Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-19
Bills Which the Commission
erS Want Enacted.
INTEREST OF THE DISTRICT
Reduction of Price of Gas and Regu-
lation of Usury.
EXTENSION OF CITY RAILWAYS
These and Other Measures Urged
Upon Lawmakers - Action on
House Chairman's Suggestion.

4 list of bills affecting the District
which are pending in Congress. and which
arc regarded by the board of Commission
ers as particularly urgent. is being pre-
pared for submission to Representative D
w. Smith, chairman OF the committee on
District affairs in the House OF Repre-
sentatives This list Is being prepared
n, the suggestion of Chairman smith.
ami will be sent to him tomorrow.
In a letter to the Commissioners. writ
ten several days ago. Mr.. Smith said that
I'm view of the fact that Congress is rap
idi.- drawing to a close he desires TO KNOW
lust what legislation the Commissioners
deem necessary at this session. He called
attention to the fact that there is a
long list of measures which relate to Dis
trict affairs before the congressional COM
mittees, and the implied suggestion is
that only the urgent Of these are likely
tn pass.
Each of the three Commissioners is pre-
pairing list of bills that come directly
under his own department, and II is prom
able the list which will go forward TO
Chairman Smith will be long one.
Gas Legislation.
The joint resolution suspending section
3 of the act of Congress. under which the
loca! gas companies are endeavoring to
increase their capital stock, is looked upon
by all three Commissioners as one of the
most urgent of the pending bills. and
they say that in justice TO the citizens
of this city suspension of the section noted
should be made.
Also prominent on the list of urgent
measures is that providing cheaper gas
for Washington. During the present ses-
sio,, of Congress and also before the
Fifty-ninth Congress. the Commissioners
advocated the reduction upon the grounds
tbat the price of gas should be COM
'tneE surate with the cost of production,
tud they will recommend legislation 10
Mis- effect.
'The Commissioners are also of the
opir ion that the bill which authorizes
them to act as a public service commas
sion, and vesting in them power to regu-
late the public service corporations Op-
Grating in the District. should be enacted
a. the present session. They contend
that in a number of the larger cities
public service commissions are regarded
as most effective in the public interest.
In their report to Chairman Smith the
Commissioners will recommend the imme-
date enactment of certain bills which au-
thorize them. in behalf of the District.
10 accent donations of money and lands
TO: the establishment of branch pub
liz library in Washington. They include.
alsT. the bill which provides more sat
isfactory control of markets and other
places where food is offered and stored
for sale, and of laundrieS and similar
industries.
Prominent in the Commissioners list is
the bill providing for the regulation of
child labor in the District and that max
Ing drunkenness and the drug habit a mis-
demeanor; also measure providing for
the Incorporation of banks and similar
one placing the savings banks under the
supervision of the controller of the cur
rency.
Transfer of Water System.
One bill that Maj. Jay ]. Morrow, En-
gineer Commissioner. is particularly anx-
ious 10 see enacted into law Is that pro-
viding for the construction of a road along
the south side of the Anacostia river, and
another is the bill providing for transfer
Of the supervision of the Washington
aqueduct and the Washington filtration
plant from the Engineer Corps of the War
Department to the Commissioners OF the
Distrisct. He contends that not only
would the service be more efficient but
the cost of operating the plants be re-
duced.
Among the bills drafted by the District
engineer department is one authorizing
the extension of the lines of the City and
Suburban Railway Company. the wash
lngton Railway and Electric Company and
the Capital Traction Company. and this
will be Included in the list. This measure
authorizes the ROADS naneu 10 make tnS
loop at the Union station for the benefit
of the travelling public. The Commis-
sioners are also anxious to have enacted
the bill providing for the extension of New
York avenue northeast from its present
terminus to the Bladensburg road, at a
width of ninety feet.
They also want legislation authorizing
the transfer TO their jurisdiction of the
system of public parks in the city. eX-
elusive of the grounds around the White
House and the government reservations.
The Commissioners list also includes
the bill which authorizes the District au-
thOritieS to compel the clearing of sand
and gravel from all sidewalks. and Com
missioner West has been particularly &C
tive in trying to bring about the enact
ment of bill providingg for the removal
of snow and ice. Both are included in the
Commits sioners' list. That the passage of
the bill providing for an increased appro-
priatiOn for the clearing of snow and ice
from the cutters and crosswalks through
out the city is urgent is evident from the
vigorous appeal made by the Commission
ers in their annual report to Congress
md during their conferences with the
congressional committees that govern the
administration of the local government.
Larger Sum Needed.
The sum of $3.50 was appropriated last
year and $4,000 was appropriated for the
present fiscal year. but experience has
made i, evident TO the Commissioners that
$1,000 is necessary.
The list also contains reference to the
bill introduced at the instance of Commits
soner West regulating the practice of
usury in the Districst, and one requiring
local corporations to file annual reports
There is law IN effect requiring his, but
II is looked upon as ineffective. AS IL pro-
vides penalty.
In sending their list of bills 10 Chairman
Smith the Commissioners will explain that
a absolutely hat
they be enacted at the present session
and placed on the statute books without
delay. They will also mention that there
are d number of worthy bills not in
Guided in the list which should he en-
acted If practicable.