The Washington herald., 1911-03-04
HOUSE Is HOSTILE
TO DISTRICT BILLS
Important Property Measure
Goes Down in Defeat.
WAS ASKED BY COMMISSIONERS
IL Would Have Secured the Proper
Designation of All Property Upon
and Gas Rate Bills Also Fail to
Receive Consideration.


The House yesterday downed another
District Improvement plan recommended
by the Commissioners by defeating a
measure for the systematic designation
of the parcels of land throughout the
city Of Washington and suburbs.
Representative johnson, of Kentucky
aspirant for the Craftsmanship of the
Committee on the District OF Columbia,
succeeded in arraying a solid Demo
cratic vote against the present chairman.
Mr.. Smith, on the declaration that the
measure was most vicious; that under its
terms workingmen and those who do not
closely follow advertisements might lose
their property by not understanding its
new designation.
Purpose of the Bill.
The bill provided that each square IN
the city of Washington should bear a
number or other designation to distin-
gIish it from every other square in the
city, and that each lot OF parcel of
ground should also bear a designating
number. In order to enable the Commits
sioners to prepare a series of volumes
Of plats to replace those at present used
in making the assessments and taxes Of
the District, the sum of 5000 was appro-
priated. The bill also provided that the
omission of the name or the owners Of
any parcel of land in the District from
the designated taxation or assessment
should not invalidate or in any wise
affect the legality of such tax or assess
ment.
Representative Smith made an earnest
speech in behalf of the measure, say
ing that the need for a new system of
designation in the District was urgent.
that the bill had been recommended by
the Commissioners, approved by the com
mittee, and should be passed.
Opposed by Mr.. johnson.
Representative johnson, taking advan-
tage OF the small attendance of Republi-
cans, saw an opportunity to defeat the
measure. Taking a stand in front OF
the House he launched forth into ora
tory, and asserted that the legislation was
the most vicious and dangerous ever
brought forward by the District, and that
it was only intended to confuse titles.
Representative Smith denied that any
such mischievous effects would follow
the passage Of the bill.
Having been considered under suspen-
sion of the rules and requiring a two
thirds vote TO pass, the bill was de-
feated. thirty-four voting in its favor
and thirty-one against. Thoroughly an
gered and disappointed over the failure
OF the measure, Representative Smith de-
manded a quorum, but was finally dis
suaded from calling in the absent mem
bers, owing to the delay a roll call would
cause.
In an effort to secure the passage OF
District bin authorizing the Secre-
tary of War to convey title to lots and
4, square 100, to the government, il was
discovered that it had not been properly
reported from the committee. 1t was
accordingly laid aside.
Minor Measures Passed
1t was generally hard shedding through
out the day for District bills. Only the
by unanimous consent:
Senate bill S74, changing the name of
Messmore place to Mozart place. The
change was urged by the residents OF
the street in question:
Senate bill 1856, directing the Secre-
tary of War to convey the outstanding
legal title to lot 20, square &3, in the
CITY of Washington for which no certifi-
cate has heretofore been issued by the
United States.
Senate bill $3.50. for the relief of Mar
garetha weidman and others on account
of damages due to grading their prop
erty adjacent to the Union Station.
Senate bill $500, to authorize the ex-
from Brentwood road to Rhode Island
avenue.
Important Bills Not Considered.
Several efforts were made to secure
unanimous consent to pass the bill regu-
Iatfng loan companies, but Mr.. Finley,
of South Carolina, objected: the two
gas measures, one relating to an addi-
tional issue of stocks and bonds by the
gas companies and the other reducing
the price of gas in the District, to which
Mr.. Mann. of Illinois, objected. and the
bill requiring fathers to support illegiu-
mate children, to which Mr.. johnson OBJ
jected. Mr.. Mann, in objecting, said
that he found fault with the verbiage OF
the bills and the time was too short TO
amend them.