The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-01-28

Arraignfng the Dillingham; snow bill on
the grounds that it was unconstitutional
and that it would not clean the streets.
the East Washington Citizens Associa-
ton last night appointed q comr,i tie to
ask the District Commissioners to frame
bill that would take the place of the
Dillingham; bill.
Another important matter which the as
ISOLATION urged was an investigation of
! the Washington Gaslight Company. charg-
ing that the more the price OF gas goes
down the higher are the bills.
Michael 1. Weller and Thomas w. Smith
were appointed the committee with in
structions to confer with the Commission
ers regarding a substitute for the Dilling-
ham bill.
Addresses were made by Capt w. NJ.
Potter. Mr.. Hildreth. Mr.. Weller. and
MIR. Smith. condemning the unconstitu-
tionality OF the bill, and claiming that
Congress could not force a resident to
clean the sidewalk in front Of his house
any more than he is expected to clean
the street.
Let the District Do 1t.
The committee will suggest to the
Commissioners that they frame a bill
imposing on the District the duty of
removing the snow from all sidewalks
within the confines of the District But
to defray the expenses Of this, there
should be n tax levied for a period Of
three years of two cents per foot On
the frontage of houses. which. they esti-
mated, ought to bring in 100000 per year.
This sum. they urged. should be re-
tanned IA special fund. and in three
years sufficient money. with very little
comparative cost to any one person, will
be raised to carry on a snow cleaning
department along the same lines as the
street cleaning and similar departments.
They plan to have the city divided OF
into sections. and that the sidewalks be
cleaned by means of the snow pillow, as
used in Northern and Canadian cities
Commissioner Judson is in favor Of this
plan, and provided the association can
get the Commissioners to frame a bill
along these lines, they declare that they
will line up enough sentiment for the bill
to have it passed.
Municipal Job.
Snow cleaning from the sidewalks. they
claimed. was a municipal responsibility.
and that there was no reason why the
Commissioners could not have the side
walks cleaned in much the same way as
the streets
Numerous complains were heard on
the excessive rates of gas bills during
the months of November and December.
which brought forth wave Of protest
against the Washington Gas Company.
Bills were shown in cases where money
had been refunded to individuals by or
der of the District gas inspector. who ex
amined meters. finding them to be
wrong after inspectors from the gas
company had pronounced them to be in
correct working order.
Mr.. Weller was among those who ex-
pressed deep indignation at the con-
duct of the company. declaring that the
lower gas prices get the higher were The
monthly bills. and Sarcastically demand
ed that Congress be asked not to order
the company to lower its prices any
more. The association referred the mat
ter to the executive committee, with in
structions that it prepare ways for
Congressional investigation.
Would Extend Tracks.
The street railroad committee reported
that it had asked the Capital Traction
Company to extend its lines from Fiji
teenth and Pennsylvania avenue south
east to H street northeast, and to con-
tinue its line from F street to Fifteenth
street northeast.
Congress will also be asked to grant
charter to the Spa Springs and Gretta
Railroad to extend its lines.
1t was reported that work is soon to
be commenced on the construction Of
railroad approaches to the steam track
grades in Southeast Washington, from
the east.