Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-03-24
gotal anO Aersonal.
The propo.ed city RalIrosd.--As lhis sub. |

H0fal am Ifrs0nal.
The Proposed City Railroads. this SUBJ
ject has excited much comment in this city among
all classes of persons il will be interesting to learn
that the board of aldermen at their last meeting,
discharged the committee on improvements from
the further consideration Of the resolution Of the
board Of common council, opposed 10 Congress
granting charter for a railroad company TO lay
their rails in and run their cars through our streets
and avenues, and asking Congress to grant TO the
corporation such powers in the premises.
Mr.. Towers then introduced preamble
" Whereas the councils of the city Of Washington
have learned that there is now before the Congress
ofthe United States memorial asking the charter
Of company TO construct railroad through Penn
sylvania avenue, and such other streets as may be
necessary, between the navy yard, in this city, and
the city Of Georgetown = and believing that the
construction Of railroad from Georgetown 10 the
navy yard involves question OF local character,
"not connected or designed to be connected with
any great line OF railroad or mail route, but de-
signed solely and exclusively for local travel of
the citizens and sojourners Of Washington from
one part of the city 10 another, lin other words,
mere omnibus line from the navyyard TO George
town J and believing sucha measure TO be uncaed
for at present by either the public or private wants
ofthe community" and believing further that ait
would be a serious obstacle to the proper exercise
ofjndjcious municipal regulations over the streets
and avenues Of the city by the city authorities,
were Congress to exercise Legislation on such
subjects" and believing, further that "all legisa-
ton upon this subject, and all such subjects Of an
entirely local character where there can be no posi-
bilify Of such Legislation conflicting with any ma
tioaal interest object, belongs rightfully to the
people Of Washington, by the right OF every organ
ICED community to manage its own peculiarly To-
cal affairs in its way (and for other reasons)
.'Be nresoLyed, &c. That the joint committee rep
resenting the interests of this corporation before
Congress, be and they are hereby instructed 10
protest earnestly and respectfully against the pas
sage Of any bill by Congress chartering or grant
ing the privileges asked for by said memorial TO the
above-designatcd railroad company, or any other
railroad company, designed 10 locate their road
through any ofthe streets avenues Of this city,
and having for its object the same local purposes
''hnd be it further resolved, That said committee
be and they are hereby instructed TO ask Of Con-
gress to confer upon this corporation such add
tional powers may be necessary 10 give this
corporation full control over the subject Of local
railroads through the streets and avenues Of the
city" @
Which having been read twice
Mr.. HILL moved to amend the said resolution
by striking out after the enacting clause and in
sorting the following:
"That the committee appointed to represent the
interests Of city before Congress be instructed
to urge the passage Of a law comforting upon the
corporation Of this city full and entire control over
the whole subject Of new railways within the
limits of the city,"
This amendment was rejected by vote of
yeas S, Lays s.
As was also one to strike out the words:
"And believing such measure TO be uncalled
for at present by either the public or private wants
of the communily."-Yeas 4, nays 9.
The preamble was agreed 10 by the following
vote:
YEAs.-Messrs. Bayly, Reed, Davis, HILL Null
10y, Fitzpatrick, w Morgan, Johnson and Towers
9
NArs.--Messrs. T. P. Morgan, Borrows, Clarke,
and Wheeler.
Mr.. t. 2. Morgan offered an amendment: THAT
the committee having charge of the interests Of
this corporation before Congress be and they are
hereby instructed to urge upon that honorable
body the granting of a charter for the proposed
railroad, as prayed for by large number Of the
citizens of Washington subject TO such provisions
and restrictions as the Congress of the United
States or this corporation may see fit to impose.
Rejected by the following vote:
| YEAs-Messrs p Morgan, Clarke, and Vince
ler-3.
NAys-Messrs. Bayly, Reed, Borrows Davis,
HILL, Mulloy, Fitzpatrick, w. Morgan, Johnson
| and Towers-10.
The question was then on the third reading Of
the resolutions offered by Mr. Towers which
being taken by yeas and nays it was decided in
the affirmative, as follows:
YEAs--Messrs Bayy, Reed, Borrows, Davis,
Hill. Mnlloy, Fitzpatrick, W. Morgan, Johnson,
and Towers-10.
NAYs-Messrs. 7. P. Morgan, Clarke, and Vince
| ler-3
The resolutions We're then read the third time
and passed.
| Mr. Magruder was absent but would. it is said,
! had he been present, voted acih the majority.
| Coat Case.-For two days past, case of