The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-12-03
Chairman of House District
Committee Will Push
Measures Now.
WANTS NEW JAIL
AND AUDITORIUM
Pledges Himself to Work for All
Proposed Legislation Now
on the Calendar.

Representative Samuel W. Smith OF
Michigan. chairman OF the House Com
mittee on the District of Columbia, to-
day outlined the District legislation lac
Will advocate during the approaching
session of Congress, and promised his
influence toward securing immediate ac-
lion by Congress on all District bills
now on the calendar, including those
conducive TO cheaper gas
This latter promise if fulfilled, means
shat the bin providing for the repeal of
section o of the act Of 1886, which per
mits the gas companies to overcapital-
ize their stock, almost at WILL, nd the
bin providing for S0-cent gas for Wash
irEton the former Of which already has
been favorably reported by Mr.. smith
committee, and the latter of which
doubtless viii receive similar report
win soon De laid before the House Of
Representatives for final action
That both bills VIII pass the House,
once they are presented by the chair
man OF the District Committee. is Hd-
ihlJIed by those VINO are familiar with
the attitude of House members geuer-
ally on this gas proposition.
Plans To Do Much.
From the tenor of Dir. Smiths re-
marks today. 70 may be assumed safely
that some OF the most important Iesis-
lation In the history OF the District is TO
be considered by the next Congress.
Briefly summarized. Mr.. Smith viii adj
Vocate;
The Strengthening Of the building
laws OF the District, with q view 20
preventing the recurrence of The seN-
Cral disasters that have cost the loss
9i HE and property durins tne past
few months
The Inauguration Of a builders
license and more rigid supervision
o. the building inspectors office.
The erection Of national auditor
lum, ln which conventions, inaugural
balls, and similar functions may be
held.
The erection Of new United States !
Illi ~ I-G aI Ele present CEeIcr0Wu-
ed and aullquatea structure
The strengthening. rather than the /
lltau[luEs of the smoke laws of the
District TO the END that all passen-
ser ana freight trains entering the \
District shall be required 10 use
electric locomotives
Prohibition May Be Up.
Representative Smith could not fore F.
cast al this time the probable attitude /.
OF his committee on the prohibition .
question, nor on the agitation for more .
rigid Sunday observance laws. He is 7.
inclined 10 think that the latter sub /
JeCt viii be considered lu connection
with the prohibition issue. ii is prob !
able, he said, that the prohibition hear .
Ings viii be continued, in view of the
fact that organized labor has expressed /
a wish 20 be heard before the committee /
finally acts upon the proposition.
There has been considerable agitation
during the past summer for a Oue-mau
rule government and qualified suffrage
1or tine District What VIII be your at
utude on that important question: Mr.
> NTH was asked.
II shall have something 10 say on that
within a few DAYS he replied. Just [.
at the moment ] cannot express an opiu-
ion 1 have understood that the ques-
lion IL being lEIJaJtd. and later 1 can +.
give YOU my views.
Attitude On Gas.
Representative Smith was asked TO
state specifically his attitude upon the
presentation 10 Congress OF the two .
bills aiming ut cheaper gas. ono of
these bills that providing Tor the re-
peal OF The objectionaI section 3. under
which tie gas companies sought To- in
crease their capital before the District
Supreme Court and which section has
been declared unconstitutional by the
Court OF Appeals, is now iu the hands
oi air. Campbell of Kansas, OF the Dis
trict CoWmiJlee. NT Campbell. a. may
Doe said. is inclined to bring the bin be-
1oT, Jh# House carly iU IUe session.
The other bill, providing for g1-cent
gas, has been the subject of q number
o- hearings before Mr.. Smiths com
mIttee, but has not been acted uUou.
ln view of the charges made that Mr.
smith was mainly responsible fer the
Hold-up OF these Two bills and that he
had persistently declined to present the +.
one acted upon by his committee 80 the
House al the close of the last session I
Iis statement winch follows, is slsniH-
cent.
You may say for me-" said Mr.. Smith
deliberately. that shall take up and
push through all bills now on the Dis
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