Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-06
Bill Also Forbids Carrying
Knife or Other Weapon.
COMMITTEE UNIT FOR IT
Comprehensive Gas Measure Is In
troduced by Mr.. Sims.
COVERS PENDING PROBLEMS
Provides for Judicial Revision of
Properties as Basis for Stock In
crease-Dividend Is Fixed.

AT special meeting of the House Dis
trict committee today favorable report
was authorized on the bill introduced by
Representative Sims of Tennessee declar-
ing a felony the carrying. openly or con-
cealed about the person. of any pistol
bowie knife. dirk or drkknife. blackjack
dagger. sword cane slungshot or other
metal i'll the District of Columbia.
The action of the committee was al
most unanimous. In calling up the bill
reference was made by Mr.. Sims to the
recent fatal shooting case at the Western
High School.
The meeting of the committee today
was called for the purpose of considering
the bill affecting corporations In the Dis
trict. Mr.. Sims took advantage of the
opportunity to get this bill out or the
way. so that it will be in order to call
it up in the House net Monday. which
will be District day.
Mr.. Sims also announced that next week
he will call up his bill making 1t misde-
meanor to sell deadly weapons In the
District.
Heavy Penalty Provided.
The bill reported today provides pen
atty, upon conviction, of from one to
three years in the penitentiary. The only
persons exempted are the Officers, nom
commissioned officers and privates of the
United States Army. Navy or Marine
Corps. or any regularly organized militia
company, police officers. officers guarding
prisoners. officials OF the United states
or the District Of Columbia engaged In the
execution OF the laws for protection OF
persons or property when any such per-
sons are on duty.
Section Of the bill provides for the re-
peal of such portions Of the present form
as are inconsistent with the provisions
of this measure.
The District committee also authorized
favorable reports:
On House bill 26472 providing for the
| extension Of Rittenhouse street. from Its
present terminus at Broad Branch road
eastwardly to the Daniels road, with q
uniform width Of ninety feet. and
On House bill 25393 providing for the
extension Of Franklin street northeast
from its present eastern terminus east
of oath street, to the Bladensburg road.
Comprehensive Gas Bill.
Mr.. Sims today introduced a new gas
bill, practically a consolidation under one
head of all propositions now pending be-
fore Congress affecting the Washington
and Georgetown Gaslight companies.
The new bill reduces the price OF gas
i'm the District from 81 to 80 cents a
thousand cubic feet, reduces the Legal
candlepower to 10 from % and repeats
section of the gas act Of 1896 (the stock
imitation clause.
The bill provides for ascertainment OF
the value of the gas properties by a
judicial review, exclusive of the good
will and franchise, which are not to be
included as tangible assets. 1t authorizes
the issue of additional stock UP to the
valuation so determined by judicial re-
view and makes the Commissioners OF
the District party to the proceedings with
right of appeal to the Court Of Appeals
and thence to the Supreme Court OF the
United States.
The measure fourther provides for a g
per cent dividend on the stock SO issued.
which dividend may be increased !-2o OF
! per cent for every cent Of reduction
in the price of gas per 100000 feet from
the rate fixed by the bill II the profit
exceeds the dividend authorized the
company may accumulate not exceeding
> per cent of the par value of the stock
issued as a fund for such purposes as
are necessary in the conduct Of the bust
ness.
a system of accounting is provided Tor
similar to that recommended by the New
York public utility commission. The
company is authorized to acquire coal
de-