The Washington herald., 1916-01-18
INTRODUCES BILL
TO BUY RAILWAYS
Representative Crosser Would
Have District Acquire
Traction Lines.
NEWMAN ADMIRES PLAN
Question of Closed or Open Sessions
of House District Committee Will
Be Discussed Today

Providing for the condemnation and
purchase of the local street railway lines
by the District. the Crosser bill was re-
introduced in the House yesterday In ex-
actly the form in which 1t was reported
out by the House District Committee at
the last session. The measure authorizes
the Utilities Commission to make the
condemnation awards. subject to review
in case of appeal to the District Court of
Appeals. The purchase Is to be nego-
tiated through the sale Of bonds.
Commissioner Newman said last night
that the Commissioners will recommend
favorable action on the Crosser bill. The
I Commissioners not only recommended but
strongly urged the passage of the same
bill introduced by Mr.. Crosser at the last
session.
The question of open or secret sessions
will be discussed at this mornings meet
ing of the House District Committee,
when the motion of Representative
Mapes. of Michigan. will come up. 1t Is
understood that Chairman Johnson be-
lieves greater progress can be made with
District business IL the public is barred.
Unless President Wilson indicates TO
the subcommittee on District appropria-
tions that he desires TO be relieved of
the appointing power to the offices Of
! District recorder OF deeds and District
registrar of Wills, the recommendation
of the Comml mlssioners that these appoint
ments be vested in their offices will not
| be given force in the District appro-
priation bill.
Opposition to the appointment of a col
ored man to the recordership of deeds
| the rule of precedent since the Cleve-
land administration-hss become so
strong that President Wilson has de-
cided not to appoint a colored man.
At the request Of the Commissioners
Chairman johnson, OF the District com.
mittee. yesterday introduced bin
abandoning the present contract system,
of city refuse collection in favor Of a
municipal disposal plant as contern-
plated In the 1915 appropriation bill,
which appropriated money for survey
of the proposal The johnson bill
authorizes the expenditure of sss5, 800 for
the purchase Of land and the construction
of such a plant, and authorizes the Com
missioners to direct its operation and
the marketing of any by-product re-
sulting, the proceeds to be deposited half
and half to the credit of the District
and the United States.
Senator Smoot yesterday introduced a
| bill prohibiting charge of more than
IS cents per thousand cubic feet for gas
in. Georgetown. Senator Smoot declared
that Georgetown should not be required
to pay more than Washington for its
gas.
Representative Carlin, of Virginia. in
troduced a bill calling for a new wage
scale for employees of the Government
Hospital for the Insane as follows: En-
gineers, 81 200; assistant engineers. 81 900
mill workers, 81 900; head hremen, $40
oilers. $40; assistant firemen, $3.50; as
sistant machinists. 81 900: head tinsmith
| 81, $50; painters, $780, assistant steamfit
/ ters, $1,000; head steamntters, 81. 200
steamfitters' helpers, $40; head plumber
81, 900: assistant plumbers, $500; assistan
plumber helpers, s720; plasterers' helpers
| $40; head plasterers, $1,000: Sand leader
$500; coal sampler, $500; foreman black
| smith, 81, 900; houreshoers, 800.