Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-05-07


The District Commissioners have returned the
Following answer to the protest OF the residents
upon street against the use OF the rail upon
the tramway tracks being laid there:
OFFICE OF TIE COMMISSIONERS.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,
WAsHISGrcS, May 3, 1881
Dr. J. e. Morgan:
Others against the use Of the rail- on E street.
between 9Th and 18th northwest, by the Capitol
North o Street end South Washington Railroad
Co., am directed to reply that the T. rail- has
come into quite general for street railways as
asuostitutc for the fat rail-, on account OF the
Difficulty OF maintaining tracks of the latter in
good repair For this reason and believing that
the rail-, properly laid, ff.rs no obstruction to
travel mlteria'iy greater than the fl II one, the
Commissioners consider that they cannot properly
Withhold their assent u the use OF such rails on Z
street Very respectfully.
This decision has a wider bearing than tho E
street case. IL means that the Commissioners
have decided In behalf OF the railway corpora
tons AMI against the public on the question
whether private carriages shall be permitted to
use the car tracks. The # rail- cannot be used
safely by any other vehicles than the street cars
and The sole purpose Of It's substitution for the
FIAT rail is to force the public Off the tracks.
The talk about "the dim culty of maintaining the
Hat rail TRACKS I'm good repair, simply means that
tracks used By the public, wear out somewhat
faster than those they cannot use. Street Railway
corporations have about the most valuable fran
chises going, and they ought not to grulge the
smfli expense involved In the wear OF their rails
by public use; especially on streets so narrow
that their double tracks occupy most OF the car
riageWay. 1t Is Notifying to find that the Com
miSsioners have no better to offer for their
decision than that It will enable the tramway
companies to save some money by excluding the
public from the use OF their tracks And the Com
missioners must certainly be mis1nformed in the
noe fhate kkL
general use for street railways" At any rate the
statement is a matter OF surprise to those who
have seen In the large northern cities how gener-
ally the street car tracks are occupied by private
and business Carriages of all descriptions. In El-
rope any sort OF excresence In the shape OF rail-
that would interrer, In the slightest degree with
the public use OF The streets would not be tolerated
for moment
There has been great deal of speculation as to
ex-senator Conkiing5 attitude politically, but
Notwithstanding many pressing Invitations to
declare himself that gentleman has hitherto,
seen MT 10 remain nOn-Committal. The mellOwing
influence, however, OF genial company loosened
his tongue at the May dinner OF the Saturday
Night Club In New York, and though the ex-Scn-
ator leaves his future political course to be con-
1ectured, he puts his opinions plainly on record.
He regards the defeat OF Grant for denomination
In 1880 as a national misfortune, the effects of
which was to put back this country ten years"
As this opinion was delivered in the immediate
presence of Gen. Grant himself, Mr. Conkiing
perhaps, Fixed the period CT the stoppagc OF the
national wheels OF progress at the utmost limit
He Is confident that the democrats are about TO
take control OF the country. To this prediction
ne added: Indeed. they control It pretty we'll
already The ex-SenatOr's expressions of diSap-
pontment at the defeat Of Grant his despairing
view OF the condition OF the republican party
and confidence Of democratic ascendency taken
together afford some grounds for the reports that
he looks very complacentiy upon the prospect OF a
democratic victory next year. Possibly he thinks
that general and disastrous defeat OF the re-
publicans VIII teach them to value more highly
some OF their rejected leaders.
The determination of Tammany Hall to rule or
ruin the democratic party of New York has been
again manifested, and the result Is another breach
as wide and apparently to be disastrous as that
OF 1872 Gov. Cleveland has, in a message to the
legislature, charged Tammany with an ''oyerween-
ing greed for patronage, which Is insisted on at
the expense or important interests" 1t was not
20 much, according to well-advised sources, the
action o! Tammany In contriving the defeat, by
non-ac'ion, of important nominations, as other
matters OF greater moment, which provoked the
governors message. The project for new aque-
duct, which New York city so badly needs, in
volved the outlay OF fully SIS 00 0G0 and the ap-
pointment OF many men 10 public places Tam
many was bent upon securing control OF the whole
enterprise. which meant the waste of the public
money in political USES. Tdmmany's record was
sufficient TO the opposition of all who de-
sired the aqueduc money honestly expended
Gov. Cleveland antagoniZed Tammany IN its auue-
duct schemes. He realized that Boss Kellys sue
cess In that direction would BE- followed by sean
Gals upon the democratic party. The warfare be-
tween the governor and his supporters, On the one
size, and Tammany, On the other, had been waged
earnestly but rather quietly until the close OF the
session, when It came to open rupture, and now
Tammany is Boosting OF Its power to bury Cleye-
land, as IL did Robinson.
Phipps, eX-superintendent Of the Phlaielphfa
almshouse, has been convicted O. forgery. though
the general belief is that that was the only off
Charged against him Of which he was innocent
The evidence was very far short of conclusive pdC
The jury seem to have acted upon the principle that
PhfppS deserved punishment, and that whether
he Was convicted OF forgery, larceny or embezz.e-
ment, WAS only technical question not entitled
TO weigh against the fact that the man was guilty
Of something.
Mr. Conkling Is defeated but not dismayed In
MS enforced retirement he grasp5 the banner OF
bossiSID firmly and waves 1t defiantly aloft He
exclaims that the fight against oosssm Is raid
against superiority. In his estimation, the de-
spised title OF boss Is badge OF ability aud dis
tinction- The ex-Senator's contempt for civil ser
vice reforms Is as boundless and abiding as his