Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-01
COMES UP AT NEXT SESSION
Restriction Of Railway Construction
to Existing Companies Postponed.
AID TO MUNICIPAL INQUIRY
Officers and Committee on Finance
Directed to Assist Congressional
Committee Of Investigation.

will be held probably in November. the
report of it's transportation committee
opposing the bill before Congress Civ
ing the District Commissioners the
powers Of a public utilities commits
sion.
The recommendations of the trans
portation committee to the effect that
no other lines of street railways be
permitted to enter the District except
those which might be constructed by
the two existing street railway COM
panies in the District, but that other
companies might build lines in
suburban sections, was tabled also un-
til the next meeting.
Although it had been announced by
the officers of the board that the rec
concentrations OF the transpOrtat ton
committee in regard TO the bill giving
the District Commissioners the pow
ers of a public utilities commission
would not be taken up for considera-
ton last night, the recommendations
were included in the report of that
committee, read by William NJ. Shuster,
assistant secretary of the board, and
were laid before the meeting. Presi-
dent George III. Harries of the board
explained later that it had been the
object of the officers in making up the
program to eliminate those matters
which would cause much discussion
because of the warm weather and be-
cause many of the members of the
board were out of the city
Enters a Protest.
When Mr. Shuster had completed the
| reading OF the report of the public trans
portation committee, motion for its
adoption was quickly made and declared
carried, but B. Fl. Warner, who had been
endeavoring to obtain recognition while
the motion was being put, entered Wig
orous protest against that section of the
report which proposed to restrict the build
Ing OF new street car lines in the District
70 the two companies now existing here.
He said that he would like to be inform
| ed what inducements there would be to
other companies to build lines in the
| suburbs II they could not enter the city.
He wanted TO know, too, whether the
present lines In the city; could handle all
the traffic that such suburban feeders
| might bring to the city. He said that
| member of the interstate commerce COM
| mission, which has jurisdiction over the
street railways in the city, had recently
Informed him that satisfactory accom-
mediation is not afforded now by the
street railways. He asked what the con-
ditions would be If the board should sup
port such recommendation.
The chairman Of the public transporta-
ton committee, Alexander Britton. was
out Of the city, and no member of the
committee present was able to give Mr.
Warner the information he sought. 1t
was decided. therefore. to reconsider the
vote by which the report of the commit
tee had been adopted. and, on motion
made by Oliver Metzerott. the report was
tabled until the next meeting of the
board.
Report of City Finance Committee.
The following report. brought in by the
committee on municipal finance. was
adopted by the board:
"As the Board of Trade assumes there
will be the fullest inquiry on the part
of the House in respect to all matters
affecting the mutual interests of the
United States and its citizens who
are residents of the District Of CO.
lumbia, the officers of the Board or
Trade and the committee on municipal
finance are hereby authorized and d.
rected to do all things proper and neces-
sary in aid of this inquiry. to the end
that conclusions may be reached which
shall be just and fair, both to the gov
eminent and the residents and taxpayers
of the District
While there was considerable discus
sion by the board over recommendations
made by the public health and the
was accomplished. DR.. Percy Hicklng.
chairman of the public health commit
tee. urged that the board adopt resolu-
ton favoring the erection Of an inebriate
asylum in the District.
He explained there were now before
Congress three different bills for such an
institution. He was particularly anxious
that that bin which urged that the asylum
be built upon reservation No. ID. where
the aims house and other government
buildings are now located, should be ap-
proved by the board. as he declared that
the measure provided for a satisfactory
establishment In every way.
Opposition Expressed.
But this was opposed on the ground
that the bill was not before the board and
it's provisions not all clearly known. DIR.
Hickling took occasion to say that the
real estate men of the District were OPP
posed to the erection OF institutions on
government reservations, intimating that
the real estate men would like to sell
other property to the government for
these institutions. This raised protest.
Samuel w. Curriden Immediately jumped
to the defense of the real estate brokers.
declaring there had been no such oppo-
sition as far as he knew. He intimated
that certain professional men in the Dis
trict were very narrow sighted. The
chair raped for order and advised Mr..
Curriden that his language was not par
w. G. Henderson. reporting for the
streets and avenues committee. OF which
he is chairman, recommended the approval
of the bill for the removal of snow and
Ice from the sidewalks in Washington
which is before Congress. It was decid-
ed by the board. however. to refer the
matter TO the committee on legislation.
Mr.. Henderson also laid before the
meeting recommendation that the Dis
trict government maintain its own street.
paving plant instead Of having the paving
done by contract. He said that street
paving was purely a municipal matter,
and that while his committee was not in
favor of municipal ownership of public
should control the paving. But this too,
wa laid over.
Amendments Go Over.
There We're on the program three pro-
posed amendments to the bylaws. pro-
viding that no member of the board shall
be eligible as an officer or director of
the board who is an officer or director
Of any other organization in the District
aiming to do the same kind Of work.
providing that past presidents Of the
board shall be additional members Of
the board of directors, and providing that
the sections prohibiting the election OF
members to more than two successive |
terms as director be repealed. On mo- |
ton of Thomas c. Noyes these amend |
ments were allowed to go over until the |
next meeting. Mr. Moves gave as his |
reason for asking that they lie over. that |
the hour was late, the amendments were |