Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-04-02

Washington very much needs the Eastern
Branch bridge IL views therefore with satisfac.
ton the passage by the Senate OF the additional
appropriation OF $50 OO0 enabling such changes to
be made In the plan Of the structure as will induce
the Pennsylvania Railroad CO. 10 permit the
United States 10 continue the work. When the
nation determined to place bridge st this point
with the Washington end entirely on Government
property ir found that the Pennsylvania tracks
would run under the proposed structure, that
road enjoying the gratuirous privilege OF entering
the city over certain streets also the property OF
the United states. It was discovered also that
the road does not at this point follow either OF
the alternative routes which it authorized and
required 10 take by Congress. but waving this
trifiing rregularity the government In It's tender
regard for the company provided between pier
and soutment a space 81 feet wide and Is feet
high rs ample roadway for the railroad, leaving
the tracks untouched In their present location.
The railroad maintained. however, that IL It was
Lot now on the streets named for Its use by Con-
Sress. IL was there originally, and that the streets
were on the track and not the road, the wigwan
wasloSt and not the Indian. II admitted that it
did not want the abutInent site at present, but
suggested that IL had contemplated building a
track there at some time or other. And IL vigor-
ously resented the presumption OF the United
states in proposing to construct Government
bridge upon Government property in such manner
as 10 ignore its recognized privilege at the
capital OF appropriating TO It's own and at its
own pleasure all public property within con-
yenient distance OF It's tracks The building OF the
bridge was begun by the agents OF the govern
ment, but was stopped by the railroad, excava-
lions being filed fast mace, and the railroad
threatening TO bring a thousand men there, II
necessary. The United states, thus menaced, re-
Trained from exposing its soldiers and sailors 10 the
assault OF the Pennsylvania railroad army In buck
ram, permitted the corporation TO stop the work
Of government agents upon government property,
and meekly asked the courts 10 protect the nation
Cwith q very small ~ against the great horrfd,
oyerbearing railroad company by issuing an in
junction, which should suggest TO the corporation
IN some respectful and ino1enS1ye manner the i'm
propriety OF bullying the United states In such an
outrageous fashion. Meanwhile the completion Of
The bridge awaits the active protection OF the Dis
trict Court TO the United states against the Penn
syivania Railroad Company. The District cannot
walt Indefinitely for this improvement The
delay adds largely to the expense OF
construction, and doubtless renders the original
appropriation inadequate. Washington, therefore,
congratulates Itself that the United states prud-
entity determined not to provoke the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company, but decided rather to pass
under the yoke. This corporation occupies, as Its
president says, peculiar situation" at the Capt.
tai The United states give IL the free use or GER
tain streets for transit tracks, tie privilege OF
Gl,Il.uFl0x anu ulsIemDer1ns the CITY only large
park, and pubic reservation for It's station SITE
The road having secured 80 much for nothing
approprates TO its uses other public property, 10
which the attorney Of the District reports that IL
has no higher right than that OF "squatter soyer-
eighty, and IL further saves expense by using the
streets illegally for freight and storage purposes
with It's standing choking OF travel and traffic
rom a whole section Of the city. Not content
with the free gin loan OF privileges and property
for which IL would need TO pay millions In any
other city, IL persists, like Oliver Twist, in wanting
more. and, like some OF divers early friends,
IL takes what IL wants The Congress
of the United states with answering loyalty to
the ruler which it has delegated the control OF
the District has disregarded for years the indig-
nant complaints OF an injured people, and has
turned deaf ear 70 all the representations OF the
successive Commissioners OF the District to eiti-
zens' associations, and even to the vigorous de-
nunciatlons OF certain warm blooded and fool
hardy members OF Congress itself. Not only have
the United states compelled the people Of the Dis
trict TO bend before the railroad dictator but the
nation now makes ooeisance itself. Hats on then
10 the one whom Uncle Sam delights to honor and
by whom apparently he even delights to be kicked,