Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-01-12

together.
The people OF the District have built great hopes
upon the prospect OF relief from railroad grew
ances az the present session OF Congress- The
Pres1en 10 hts message TO the last Congress called
attention 20 the evil The Senate has shown its
apprey ia iOn OF the situation and a special CON-
mittee has investig ted the matter. II Is believed
that the District committee OF The House will push
vigorously ANY reasonable measure OF relief TO
which the special Investigations OF the senate
committee may give BIRTH What Is now needed
Is immediate and vigorous action. the prompt re-
porting OF bill 20 the senate and favorable action
thereon by 10th bodies The situation Of affairs
Is well understood In both houses OF Congress- and
was Understood long before the labors OF the
special senate committee collected full informa-
ton on the subject and removed the last excuse
for delay. For insIance, In debate In the Senate
In December, lss6, the justice or the complaints OF
the District against the railroads was unhesitat-
ingly conceded, and a thorough appreciation shown
OF the extent OF the evil senators Edmunds, In
gals and Van Wyck vigorously denounced the
usurpatiOns Of the railroads. senator Ingalls,.
one OF the best and most Influential OF the Districts
friends In Congress. and whose position at the head
of the District committee, In which the needed
legislation must originate, gives peculiar interest
70 his opinions, said:
81 am aware that the condition OF the railroad
termini IN this city and the occupation OF large
portions q the area OF the District BY railroad cor
poratiOns under present conditions Is simply dis
graceful. IL amounts almost 10 a crime Vast
numbers OF people nave had their property practi-
caIIy destroy ed and confscated BY the unlawful
occupation Of the portions OF this city living 10 the
northeast and TO the southeast and south OF the
Capitol for the purposes OF locomOtlOn and Of car
pracescaly uninhaSitable 0 ONE r earpara
ton having got tract OF land on a public reser-
site Which il would Dc required 20 pay 800 or
IN any other city. has interposed, and interposed
successfully, It's opposition 10 all measures re-
Qulring IL 20 withdraw from that reservation TO
take up IT'S tracks through 9Th street. to
cease 10 osect that magnificent mall extending
rrom the capitol 70 the Naval Observatory, and
carry on Its operations where IL would be as much
10 the convenience OF the pubic, two squares
farther south on that broad space at the intersec
ton OF Maryland and Virginia avenues.
Congress Is unquesJiOnably 10 blame. I am not
1nding any fault with the railroad corporations
They have valuable franchise, and they mean 10
keep IL. Here Is one OF them under the very
drUppings OF this Capitol, with terminal station
that Is a shame and disgrace TO civilization; all
It's approaches are In the public highways, without
decent accommodations for the public, and claim
ing that 10 has a vested night under previous act
OF Congress 10 90 as 1t pleases until 1910 and the
other corporation, securing special privileges on
account OF the OOlOQuy that was felt against It's
rival, has located It's sheds and depot on public
reservation. destroying access 10 one portion OF
The city by the occupation OF avenues and streets
with It's tracks, and both being able 10 combine
whenever anything Is proposed which threatens
their interests that, although absolutely hostile
upon every other point they are united In resist
srty.T
senator Van wyck considered Mr. Ingalls, state
ment startling one, and trusted that In IL there
might be a little ray OF hope TO the citizens OF
Washington that the day OF deliverance was ap-
preaching. He also said significantly: ''There is
NO allegation that Congress Is pOwerless before
such great, mammoth corporations II there could
be such an excuse, it would be a worse infamy
Than the crime alleged against them" 1t is now
lSss instead OF 1ss6, but the District which Is a
Mark Tapley In some respects still clings TO its
''nttle ray OF hope The conditions are slightly
more favorable now than then. The Baltimore
and Ohio wishes southern connections and is will
ling to grant concessions 10 the city In return for
this privilege, and only the Baltimore and Poto-
mac still has Congress by the throat with an un-
relaxed grlp. The number OF fIir- minded members
who resent the assumption that they dare not do
right In opposition To a powerful railroad eorpora-
tion also steadily Increases There need be no
confusion as 20 what the people OF Washington
want Toe particular interests and ideas OF In
diyiduals are stated, but the people Will as a
body favor any measure OF relief which will cure
or substantially improve present conditions They
do not believe that the Baltimore and Ohio should
be allowed 10 tunnel under I'd street east TO SOUTH
ern connections, according 70 the plan which IL
proposes because the evil OF surface occupation OF
the northeast section will be increased instead OF
OtucI utnStrS anu damages
will be aided A part of the same objections
apply to a line Of entrance as far west as 9Th
street east, and In a general way the community
desires TO throw the entrance route into the city
as far 70 the east negotiations with the railroad
and the opinion OF Congress will permit. But pro-
vided the present evils OF surface occupation and
crossing at grade are Substantially removed the
community as whole Will noJcomplain, whatever
street east OF 9Th may be selected as the route OF
entrance. SO In relation TO tracks and the site of
union station or adjacent stations In south Wash
1ngtG1, the community wishes the Mall TO be
cleared and the illegal obstruction Of streets and
avenues 10 be stopped access 10 the southern sec
ton 70 be rendered easy possible and the sta
ton or stations 10 be located at some point reason
ably Convenient to the public The selection OF
either the intersection OF Maryland and virginia
avenues. or point near Reservation IT, south OF
the Capitol for station purposes, and vf a system
OF sunken tracks, not obstructing travel along
Maryland and Virginia avenues or an elevated
road along street, the route through this Sec
uon, would doubtless be acquiesced In as a vast
Improvement OF present conditions no matter
what ones individual opinion as 10 the COMPARE
i've merits OF these alternative plans OF relief
may BE-.
In short, gentlemen OF Congress help us pretty
mucn as you please, only do something effective 10
remove railroad grievances and do IL promptly
IL seems little odd In view OF the past TO hear
senator Hale quoting Carl Srhurz "a "a noi,r,ca,