Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-05
Others Regulate Vehicle Operations
and Pertain to Various Subjects.
RESTRICTION ON BUILDING
If Combustible or Non-Fireproof
Material Is Used Structure Can
not Exceed -Four Stories.

ris measure to provide for a primary law
in the District, and which places the en-
tire matter of holding primaries in the
hands of the District Commissioners.
Other bills reported on today were
the bill which will necessitate taxicab
drivers and other public vehicle oper-
ators being closely inspected and
watched by the police, who can refuse
to give them a license in case of mis-
behavior; a bill to confer upon the
Commissioners authority to regulate
the operation of the vehicles of the
Metropolitan Coach Company; a con-
cealed weapon bill. the bill which pro-
vides a penalty for failing to return
library books to the Public Library,
a bill which provides for the protec
ton Of the interest of the United States
in lands and waters comprising any part
of the Potomac river Rock Creek and
the neighboring lands: a bill which linn
Its the height of buildings, placing the
height at IS feet for dwelling houses,
ETC.; a bill to require the Chesapeake
and Ohio Canal Company to maintain
bridges over the canal and several
bills amending the criminal code.
trict committee said after the meeting
of the committee, which was behind
closed doors, that the written reports on
these bills would be presented by various
members of the committee and that the
bills would be brought up in the House
with all the speed possible. While there
Is chance that one or two of these bills
might be brought up on the next District
day, which falls on Monday, this chance
is very slim, because of the fact that the
reports would have to be written quickly
after the meeting
Provisions of Primary Bill.
Representative Norris primary bill is
fifty-fve pages in length. 1t provides
that the second Tuesday in April in the
years when President or Vice President
are to be elected shall be considered a
primary election day. The bill goes into
the matter of primaries with exceptional
detail. The Commissioners have general
oversight over the primaries, and the
delegates to the national convention have
to subscribe to an oath that they will
carry out the wishes and preferences Of
their political party as expressed at the
primary nominating election.
The bill provides that in order to
vote one must have lived in the Dis
trict as an actual resident for at 1eas
one year. The name of no candidate
will be printed upon any Of the ballots
used at any primary unless he shall
have notified the Commissioners in writ
Of the primaries. There is a paragraph
in this bill which says that in 1912 this
nomination paper shall be signed by at
least 500 electors. In succeeding primary
signed by not less than per cent
nor more than 10 per cent of the total
vote of the party at the preceding
primary nominating election.
Complete machinery for the dividing Of
the city into precincts by the Commission
ers is outlined in the bill; election clerks,
registration books and every detail which
will insure a fair and accurate primary
seem to have been arranged for by Rep
resentative Norris.
The Australian ballot system is spe-
officially authorized. The usual restric-
ton which prohibit people from stand
ing within fifty feet of the polls is in
corporated In the bill. Several penalties
this measure. and considerable portion
of the bill is given over to rules determin-
ing what a resident of the District of
Columbia is
The bill says that any Washingtonian
may be considered a boni-fide resident of
this District IL he has a residence here
and does not abandon it entirely for some
other state or territory. The place where
an unmarried man sleeps shall be con-
sidered his residence; but no matter
where married man sleeps, according
to this bill. the place where his family
resides shall determine in what precinct
he shall vote.
Voters Must Declare Residences.
This primary bill. if enacted, will make
1t necessary for a great many voters to
declare either for voting in their home
state or in the District, because under
this law a Washingtonian will lose his
residence should he vote in any state or
territory. The penalties which are at
tached to this law are those usually found
in primary election acts and range from
five-dollar fines up to penalties of $1,000
and three years in the penitentiary.
Although this bill in its present form
would not affect the republican primary,
which was held in the District not many
weeks ago, 1t might have an affect upon
the democratic primaries, which are still
to be held. When this bill was being dis
cuSsed before the committee at various
meetings, Representative Hughes of New
Jersey appeared before the committee and
said that the Wilson democrats are highly
In favor Of a District primary law, and it
Is well known fact that the Clark dem
ocrats are in favor of it, Representative
Kahn of California spoke in opposition
to the measure several weeks ago before
a committee, but he did not give any
other than personal reasons.
The bill providing a penalty for not re-
turning library books will be passed on
the floor of the House, 1t is assured and
when it become law any one who fails
to return a book to the Public Library
will run the risk Of a fine of SIS or m
prisonment for not less than a month,
nor more than six months.
Restricts Height Of Buildings.
The act to regulate the heights of build
ings will be amended if the bill. which
the committee reported today is passed.
The law will read, when amended. SO
that no combustible or non-ffreproof
building used as a dwelling. apartment
house or hospital shall be erected to a
height Of more than four stories or more
than ffty-five feet in height above the
sidewalk This raised the height five feet
The bill providing for the protection OF
United States interests along the river
front If passed. will authorize the Attor-
ney General Of the United States to start
wholesale suits against every one who
may have or think he may have any
right, title. claim or interest adverse to
the complete title of the United States in
any land or water near the Potomac river
or Rock creek. including the shores OF
submerged land and marches.
The bill concerning the Chesapeake and
Ohio Company bridges was introduced by
Representative Johnson Of Kentucky al
the request Of the District Commission
ers. 1t is designed to give the Commits
sioners power to force the company to
build adequate bridges and keep them in
repair.
The Sims bill to prohibit the carrying
of weapons specifies that no pistol, bowie
knife dirk or dirk knife, black jack, dag
knife, sword cane, slung shot or brass
knuckles shall be carried either openly OF