Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-03-02
District Affairs in Congress.

latlon, anu the intelligence ana energy OF the
sovereign.
-
District Affairs in Congress.
METROPOLITAN RAILROAD COMPANY.
Mr.. Davis, OF New York, from the Commit
tee for the District OF Columbia, reported back
Senate bill, No. 44l, to amend an act entitled
'An act to incorporate the Metropolitan Rail
road Company in the District OF Columbia,"
with sundry amendments thereto.
The first amendment was to strike out the
words in the first section, ''also double or
single-track railway, commencing at the inter
section of d street north and Four.and-a half
| street west"
The second amendment was to assert in the
first, just before the proviso, the words ''and
| the Washington and Georgetown Railroad
Company shall have the right to charge the
same rate OF fare as is herein allowed to be
charged by the Metropolitan Railroad Compa-
The third amendment was to strike out OF
section five the words ..extended to every 9TH
er railroad in the District Of Columbia" and
insert the word repeated so that the SECTION
will read:
vision prohibiting any exclusion from any car
on account OF color, already applicable to the
Metropolitan Railroad, is hereby repealed.
Mr.. OdeIl. ] would ask my colleague what
the rate Of fare will be under the second amend
ment.
Mr Davis, of New York. 1t will be eight
cents.
The first amendment was agreed to.
The second amendment vas read
Mr.. Washburne, of IllinU6. ! have only to
Georgetown Railroad Comp is now werth
four hundred per cent. premium, and yet it is
proposed that we shall raise the fare to the pub
lie, while we have passes in our pockets.
Mr.. Davis, of New York.-It is very easy for
gentlemen on this floor to make assertions, and
yet to understand very little Of the truth Of
what they utter. But when the gentleman from
Illinois Mr.. Washburne) asserts here that the
stock Of this company is worth four hundred
per cent. premium, he asserts what he may
perhaps believe to be true, but what is in fact
absolutely false.
The great argument in favor OF this amend
ment is this: In consequence of the increase in
the value Of all the materials which enter into
the cons tr uction and maintenance Of the road,
this company has been doing business during
the last year at heavy loss. And undertake
upon the subject, that there is scarcely a horse
railroad in the United States which to-day is
paying its expenses where the fare is limited to
five cents. In regard to the article of railroad
iron, which cost when this road was con.
structed $50 per ton, it now costs in your mar
kets from Sl75 to $3.50 tom horses which were
then bought at an average Of about $50 each
now cost from $3.50 to $3.50 each. Labor was
then worth from seven to nine shillings q day;
it now commands $3.50 a day. And every
other item Of construction and equipment has
advanced in the same ratio.
Relief to these roads has been granted in
other cases in this country; the Legislatures
of States and the common councils of our
cities have interfered for the protection of
public interests and the interests of these
roads, and it is but just that the Congress Of
the United States should not compel compa-
MES within the limits of the capital to do busi.
ness at a loss know it may be asserted that
perhaps the stock OF the company represents
more than the original and actual cost of the
road. Now, that may be very true. But sup.
pose it is that stock has been transferred from
those who construct the road, and has now
come into the hands of parties who have paid
par or a premium for that stock They are
innocent holders OF that stock, and it is no
answer to say that this company may origin
ally have made money out OF this transaction.
The one point to consider is this: can the
company run this road and furnish the &C.
commodation which the public demand with
out losing money, at the present cost OF con-
struction, equipment, and maintenanceY
maintain that that cannot be done, and the
books Of this company, transcript OF which
have hid an opportunity of examining, show
that the losses Of this company for the last six
months have been more than twelve thousand
dollars. This loss was incurred in attempting
to supply the wants of the public by furnis b.
ing proper facilities for communication he
tween different parts of the metropolis.
The Metropolitan Railroad Company, for
which this bill asks relief, has barely COM
menced operations. / venture to say that 1t
has not yet, on any two days since 1t has been
in operation, received money enough TO pay its
running expenses. And when Congress pro-
poses, as matter Of justice and equity, to al
low this company to increase its fare 70 eight
cents, it is proper that the Washington and
mitted to do the same thing; fer it Is very evil
dent that ii the latter company be limited to q
fare Of five CENTS the Metropolitan Railroad
Company cannot charge more than five cents
and obtain passengers.
/ believe it to be a matter OF justice and
equity that this bill should pass, that this re-
lief should be extended. 1t will rest within
the power OF Congress. hereafter, when times
shall change, when our currency shall be in q
different condition from that which now ex-
lists, to impose such restrictions upon the rate
of fare as shall be equitable and Just go
am no friend to injustice. am no friend
to a false and miserable and contemplate econ.
omy remember that at the last session there
the Congress of the United States should ap-
propriate 81, 600 toward the purchase OF q steam
fire ngine for the use OF the District of Colum-
bia and for the protection OF the public build
earnestly, and Iregret to say successfully, op-
posed by the honorable gentleman from 1lli-
nois. Had that proposition been adopted the |
public buildings might have been safe; tho
Smithsonian Institution might have been pro- |
tected. Sir, the towers Of that Institution, |
scathed and blackened by the flames, stand to. |
day as q monument TO the comprehensive sa.
gacity and liberality OF the honorable gentle. |
man from Illinois. |
lust; that while guarding oar expenditures
with n reasonable spirit OF frugahty, we |
should be willing to do what is necessary for |
the public interest, and what Is due to those |
enterprises which demand protection in these |
peculiar times.
Mr. Washburne, of Illinois have within |
a moment been assured by gentleman that |
one of the stockholders Of the Washington and |
Georgetown Railroad Company told him In
was worth four hundred per cent. premium. |
Although every member is aware OF the inn.
mense travel upon this line, although mem
Der cannot one time In five get seat In these
l understand, taken of eight cars, thus failing |