Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-06-23

WASHINGTON, d. c..
this source have also been fully recognized BY In
dividual members OF Congress Most OF the prop
In committee, so that little opportunity has been
given 70 congressman 70 put themselves on record
pun an III
| the medium OF the discussion Of measures not
openly aimed at the railroads. and which
these corporations. For Instance, in the discus
SION Of 6ill IN 1854 regulating the use Of the CITY
| bate occurred In the Senate:
| HOT SHOT FOR THE RAILROADS.
"Mr. Ingalls.-The Commissioners also had their
| attention called to the condition OF the steam
| railroads In this city. Those who are familiar
with the suburbs, especially In the northeastern
parts Of this municipality, think will bear wit
ness that values have been practically destroyed
| IN that region by the unjust occupation OF the
streets. avenues. and public reservations, by the
steam railroad companies Within three OF four
DAYS last PAST, while traversing the southern por-
Of freight loadsa and u
through the streets and highways, but stored ana
standing therein. Those corporations have
assumed TO use the avenues, notably Virginia and
their cars that are not in motion, and thereby
practically destroying that portion Of the city for
| purposes OF business and residence.
ment to the effect that one Of these corporations
nao succeeded steathily, pravily, without the
| session OF three pubic reservations, which they
were using for the purpose OF switching and stOr.
private purposes, when, If they had been private
| persons, they would have been compelled TO have
paid hundreds OF thousands OF dollars for the
property whose use and value they thus willfully
| and wantonly destroy.
- Both the street cars and the steam rail-
roads are chartered by act OF Congress, and their
|
reservations within the limits prescribed by their
Mr. Edmunds-They have got a good deal be-
| yOnd it.
Mr.. Ingalls, know they have.
Mr.. Vest-Before this subject passes away
should like to ask the chairman Of the committee
| on the District OF Columbia what is the condition
OF the bill or bills-I believe there are two OF them
lin regard TO union depot In this city, intended
for the purpose Of getting rid OF these railroads
through reservations That bill has been pending
several years ! believe-l know for nve years in
the Senate and also In the other house-and 1t Is
by far
THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION TO THE PEOPLE OF
THIS CITY
that is now pending before Congress-
Mr.. Ingalls, quite agree with the Senator
| from Missouri, and for twice five years my atten-
ton has been directed to that subject, and my
| best efforts have been In the direction OF some
solution OF that difficulty; but presume that the
| Senator from Missouri knows that the railroad
interests In this city are conflicting and hostile
Whatever one corporation wants the other resists.
| SUCH has been The conflict the claShing, that
whenever any measure has been brought before
| the committee or by the committee before the
Senate, there have been influences, subtle 1t may
be, and undetected, but powerful enough to pre-
public convenience would not be conserved by
the measures that have been submitted for con-
sideratiOn.
am aware Mr. President, that the condition of
the railroad termini in this city and the Occupa-
ZION OF large portions OF the area OF the
Distnct 0y railroad CORPORATIONS under present
most to crime, vast numbers OF people have had
their property practically destroyed and con1s-
Gated by the unlawful occupation OF the portions
OF this city lying to the northeast and TO the
southeast and south OF Capitol fO- the purposes
OF locomotion and car storage. Portions OF the
city have been rendered practically uninhabtab,e.
The railroads have carried their business that
1t has been impossible to worship Almighty God
In the churches erected for that purpose. And
suits have been brought and the people have been
petitiuning here and representing their wrongs,
and measure after measure has been introduced
and ca rled through certain stages; but one cor
poration having got tract OF land on public res
ervatiOn worth $500 900 without paying a cent q
site which 1t would have been required to pay
100000 Ior in any other city, has interposed and
lnterpo>ed successfully, It's opposition to all meas
ureS requiring II to Withdraw from that reserva-
ton, to take up its tracks through 9th street, to
cease to bi,ect that magnificent mall extending
from the Capitol TO the Naval ervatOry, and
carry on Its op rations where 1t would be as much
TO the convenience OF the public, two squares
farther SOUTH that broad space at the intersec.
ton OF Virginia and Maryland avenues.
CONGRESS Is PROFESSIONALLY TO BLAME.
81 am not finding any fault with the railroad cor
pOratiOnS. They have q valuable franchise, and
they mean to keep 1t. Here Is one OF them,
under the very eaves-droppings Of this Capitol
with terminal station That Is a shame and dis
grace to civilizations; all us approaches are In the
for the public, and claiming that 1t has q vested
right under previous act OF Congress to do as II
pleases until 1910; and the other corporation, Sc
curing Speclai privileges on account OF the OUlOQuy
that was felt against It's rival, has located It's
sheds and depot on public reservation, destroy
Ing access TO one poruon Of the city by the occu-
patton OF avenues and streets with its tracks, and
both beng able so TO combine when anything Is
proposed which threatens their interest that al
though absolutely hostile upon every other point,
they are united in resisting every attempt made
to diSodge them from their present injurious Oc-
cupatiOn of The public property.
"There Is good deal OF secret history about this
matter, Mr. President, there are great many
open secrets that perhaps II Is not wen to discuss;
but when the Senator from Missouri inquiries why
1t is that this matters left Enacted upon, why 1t Is
the public have been left TO suffer these exactions
can say That 1t has not been for want OF honest
effort, repeatedly made, TO secure the concurrence
OF these rival intereStsin some measure that would
enable their friends In Congress and out OF II to
agree upon some site for a union depot, and thus
relieve the people from this burden under which
they now suffer. ."
MIR. Van Wyck-Mr. President, it must strike
those who take an interest In the legislation OF
Congress anectlng the rights OF Individuals that
the statement made by the chairman OF the com.
mittee on the District Of Columbia is startling
one, that the steam railroads entering this city
should use the franchise given them arbitrarily,
and without authority take occupation OF reser-
vatlons or other property and That that should he
continued year alter year, and the American
Congress-, denying TO two hundred thousand peO-
pie the right OF selr-cOntrol should sit here nine
months In one year and three in another
and leave this community entirely at the mercy
OF the avarice, the greed, and the extOrtiOn OF
corporations OF this nature. IL Is startling prop
Osltlon. There Is no excuse for 1t anywhere; none
whatever There IS no allegation that Congress
Is pOwerleSs before such great mammoth corpora
I cpnth a N
be a worse inIamy than the crime alleged against
them. Our crime is worse than that OF the rail-
road companies, ana the Senator has properly de-
signated their occupation OF this franchise In
famous, and so IL Is The citizens OF this city viii
be rejoced at the statement made by the Senator
operation AID the power which that Senator from
his position on this floor, and as the head OF the
District Committee, may extend to the people who
have been long suffering In this city. SO
IL seems these mammoth corporations can take
Congress by the throat and, although 1t sits nine
months In one year and three in the next, the
great representatives OF the American republic
Iremble before these huge corporations, and the
only remedy for the individual, the citizen (who
has protection by reason OF any SelI-cOntrO on
the part OF the people here, or any regulation of
their afairs) Is that he must 60 to the courts
single handed and alone to deny the right OF
q railroad company to enter the highways,
erty and make 1t useless. ] Judge 80 from the
fact that the people Of South Washington have
petttiOned not only this year, but the last half
dozen years. petitiOned, without redress, Congress
to give them some protection, and until this time
their request has passed apparently unheeded.
50 much 80 that 1t has been deserved for years
and TO-DAY has received the truthful characterize.