Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-08
INNING FOR DISTRICT
House Considers Local Bills
First Time in Weeks.
SEVERAL MEASURES PASS
Two Amendments Are Made to the
Criminal Code.
STREETS ARE EXTENDED
Change in Route of 10th Street Bus
Line Also Given Con-
sideration.
SEVERAL MEASURES PASS
LETS ARE EXTENDED

The House of Representatives granted
the District its right today for the first
time in several weeks and several bills
affecting the District of Columbia were
passed. Two amendments TO the criminal
code, several street extensions and
change I'm the route Of the 18th street
bus line were given the approval OF the
House.
The Senate bill ito provide concurrent
jurisdiction on the police court of the
District of Columbia in disorderly mouse
cases was passed quickly. A bill covering
criminal assault. fixing the penalty at
from five to thirty years, provoked q
technical discussion between represent
alive Johnson chairman of the House
District committee and Representative
Mann ef Illinois. leader of the republican
side of the House The bill was passed
Representative Johnson brought up the
bill to amend the law to prevent false
pretense: obtaining money on worthless
paper beating hotel bills. obtaining credit
by false pretenSes, etc. The penalty IS
fixed at 500 maximum fine or maxi
mum penalty of six months in Jail. IL
was passed with no discussion.
Governs Hackmen.
The bill to license all public hackmen
and chauffeurs was next taken up. This
measure makes it necessary for the
vehicle to prove himself of good char
acter and worthy of receiving a license
from the assessor. The police. under
the terms of the bill. must investigate
every applicant. The annual fee Is 81.
The bill gives the Commissioners the
right to take drivers license away II
they believe him to be more of a night
line pirate than a driver, and makes
several changes in the hack business
which have been sought after by District
officials for some time past. Identif1ca-
ton of drivers beyond question is the OBJ
ject aimed at.
The bill was passed after a long discus
sion about numbers on cabs.
Taylor Takes Chair.
Mr.. Johnsons motion for the House to
sit as committee of the whole was ac-
cepted and Representative Taylor OF Colo
RADIO took the chair.
The committee took up the bill to au-
thorize the extension of Underwood street
northwest from Sth street northwest to
18th street northwest in its full width Of
ninety feet.
The bill was adopted by the committee.
Another street bill was taken up the
measure to straighten out the line OF 18th
street northeast and was approved. The
bill was introduced by request of the
Commissioners for the purpose Of enlarg-
ing the grounds of the Franciscan mon
astery in Brookland. d. c. The District
is involved In no cost. as the property
owners have donated the necessary land.
Would Aid Coach Company.
Representative Kahn Of California
spoke in favor of the bill to allow the
Metropolitan Coach Company a change
of route. He said that the company has
been operated at loss. but If it is allow
ed to make change In route, so as to
cover u section downtown not so we'll
provided by street railways, 1t would put
new buses the line and give 10th
street bright and snappy service.
Representative Sims of Tennessee, who
lives on 18th street. favored the bill.
Representative Longworth OF Ohio in
terrupted with question as to the dan
ger of automobiles.
1.-THE automobile never was dangerous =
said Mr.. Sims. 1T is the caanks who
run them who become dangerous
The route outlined in the bill Is down
18th street northwest to 18th street and
Pennsylvania avenue, west to Madison
place north to III street, east to 18th street
and thence back TO 18th and Z streets.
with privilege of making slight change
in that route IL desired
The District committee had included an
amendment to give passengers getting on
north of II street northwest transfers for
rocate.
The bill was laid aside for a favorable
report and later passed.
Objects to Road Plan.
The widening of Benning road from it's
present cramped size to 10 feet from
18th street northeast to Oklahoma ave-
nue. was explained by Representative
Kahn. The Commissioners have been
anxious 10 widen the road, it being one OF
the heaviest travelled thoroughfares in
the District. Representative Mann OBJ
jected.
There Is no more occasion for 10
foot street there" he said, "tha nthere is
for 1,OO0-foot street"
Other objections We're made and prompt
iy defended. but a hum of conversation
in the hall of the House drowned the
voices OF the legislators who were talk
ing about the National Capital The
bill received a favorable report: and
further legislation on account of the Dis
trict was suspended at that point.