AUTHORIZING THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA TO REVOKE LICENSES UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS. FEBRUARY 17, 1913.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed. Mr. CARY, from the Committee on the District of Columbia, submitted the following REPORT. [To accompany H. J. Res. 398.] The Committee on the District of Columbia, to whom was referred H. J. Res. 398, to authorize the Commissioners of the District of Columbia to revoke licenses under certain conditions, having considered the same, report thereon with a recommendation that it pass when amended as follows: That the title of said joint resolution be amended by striking therefrom the word "Authorizing" and substituting therefor the words "Directing and empowering," so that the title when amended shall read as follows: "Directing and empowering the Commissioners of the District of Columbia to revoke licenses under certain conditions." Page 1, line 4, strike out the word "authorized" and substitute therefor the words "directed and empowered." Page 1, line 5, after the word "owner,' driver." insert the words "or Page 1, line 10, strike out the word "increase" and substitute therefor the word "advance." Page 1, line 11, after the word "his," insert the words "rents, accommodations." Page 1, line 14, strike out the words "an unusual number of persons and substitute therefor the word "person' same page, same line (14), after the word "than" insert the word "a." a." Same page, line 14, strike out the word "persons" and insert in lieu thereof the word "person." Page 2, lines 1 and 2, strike out the words "city of Washington for the purpose of participating in or observing" and insert in lieu thereof the words "District of Columbia on account of." Page 2, line 5, after the word "which," insert the word "usually"; same page, same line, strike out the word "regularly"; same page, same line, strike out the word "establishments" and insert in lieu thereof the words "places of business." Page 2, line 6, after the word "printed," insert the words "or written. Page 2, line 7, strike out the word "higher" and insert in lieu thereof the word "greater"; same page, same line, after the word "the' insert the word "price"; same page, same line, strike out the words "that may be found." Page 2, strike out lines 11, 12, and 13. Page 2, line 14, strike out the figure "4" and insert in lieu thereof the figure "3." Page 2, line 16, strike out the word "complaints" and insert the word "complaint"; same page, same line, strike out the word "courts" and insert in lieu thereof the word "court. Page 2, line 18, strike out the words "by the commissioners" and insert in lieu thereof the words and the said commissioners shall at once, without any option upon their part, cancel the license or permit of any person, corporation, or firm so convicted. The further penalty for any violation of any provision hereof shall be a fine of not exceeding $25 for each offense. Anyone aggrieved by any violation of any of the provisions of this act relative to hotels, boarding houses, lodging houses, or cafés may, during the time he may remain in the District of Columbia for the purpose of prosecuting his complaint continue at said offending hotel, boarding house, lodging house, or café for either lodging or table board free of charge: Provided, That the person complained of shall be found guilty in a court of competent jurisdiction in the District of Columbia. Any complainant under the provisions of this act who shall not receive the same accommodations while awaiting a judicial determination of the charge against the defendant hotel, boarding house, lodging house, or café shall have cause of action against any such offender for damages, both actual and punative. This act shall take effect upon its passage. The following letter, which was received by the chairman of the House District Committee, will serve to explain the reasons for the adoption of the above resolution: LOUISVILLE, KY., February 14, 1913. DEAR BEN: Referring to a news item in the Courier Journal of to-day regarding your bill introduced in Congress to regulate hotel charges in Washington. It was my expectation a few weeks ago to attend the inauguration, and immediately wired the Hotel Raleigh asking what would be their rates for a nice room with bath. They wired back that a room on Twelfth Street would cost me $120 and a room facing Pennsylvania Avenue $150, and as it has been my custom to stop at the Raleigh, am very familiar with their rates, only a few weeks ago having their room No. 1105, right on the corner, paying $3 per day for same. As three days would be ample to see the inauguration, instead of having to pay $9 they attempted to charge me $150. The rates at the Willard are not so bad, an inside room facing west being $70 and one facing Fourteenth Street $84. Have attended conventions and gatherings everywhere in this country and Europe, and am accustomed to pay two or three times the regular rates, but the Washington figures are the worst in my experience. There is no more excuse for this advance than there would be for an advance in freight and passenger rates during the busy season, and it is equivalent to Uncle Sam charging 10 cents for a 2-cent postage stamp at Christmas time. Yours, very truly, Hon. BEN JOHNSON. P. H. CALLAHAN. Washington, D. C. BRIDGE ACROSS MISSISSIPPI RIVER NEAR MOUTH OF MISSOURI RIVER. FEBRUARY 17, 1913.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed. Mr. SABATH, from the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, submitted the following REPORT. [To accompany H. R. 28718.] The Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 28718) to authorize the St. Louis Belt, Illinois & Eastern Traction Co. to construct a bridge across the Mississippi River near the mouth of the Missouri River, having considered the same, report thereon with amendment and as so amended recommend that it pass. The bill as amended has the approval of the War Department, as will appear by the letter attached and which is made a part of this report. Amend the bill as follows: Page 1, lines 8 and 9, strike out the words "to be located by said company and approved by the War Department.' Page 1, line 13, after the word "Illinois," insert the words "suitable to the interests of navigation." [Second indorsement.] OFFICE OF CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, February 12, 1913. To the SECRETARY OF WAR: 1. Returned. 2. The accompanying bill (H. R. 28718, 62d Cong., 2d sess.), authorizing the construction of a bridge across the Mississippi River, between the mouth of the Missouri River and a point 5,000 feet below said mouth, is in the usual form and makes ample provision for the protection of navigation interests. 3. So far as those interests are concerned, I know of no objection to its favorable consideration by Congress. EDW. BURR, Colonel, Corps of Engineers, [Third indorsement.] WAR DEPARTMENT, February 13, 1913. Respectfully returned to the chairman Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives, inviting attention to the foregoing report of the Acting Chief of Engineers, United States Army. ROBERT SHAW OLIVER, |