Repairs to ments. Vol. 20, p. 105. Cars. Time-table. Speed. pave of inspection and the cost of changes to public works in the streets caused by the construction of said railway. SEC. 7. That the company shall keep the space between its rails and tracks and two feet exterior thereto in good condition, to the satisfaction of the Commissioners of the District of Columbia. The pavement of these spaces shall be at least as good as that of the contiguous roadway. The proper authorities shall have the right to make changes of grade and other improvements which they may deem necessary, and when any highway occupied by the company is improved the company shall bear the entire expense of improving said spaces to correspond with the remainder of the roadway. The requirements of this section shall be enforceable under the provisions of section five of the Act providing a permanent form of government for the District of Columbia, approved June eleventh, eighteen hundred and seventy-eight. SEC. 8. That the cars shall be first-class and shall be kept in good condition, to the satisfaction of the Commissioners of the District of Columbia. SEC. 9. That the cars shall be run as often as public convenience requires, on a time-table satisfactory to the Commissioners of the District of Columbia. SEC. 10. That the speed of the cars shall be subject to the police regulations of the District of Columbia. SEC. 11. That persons drunk, disorderly, contagiously diseased, or refusing to pay the legal fare may be ejected from the cars by the officers in charge thereof. SEC. 12. That as far as possible articles left in the cars shall be cared for by the company, to the end that they may be returned to the rightful owner. SEC.-13. That the rate of fare which may be charged for the transportation of passengers over the line of said company within the District of Columbia shail not exceed five cents per passenger, and six tickets shall be sold for twenty-five cents. SEC. 14. That the company is authorized to erect and maintain the buildings necessary to the operation of this road, subject to the building regulations of the District of Columbia. The company shall erect and maintain passenger rooms and transfer stations as required by the Commissioners of the District of Columbia. All passenger rooms and transfer stations shall be provided with such conveniences for the public as said Commissioners may direct. SEC. 15. That the said company, through its proper officers, shall annually, on or before August first, make return under oath to the board of personal tax appraisers of the District of Columbia of the amount of its gross receipts in the District of Columbia during the preceding year ending June thirtieth, and shall pay to the collector of taxes of the District of Columbia, at the same time and in the same manner as other personal taxes are paid, an amount equal to four per centum per annum thereon in lieu of other personal taxes; that the real estate of the said company in the District of Columbia shall be assessed and taxed as is other real estate in said District. SEC. 16. That nothing in this Act shall prevent the District of Columbia, at any time, at its option, from altering the grade of any avenue, street, or highway occupied by said railway, or from altering and improving streets, avenues, highways, and the sewerage thereof; and the company shall change its railway construction and pavements so as to conform to such grades and improvements as may have been or may be established. SEC. 17. That said company is authorized to construct and operate, for its own use only, telegraph and telephone lines along its railway, as herein provided for, subject to the approval of the Commissioners of the District of Columbia, tion. SEC. 18. That the construction of said extension on the lines of said Time of co: strucrailway company within the District of Columbia shall be commenced within one year of the passage of this Act, and be completed and cars running thereupon for passenger traffic within two years from the passage of this Act, in default of which this Act shall be void and of no effect. conditions, etc. SEC. 19. That all the conditions, requirements, and obligations Compliance with imposed by this Act shall be complied with by any of the successors to and assigns of said company within said District. SEC. 20. That within sixty days from the approval of this Act, the Deposit of guaranty. company shall deposit one thousand dollars with the collector of taxes of the District of Columbia, to guarantee the construction of this railroad within the prescribed time, and if this sum is not so deposited this Act shall be null and void. If the sum is so deposited, and the road is not in operation as herein prescribed, said one thousand dollars shall be forfeited to the District of Columbia, and this Act shall be void. Forfeiture. Construction, etc., under control of Com SEC. 21. That the construction, adoption of motive power, erection of buildings, regulation of schedule and speed of running shall be at missioners. all times under the supervision and control of the Commissioners of the District of Columbia. tion. SEC. 22. That each and every violation of the requirements of this Penalty for violaAct, or of the regulations of the Commissioners of the District of Columbia made under the authority thereof, shall be punishable by a fine of from twenty-five to one thousand dollars, in the diseretion of the court, such fines to be collectible in any court of competent jurisdiction as other fines and penalties are collected in the District of Columbia. SEC. 23. That the Anacostia, Surrattsville and Brandywine Electric Right of way across other railways. Railway Company shall have the right of way across such other railways as are now in operation within the limits of the lines granted by this Act, and is hereby authorized to construct its said road across such other railways: Provided, That it shall not interrupt the travel of such other railways in such construction. SEC. 24. That the company shall, on or before the first day of February in each year, make a report to each the Senate and House of Representatives, as prescribed in section ten of the Act of June tenth, eighteen hundred and ninety-six, entitled "An Act to extend the routes of the Eckington and Soldiers' Home Railway Company, and of the Belt Railway Company of the District of Columbia, and for other purposes. Proviso. Vol. 29, p. 820. SEC. 25. That Congress reserves the right to alter, amend, or repeal Amendment. this Act. Approved, March 3, 1905. . CHAP. 1413.