Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-12-18

Before reporting their recommendations to Con-
gress. as requested, upon the proposition to sur
render Massachusetts, avenue 70 a street railway
company, II IS 10 be presumed that the District
Commissioners VIII address themselves 20 one or
two points so closely connected with the matter
that they should not be overlooked IL may be
said, indeed, that they are the fun ianental bases
upon which the whole project ought to be regarded
resting. The first OF these is the question how
many and what proportion OF the whole number of
owners OF property fronting the line OF the pro-
posed road have petitOned for the construction OF
the track, or the granting or charter for that
purpose Secondly, what DO the projectors or the
scheme propose 20 give to the tax payers OF the
District n return for the valuable franchise they
are seeking?
As to the first query It Is almost certain that
majority Of the citizens most directly affected by
the project would no: only not ask to have the
street surrendered as proposed. but would be un-
alteraoly opposed 10 it,-and ali the more SO for
the reason that there Is present need OF the
road, a. there has been no public demand for IL.
The proposition that there are certain streets In
the city which should be allowed to retain their
preseng character - quiet and desirable places for
private residences Is one that no reasonable per-
son would undertake 20 deny; and that MasSachu-
Sets avenue IS one OF these thOr0ughfareS would
Seem TO be equally clear to any but those desr
ing to get possession OF t for purposes of private
gain. But. any way, the persons whose interests
would be so vitality affected by the results OF the
so-caled Improvement are those who should be
first consulted Is 10 its desirabIlity, and their
opinions are entitled 10 the greatest weightn
On the second pCiAt: Is It not about time
that the District treasury should receive some
direct benefit in return tor the valuable
exclusive privileges granted in such cases as
this? IL is notorious that the chief value Of the
existing street railway lines lies in the desirable
franchise they hold, rather thanin the money value
OF their plants or the capital actually invested In
their several enterprises Why should there be
q substantial bonus required in advance for such
exclusive privileges In the futureo Are the people
10 so forever surrenderIng their personal rights
and material substance 20 corporations. without
any other return than the certainty OF being stu
farther despoied, IN order that fat dividends may
be annually paid upon stock that costs little or
nothing IN the first instance?
1t Is TO be hoped that ne Commissioners will
carefully weigh these cons 1eratioas before report
ing their conclusions to Congress, and that the
latter body viii also bear them in mind.
The attendance at the second day OF the New
Orleans Exposition only five thousand persons,
this failure OF patronage being due according to
the newspaper reports TO the incomplete character
OF the exhibits and TO the lack OF facilities for
reaching the grounds. These are faults that can
be remedied, and they should be remedied at once
sideratioa which VIII deter northern visitors who
would otherwise incline to take the trip to New |
Orleans, Is fear that they viii not be comfortable
They miStruSt the merits OF the hotels and the /
conveniences Of sightseeing. The directors OF the
fair should realize the Importance Of reassuring |
would visitors that they are not to be made the
victims OF shiftless management
The lines are being drawn more and more sharply
In the New York senatorial contest, and the real |
issues begin TO appear more plainly. And as has |
been evident 70 all careful spectators from the be-
ginning, the fight Is really between the Blaine and
antl-Blafne factions OF the party. The protection
puga-boo has nothing to do with the ISSUE though
It makes convenient mask. The Blaine men deny
that the President rendered the party the campaign
service that he should, and 1t is on that account
mainly that they oppose him for the senatorship.
Mr.. Evarfs has come out openly as candidate,
and VIII have the support OF the old half breed ele-
ment The stalwarts az present are divided be-
tween Morton and the President. Ex-Governor
Cornell has been mentioned of late as an eligible
compromise candidate.