Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-10
ELEVEN MEASURES
ARE D|SAPPR0vED
Commissioners Send Reports
on Even Dozen District
Bills to Congress.

Reports on twelve bills affecting the
National Capital which are now pending in
Congress were transmitted to the SEN
ate and House District committees by
the Commissioners of the District of
Columbia today.
This is the largest number of reports
that have been made at any time by
the present board of Commissioners
With but one exception. adverse action
Is recommended in each case.
The exception is In the case of the
bill to provide for an investigation of
the collection and disposal of garbage
and city waste in the District. In this
instance the Commissioners call atten-
ton to another measure, known as II.
r. 1896, which is designed to accom-
plish the same purpose and which they
prefer to have enacted into law. A
, third garbage collection bill is adverse
ly reported on.
Measures Disapproved.
The bills disapproved are:
H r. 10313-To amend an act making
appropriations to provide for the ex-
penses Of the District for the fiscal year
ending June 30. 1914.
H. r. 39O6.-To amend the present
method Of collecting garbage, ashes and
other refuse.
H. R 1176-To acquire certain land
in Washington Heights for a public
square.
H. R 2s61-Authorizing the extension
of 1st street east.
H. R. 390O-For extension of H street
east of 18th street to Goth street north
east.
H. r. a236-Providing for grading and
improving of 18th street northeast, in
Rrr lorr ct~ Al
Bunker Hill road, now known as Michi-
gan boulevard.
H. R. 3aG6-To amend an act for the
widening of Benning road.
H. R. 967EProhibiting labor on build
ings on Sunday.
H. r. 39s4ro regulate the hours of
labor on contracts with the District OF
Columbia.
H. R. 125se-For the extension of AL
bemarle street from Wisconsin avenue
to the east line Of 39th street northwest.
H. R. 33sO-Providing for the construc-
tion Of bridge across the Anacostia
river.
Concerning the latter proposed i'm
provement the Commissioners say that,
in their opinion, existing bridges across
the Anacostia river are sufficient for the
present and the near future.
With respect to the suggested extern
sion of AlbemarIe street, they call at
tention to the fact that they have gen.
sion whenever the public interests re-
quire such action.
The District labor contract bill is dis
approved. because the Commissioners say
that in all contracts for construction OF
buildings they include a provision that
no laborer in the employ of a contractor
shall be required or permitted to work
more than eight hours in any one cal
endar day.
The volume and character of work car
District lie nf IN
emergency character and Is so important,
the District heads say, that the enact
ment of a law which would prohibit its
performance would be detrimental to pub
lie interests.
Concerning the Benning road bill, the
Commissioners report that they already
have instituted condemnation proceedings
to accomplish this purpose.
Thirteenth Street Plan.
That the grading Of 18th street is not
approved for the reason that it would
not be justfiable use of public funds
to the exclusion Of other streets In need
Of Improvement is the gist of the report
submitted on the bill relating to this
thoroughfare-
The Commissioners say they will pro-
vide for the extension of H street
A similar report is made on the bill
for the extension of 1st street.
Reporting on the bill to establish a
public square in Washington Heights,
the District heads assert that they al
ready have recommended to Congress
acquisition Of park in the northea st
section OF the city, known as the Pat
terson tract. and that in their judg
ment this is the only park which
should be acquired at the present time.
The bill amending the act making ap-
| propriations for the fiscal year ending
| June 80. 1914 was introduced by Rep
resentative johnson of kentucky. 1t
would repeal the section under which
| the Commissioners authorized to
| make street extensions in accordance
with the highway plan. Reporting on
this BILL the Commissioners say:
Before the passage of the act ap-
proved March 4. 1918, which the pres
| ent bill proposes to amend, it was nee
| essary that all propositions concerning
| the extension of streets be introduced
| in Congress as separate measures. re-
| quiring Investigation upon the part OF
| the congressional committees as to the
| merits or demerits of each case. and
| the consumption of considerable time
on the part of the committees.
THE granting of authority to the Com
missioners to make street extensions in
the public interest gave to them a duty
and responsibility in matters concerning
which they should be assumed to have
| full information and relieved the con.
! gressional committees of what would
| seem to be an unnecessary burden
| Would Mean Revision.
The passage of the bill now under con-
sideration would mean a reversion to the
former practice after very brief trial
of the new arrangement and without, &c
far as is known. any Objectionable condi.
tions having resulted therefrom.
The Commissioners believe it to be a
| reasonable and proper policy to delegate
| to the discretion and authority in mat
| ters of detail relating to the admins.
| tration of the affairs of the District and
| they regard the bill as backward ster
in the progress of such a policy. For
| these reasons the Commissioners believe
| the bill should not pass"