National Republican., 1882-12-08
THE BELT ROAD.
The Extension of the North 0 Street Line Con-
Sidered by the Senate.
Senator Rollins States the Reasons Why
the improvement is Wanted.
The Reasons why Senators Edmunds and
NIorrill Oppose tho Bill.

The Reasons why Senators Edmunds and
Morrill, Oppose the Bill.
Tho bill to provide for the extension Of the
Capitol, North Street, and South Washing
ton Railway was first in order for considera-
tion on the Senate calendar, and when that
order was reached on yesterday it was taken
up and partially discussed, although Senator
| Edmunds asked to have it go over. There
was lack of security for public rights in it,
| he thought. Senator Rollins urged that that
had been fully provided for in the act ofincor-
| poration, but Mr.. Edmunds doubted it,
| After little sparring, however, the objection
was withdrawn, and Senator Rollins briefly
| stated the history of tho bill. 1t had pro-
posed to cross Pennsylvania avenue at some
other point than that where the metropolitan
| line crosses 1t, but after conference with the
| District Commissioners il was decided tho ex-
| tension should be over the Metropolitan limo
on Ninth street, and to that all parties agreed.
| The Commissioners reported that there was
! no objection to this extension of the charter.
In fact, they approved of it. The bill passed
the House, and was referred to the District
Committee of the Senate, and by them refer
red to the Commissioners of tho District, and
upon their report the committee reported
| the bill favorably On Wednesday morning,
| to make certain that there had been no change
of front in the Board of Commissioners know
ing that there had been changes in the per-
sonnel, he had communicated with them, and
one of them came TO the Senate Chamber and
reported that they were decidedly in favor of
granting this additional privilege.
The proposition, he said, is simply to allow
a railroad that runs around the outlying parts
of the city, to get a little near the Centre
Market, so that the very large class of people
who are accommodated by it can go to that
market without having to buy transfer
ticket. 1t is large accommodation to the
people who do not have carriages and who
are not able to go there in that style. 1t
allows the Capitol and No tn o Street Railroad
to lay q track from Eleventh street where it
enters street east on street a single
square to Tenth, then down Tenth one
square to Ninth, whore it touches
the track of the Metropolitan Railroad, then
crossing Pennsylvania avenue on Ninth street
on the track of the Metropolitan Railroad,
not interfering with anybody or anything, to
Louisiana avenue and when it reaches Louisi-
ana avenue, broad avenue with abundant
room for everything and everybody, it allows
them to construct n track from Ninth to
Twelfth street, where their old track is, and
connect with that; so that in sending their
cars around the city they may let portions Of
them go through this short way and accom-
modate the people of an extensive district.
1t seemed to him to be one of those things
that ought to be done. There could be no OBJ
lection to its being done, except that it might
possibly interfere somewhat with the business
of the L street line. 1t might divert faw
passengers from that line, but it would accom-
modate the people very much, and it cannot
do the city any injury.
The whole measure has been approved by
the committee of the two Houses, and he
hoped that tho bill will be allowed to pass.
Mr.. Morrill, said this was an amendment to
| thn pba of what is llpI hp Rolf Roilr
which he regarded as a supreme nuisance,
going around in all quarters of the city, and
, cutting into ever so many streets, and prov
ing itself one of the greatest nuisances that
perhaps there has been in relation to street
i railroads here. Years ago he attempted to
have the railroads placed under an engineer
of the Army, and blocked out some scientific
plan so that less number of railroads would
be requisite, and the whole of the city accom-
modated, and that they should also, in the
original charters, be made to pay q certain
tax for the privilege of using the streets. That
measure failed. Now this bill comes in, pro-
posing four right angles to the streets, and
that is proposed to be introduced as an amend
ment to the Belt Railroad or the o Street Rail-
road charter.
Mr.. Edmunds said that one reason for being
somewhat excited upon that subject was that
he was referring to the experience we have
had, and have now, with other corporations.
There was, he said, certainly one corporation
in this District that is said to be strong and
rich, that is just taking the blood out of the
taxpayers of this District and out of the Treas
ury of the United States by refusing to pay
penny for the pavements that it by its char
ter was bound to pay for, and by some process
of the laws delay OF the want of energy and
pluck in the District Commissioners as the
governors of the District, or the district at
tomey, or somebody, it seems you have
not got force enough, right here under
NaI,D 1oFt s.,I
to collect the tax; and the company contend,
he was told, that as long as the tax lien
certificates, or whatever they are called, are
not issued-and by some hocus pocus they
have continued to get the Commissioners not
to issue them-no interest runs, SO that if we
get this money in the end, as we certainly
SHALL it shall be only the principal. There
fore the Taxpayers of the District are paying
the interest 100000 or $780, 900 for five, or
six, or ten years. or however long it may run,
and these gentlemen declare they will only
pay the principal if they pay anything.
Mr.. Beck said he should like to ask the
Senator from Vermont if he knew any means
whereby we can compel those railroad COM
panies we now have to furnish cars enough to
give each passenger seat, instead of packing
them in like sardines or something else and
getting money for them.
Mr.. Edmunds thought he could.
MIR. Mcmillan said the interests of which
he spoke should be carefully guarded. He
was satisfied that these railroad corporations
should be brought under the control of Con-
gress, and that where the provisions in their
charters require them to pave or to pay taxes
provision should he inserted which would
forfeit their charters ON failure to comply
with that duty, So fan as the objection to
this bill is concerned, he thought it came from
a competing railroad company.
As it goes over without prejudice, the ma
jorty can take it up at any time it chooses.
The Son of His Father VIII Flight.