4,000 was provided.
Extensive improvements were provided
for the experimental station at Bethesda
Md which has been also a matter of in