Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-22
BILLS AWAIT ACTION
District Measures on Desks
of New Commissioners.
CURFEW LAW AMONG THEM
Legislation Which Has Been But
Partially Matured
BOARD MUST MAKE REPORTS
Legislation Covering Variety of Az
fairs Which Congress Has
Started on Its Way.
CURFEW LAW AMONG THEM
BOARD MUST MAKE REPORTS

The new board of Commissioners which
is TO convene Monday. will find half .
hundred pieces OF legislation affecting the
District pending for consideration at the
Capitol and at the District building. Some
Of the bills are old friends TO the public
and others have received scant publicity.
and perhaps will be new TO the incoming
Commissioners.
a matter which has not reached tho
Capitol. and which is hanging In the bal
ance. is the proposed curfew law. Com
missioner Macfarland gave this an cN-
traordinarily hearty send-off. but Commits
sioner West was not quite SO favorably
impressed and sent it along without
vote. Maj. Judson has given a great deal
Of consideration to the proposition. and
his decision has been expected daily.
The loan shark bill, drawn up by Com
missioner West and Corporation Counsel
Thomas. is still with the senators and
representatives. This bill is framed to
give the Commissioners a clear insight
into the workings of loan Offices. except
ing pawnshops. banks. trust companies
and real estate brokers.
Probation and Patrol System.
The bill to establish probation and pa
troll system i'm the District is still 10 he
passed. This measure provides law
whereby a Judge can let a defendant OFT
when it appears that a suspension OF SEN
tence will do more good 10 the community
than will a Jail sentence. The bill Is
pending in the Senate.
A bill to provide the appointment of two
cadets from the District OF Columbia 10
w TD,t.. h1nV no la
health measure. regulating the sale OF
milk. cream and ice cream. is still IN the
houses of the Legislature and not on the
statute books yet.
Congress has not passed the act to
make 1t a misdemeanor to abandon or
willfully neglect TO provide for wives ana
children. The public service commission
bill. clothing the Commissioners with
power to regulate public utilties-such
as street railways. telephone companies
and lighting corporations-went to the
Senate only few days ago. This meas
ure has been mentioned by the Commits
Sioners i'm their annual reports Tor Two
or three years.
The licensing of moving picture opera
tors and the appointment OF a board TO
pass on the fitness OF persons who want
to run moving picture machines is not "A
law as yet The fire department is much
interested In this bill.
District Right Of Way.
The proposition to give the District the
| right Of way along the Anacostia side
| OF the Eastern branch is now thought to
be in such shape that 1t viii meet the
most rigid requirements. Only day or
two ago It received fresh bath of con-
stitutionality. If It becomes a law the
District will have the riparian rights
along the newly dredged channel when
| the Anacostia flats are reclaimed. and
will be able to regulate the buildings
along that part of the river front.
The curious situation brought UP by the
application of a steamboat company Tor
liquor license is still unsettled, as far As
Congress is concerned. There is no law at
present which makes il possible to grant
a liquor license TO steamboats, on the
Potomac river. as far as II runs tnrough
the District. and yet IL has been held
illegal for them to sell liquor without a
license. A bill to cover this went to the
Capitol less than a month ago.
The short bin which will fix the Com
mssioners' salaries at $500 year is
still under consideration at the Capitol.
The outgoing Commissioners Endorsed tho
bill heartily and said the work OF the
Commissioners was worth at least mat
much.
The license tax on small circuses. dog
shows and pony shows, If passed. will at
tract many a one-ring circus TO the city
and will give the District 500 day for
each show. 1t is still to be passed
Other Legislation Pending.
Other bills still pending cover the ex-
tension Of certain streets. the straighten-
ing out Of portions OF the boundaries OF
Rock Creek Park, etc.
There is also a bill which makes IL un-
lawful to fly a kite anywhere in the
District of Columbia. This was framed by
the police department. Before il went To
the Capitol the bill read SO as to permit
kite flying in the suburbs. but Mai. Syl-
vester had it changed SO as TO cut 1T out
in the whole District. 1t makes il worth
$40 TO indulge in this sport with the
Police Court as referee. Congress has
not yet cut the kite strings.
NEW OFFICERS INSTALLED.