Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-10-26
CornnrafiAH Affairs.

1 CIL.-An adjourned meeting for the purpose OF
j bushes was held last evening e. President Moore
in the chair, and all the members present ex-
| cept Messrs. Edmonson, Hazel, Stewart, and
lyman.
4 The bill for the relief Of W. ID Crampsey, ,sp-
propriating $50 TO reimburse him for dam
| ages done by the washing down Of hts area
! wall while street was being repaired (here-
| tofors rejected on its third reading but recon
| sidered) was taken up and passed.
The resolution providing for the appoint
/ ment OF reading clerk was next called mp,
ana after some debate, under the operation OF
the previous question the vote was taken on
4 It's passage, and II was rejected-yeas :, nays T.
The bill reported from q select committee
granting certain privileges TO the Wasb sbinRtou
/ Alexandra, and Georgetown Railroad Com
4 pany conditlonally, was, on motion Of Mr..
| Section I gives the consent OF the corpora-
| tion to the company TO use steam power in
drawing the care across the bridge over the
Potomac and along Maryland avenue and Ist
| street west TO the Baltimore depot at less than
| four miles per hour. for period not exceeding
1 twenty years, under such reasonable regula-
| tons may be imposed. Section consents
| 10 the construction OF a single track from Ma
| ryland avenue along 9th street TO the south
side of Maryland avenue, on which street steam
power may be used provided they keep the street
IN n pair ana build substantial bridge The
| ca MAJ. Section provides that the act shall
| AXE feet upon the said Washington, Alrxan-
| drt;, and Georgetown Railroad Company pay
lni, " securing 10 be paid To the satisfaction Of
| hr Mayor, the sums Of money heretofore pad
| and appropriated 10 b. paid on account OF The
| .eTunCates Of debt of said company guar
l aLteed by this corporation, and deliver
ing TO him the bond Of the said company
conditioned TO pay within six months all out
standing certificates 50 guaranteed by this Cor
poratICn. And IN The event OF SAID company
| refusing or falling TO comply with said con-
| dltons for the space OF twenty days from the
| passage OF this act, then this act shall be void
| and OF no effect; and upon compliance with
| said conditions within said specified period,
| the Mayor shall return to the said company as
H rlOSp IA fad
| for, and shall direct the trustees named IN the
| deed of trust, dated April "a 1861 10 hold the
| same absolyed from every elaim Of this COrpo-
| ration, and TO convey the estate thereby vested
according 10 the order OF said conn mDany not con-
| trary TO law. Section repeals 50 much OF the
act Of July p, 1855, as authorizes the cOnstruc-
| tiOn of a branch road from MARYLAND avenue
| mp 7th street 10 the canal, and thence TO l4th
| street; and section reserves 10 the Corporation
| the night 10 enforce such regulations rs may be
| necessary TO have kept in repair, at the ex-
pense OF said company, its different tracks Of
Mr. Peugh stated that he considered thus bill
| much better than that drawn by himself and
| would withdraw it.
Mr.. Rheem moved to amend the bill by stri
| king out the second section, but subsequently
| withdrew the motion.
Mr.. Wright said that it was understood that
the railroad company proposed to erect cepot
| north of the canal, and ultimately expected the
| right Of way down 9th street from MARYLAND
| avenue. The first section, giving the right Of
way over the Long Bridge, should be stricken
| give the right of way over the Long Bridge.
| He was opposed 10 the bill, because II was Civ
ing the railroad company the right to make our
| thoroughfares a network OF rails, and IL would
| dspreciate property upon the line OF the road
| at least twenty per cent. He would be a loser
TO that amount de moved 70 strike out the
first section.
Mr.. Moore (vice President Peugh taking the
ehair) said that he expected that the Seventh
4 ward delegation would oppose the bill, and
was aware that persons residing directly on
the streets in which the road is OF was proposed
| objected to the running of cars over IT. but a
CRISIS had arrived, and something must be
done, and that speedily. The Council had
| passed bill which would have enectualIy
/ stopped the cars from running through the
| streets, but II hangs lire in the upper Board.
| The running Of steam cars along Maryland
| avenue was certainly contrary TO law, but
| there were no regulations 10 prevent them
| now, and the bill proposed now TO provide for
| their running under police regulations.
The present city government was not respon-
slhle for the present state OF affairs, which has
| cost the Corporation SS0,GOO. We cannOt repu-
| dlate the debt If the company go to Congress
and say the Corporation was churlish, Con-
| gress may give the company what they ask
| and the Corporation lose the money. The COM
| pany had made a liberal offer, and he wished
| the Corporation TO meet them so they could not
say shey had made move to compromise ard
were refused The pressure is great for a
through line from North 70 South.
| Mr.. Wright said in Philadelphia the cars
were carried through by horses as also in Bal
| umore and he saw no reason why they could
/ not be carried through in the same manner
| here. The company had not made an offer un-
IN they wanted this franchise. Who VIII re-
| Imburse the property owners for their loss
| Mr.. Moore SAID they could not stop them
from running along Maryland avenue
MIR. Wright replied that il could De done by
injunction, and II ought to have been done as
| II injured every one living along the line OF the
Mr.. Moore said the bill did not give any righ
| but only the consent of the Corporation He
| warned the members If the Corporation refused
| 10 compromise they would be put in a wrong
| light before Congress, and possibly the pri vi
leges would be granted without regard 70 the
| Corporation. He had taken, in preparing the
| bill, the advice OF legal gentleman, who Was
| cognizant of the whole history Of the transac-
1 ton.
| Mr.. Wright moved to strike out the word
| steam and insert 'horse" so as TO give the
| privilege Of running cars through by horses
only; lest. feas-Messrs. Dudley, Hamilton,
Joyce, Walker and Wright, S. Nays-Messrs
Anderson, Ferguson, Hail. Herrell, Mead,
Peugh, Rheem, SimRs. Talbert, White, ana
the President, IL.
Mr.. White moved to extend the privilege to
ten years
Mr.. Dudley stated that great many property-
| holders had spoken to him in reference 10 the
bill, protesting against the use OF steam power.
DE did not think II right, in view Of the protest
| of the delegates of the ward mostly interested,
4 that the bill should be passed in its present
shape the people were willing to have horse
| Mr.. Ferguson said the bill restricted the run
| ming by locomotives 10 the rate of speed Of
1 horse cars-four miles
II
| consent to the running Of steam cars through
| our streets.
| Mr.. Ferguson moved the previous question
| on the third reading OF the bill; carried
| Yeas-Messrs. Anderson, Ferguson, Hall,
Herrell, Peugh, Rheem. Simms, Talbert,
| White, and the President, (Mr. Moore)-lO.
Nays-Messrs Dudley, Hamilton, Joyce,
Mead, Walker, and Wright-6.
The bill was passed-yeas -, nays5-Messrs
Wright and Mead voting IN the Affirmative.
Messrs. Wright and Mead said they had
voted in the affirmative that they might
move q reconsideration.
Mr.. Moore asked that the vote on reconsider
alton be taken Immediately. The absenteee
have no excuse; they knew the bill was 70
come up.
Mr.. Wright said If the bill was suspended he
would guarantee to sue out an injunction.
Mr.. Rheem desired 70 explain that he voted
for the bill as the best solution. II there was
any measure brought forward TO remove the
road be would vote for ID cheerfuIly.
Mr.. Mead said IL was outrage 10 allow
steam engines to run through the streets n
dangering the lives OF passengers, and he
thaa sfor, h,a