-An Act To provide for the performance, temporarily, of the duties of appraisers and assistant appraisers of merchandise. March 8, 1905. [S. 4069.] [Public, No. 146.] Customs. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in case of a vacancy occurring, by reason of death or otherwise, in the office of appraiser appraiser's office anor assistant appraiser of merchandise in any customs collection district thorized. the Secretary of the Treasury may designate some officer or employee within the district to perform the duties of the office, without additional compensation, until the vacancy shall have been filled. SEC. 2. That in case of the sickness, disability, or occasional and necessary absence from his office of an appraiser of merchandise in any customs collection district it shall be lawful for the appraiser to nominate, Appraiser may nominate, etc. Proviso. Oath. and the Secretary of the Treasury to confirm, an assistant appraiser or other officer of the customs in the same customs collection district, who shall perform the functions of the appraiser, without additional compensation, during such absence: Provided, That in no case shall any person enter upon or discharge the duties of the appraiser or assistant appraiser of merchandise until he shall have taken the oath required by law of such officer. Approved, March 3, 1905. March 3, 1905. [S. 4156.] [Public, No. 147.] Establishment of stations in. CHAP. 1414.-An Act For the establishment of public convenience stations in the District of Columbia. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United District of Columbia. States of America in Congress assembled, That the Commissioners of the public convenience, District of Columbia be, and they are hereby, authorized and empowered to construct and establish, in the city of Washington, District of Columbia, two public convenience stations, each of the same to afford accommodations for twenty males and ten females. Location of sites. Right of transferred to Commissioners. Regulations. SEC. 2. That the said public convenience stations shall be located on public space to be selected by the said Commissioners of the District control of Columbia. And the jurisdiction and control of such portion of any public reservation so selected as shall be required for the location of such stations and their approaches is hereby transferred from the Chief of Engineers of the United States Army to the Commissioners of the District of Columbia, such transfer to take effect from the date of notice by the said Commissioners to the Chief of Engineers of the United States Army of the location of sites of such stations. Appropriation immediately available. maintenance, etc. SEC. 3. That upon the construction and establishment of said public convenience stations the said Commissioners are further authorized and empowered to make all necessary rules and regulations for the management of the same, as well as to fix the charge, if any, to be made for the use of these conveniences. SEC. 4. That for the purpose of constructing and establishing the said public convenience stations, the sum of fifty thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated, to be immediately available, and to be expended by said Commissioners. Appropriation for And for the purpose of care and maintenance of the same during the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and six, the sum of five thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated, and to be expended by said Commissioners, one half of the entire sum herein appropriated to be paid out of any money Half from District in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, the other half to be paid out of the revenues of the District of Columbia. Approved, March 3, 1905. revenues. March 3, 1905. [8. 4938.] [Public, No. 148.] Removal of tele Area of removal. CHAP. 1415.-An Act Regulating the use of telegraph wires in the District of Columbia. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United District of Columbia. States of America in Congress assembled, That all telegraph poles and graph poles and wires. the wires attached thereto, not the property of the United States or the District of Columbia, now upon the streets, avenues, and alleys within the fire limits of the District of Columbia, except as hereinafter provided, shall from time to time, as may be prescribed by the ComDuty of the Commis missioners of said District, be taken down and removed. The work of taking down and removing said poles and wires shall be done under the direction of said Commissioners, and it is hereby made the duty of said Commissioners to enforce compliance with the provisions of this sioners. Underground con Act as expeditiously as may be consistent with the public interests; Commissioners approve plans, etc. to SEC. 2. That upon the approval of this Act, and from time to time thereafter, any company or corporation, or its assigns, now or hereafter maintaining and operating a telegraph plant or system in said District, shall prepare and submit to the said Commissioners a plan or plans or application or applications, in writing, showing the streets, avenues, alleys, lanes, and other public highways in or under which it is proposed to construct conduits, subsidiaries, or manholes, and giving the general dimensions, length, and course thereof; and before any such conduit, subsidiary, or manhole is constructed it shall be necessary to obtain the approval and permission of said Commissioners. Said Commissioners are empowered to require that all proposed conduits, subsidiaries, and manholes shall be constructed in accordance with the approved plan or permit; and upon the approval by said Commissioners of any such plan, or the issuing of any such permit, providing for the construction of underground conduits, subsidiaries, or manholes within the said limits described in section one of this Act, or in such part thereof as said Commissioners shall require and direct, the construction therein provided for shall be proceeded with Diligent tion of work required. diligently, and upon the completion thereof, or as soon thereafter as may be without impairing the efficiency of the telegraph service in said District, the company or corporation constructing such conduits, subsidiaries, or manholes shall place its cables and wires therein and take down and remove from the streets and avenues in which such conduits are constructed all poles and the wires thereon, except such as said Commissioners may, in accordance with the provisions of this Act, permit to remain for the purpose of distributing wires for house or other connections. to remove. prosecu SEC. 3. That any company or corporation now or hereafter owning Penalty for refusal and maintaining such poles and wires attached thereto on or over any street or avenue within the said limits described in section one of this Act, which shall willfully neglect or refuse to remove the same, as provided in section two hereof, shall be liable to a penalty of not more than twenty-five dollars for each and every day during which such failure to remove said poles and wires shall continue, which amount may be recovered by the District of Columbia in any court of competent jurisdiction. Erection and maintenance of poles in In certain streets. SEC. 4. That said Commissioners be, and they are hereby, empowered to authorize the erection and maintenance of poles in the alleys alleys, etc. of said District, and the stringing thereon of wires or conductors for telegraph purposes from alley poles or house-top fixtures in one square to alley poles or house-top fixtures in another square for the purpose of enabling house connections to be made, and to authorize the erection of poles and the stringing thereon of wires on and upon the streets and avenues of said District in the parts thereof in which there are no public alleys and in such places as the public interests do not require that the lines be placed underground, or in places where it shall be deemed by said Commissioners impracticable to advantageously place or operate such lines underground. During the progress of the work Temporary permits. Conduits, etc., in parks and reservations. Regulations. Provisos. Fire alarm, etc., wires. provided for in section one of this Act said Commissioners are also empowered to issue temporary permits for the erection and maintenance of poles and overhead conductors in places where the lines are ultimately to be placed underground, where the work can not be immediately done because of the greater urgency of work in other localities, or for other reasons satisfactory to said Commissioners; but in issuing such temporary permits said Commissioners shall bear in mind the purpose and policy of this Act, which is to cause to be removed from the streets and avenues within the said limits described in section one of this Act all poles and wires attached thereto, except as herein before provided, as expeditiously as may be without interfering with or impairing the efficiency of the telegraph service in said District and without denying to the public reasonable telegraph facilities. SEC. 4a. That any officer of the United States Government charged with the care, maintenance, and supervision of any public park or reservation may grant permission to any company or corporation now or hereafter maintaining and operating a telegraph plant or system in said District, upon application being made therefor, to construct conduits, subsidiaries, or manholes in said park or reservation, under such reasonable regulations as said officer may prescribe, unless, in the judg ment of said officer, said construction will result in injury to the United States or its properties. SEC. 5. That all subways, conduits, manholes, and overhead lines constructed or erected under the provisions of this Act shall be subject to such reasonable regulations as the Commissioners of the District of Columbia may from time to time prescribe as to inspection, location, character of conduit construction, and height of poles and wires: Provided, That in all underground conduits so constructed such space shall be furnished to the said District of Columbia and the United States as may be necessary for their telegraph, fire-alarm, and police-patrol wires or cables carrying low potential currents of electricity, free of charge: Maximum ducts re- And provided further, That the number of ducts so reserved in any one conduit shall not be more than two. served. SEC. 6. That the said Commissioners are empowered to authorize any such company or corporation now or hereafter owning and operating lines of street poles and wires, and any alley poles or alley-pole line or house-top wires within the said District and outside of the limits described in section one of this Act to continue to maintain the same, with such repairs and renewals as may be necessary to keep them in good order and condition of repair, and to add thereto such poles and wires as may be necessary for their telegraphic purposes. SEC. 7. That Congress reserves the right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act, but nothing herein shall abridge or lessen the rights granted telegraph companies under title sixty-five, section fifty-two hundred and sixty-three and the following, United States Revised Statutes. SEC. 8. That if at any time the District of Columbia or the National Government shall acquire, by purchase, condemnation proceedings, or otherwise, the property of any telegraph company in the District of Columbia, nothing shall then be paid for the rights accorded under this bill to build and lay such conduits. Approved, March 3, 1905. March 3, 1905. [8. 5094.] [Public, No. 149.] CHAP. 1416.-An Act To promote the efficiency of the reserve militia and to encourage rifle practice among the members thereof. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United Reserve militia. States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of War States and Territories is hereby authorized to sell, at the prices at which they are listed for for use of, authorized. the Army, upon the request of the governors of the several States and Sale of army rifles to |