Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-06-23
THE SENATE AND THE LOCAL
RAILROADS.
Views of Great Men ON an Important
Subject.


Views of Great Wen ON an Important
Subject.
WHAT SUMNER AND THURMAN SAID OF RAILROAD
OCCUPATION OF THE MALL-AssURANCEs OF RAIL
ROAD sENAroRs-PRoPHEcIEs AND DENUSCIATIoNs
BY FAITHFUL LEGISLATORS FOR THE DISTRICT.
In a recent issue OF Tue STAR an article was pub
lished showing from the successive reports OF the
District Commissioners that correction OF the pres
ent evils OF railroad occupation has been strongly
urged BY the Official representatives. Of this COM
munity every year since the establishment OF the
new government, and that the demand OF the peo-
pie for relief, thus officially expressed, has been
emphasized by the representations and petitions
OF series OF public meetings and of committees OF
citizens before Congress. The evils complained OF
were, In order OF time, frst the occupation Of the
mall by the Baltimore and Potomac. foreshadow-
Ing the gratuitOus surrender Of the city parks by
Congress TO railroad and other corporations. and
encouraging the illegal occupation OF other reser-
vations than those granted, OF which just COM
plant is now made; and second, the obstruction
and injury to two sections OF the city BY unneceS
sdrily numerous surrlce tracks and grade cross
ings, and the illegal use OF such TRACKS either by
extensions without authority or by converting
cars. Though nothing has been done by Congress-
the legislature OF the District, in response
sa,1nt e T191oaS 81 complaints ,, eroes sd
that the true condition of Affairs has not been
understood at the CAPITOL or That the District has
lacked influential ana able friends in the two
Houses OF Congress TO appreciate its necessities in
this respect and TO present them 10 the considera
ton OF the bodies OF hich they have been members.
Nor Is the failure 10 act explained by any success
ful attempt TO make the issue party question.
Both parties have furnished defenders OF the
capital against railroad aggression. President
Cleveland has recommended the subject TO the
consideration OF Congress-, and the republican
acting vice-President, senator Ingalls,, has been
one OF the bOldest or the friends or Washington In
denunciation OF the course which the railroads
have pursued In this city. OF the special Senate
committee OF nve 10 investigate the problem,
the four who favored giving the District relieI
included two from each party, senators
Vance and Harris for the democrats and
senators spooner and Ingalls, for the republicans.
Ike railroads have not permitted much discussion
In Congress OF any phase OF the question, but In
the Senate where II Is not so easy 10 choke on de-
bate as In the House, some things have been said,
and the advocates OF justice TO the District have
been mustered from both parties, Senators Morrill,,
HaWley, Dawes and kdmunds, being prominent
In the number furnished by the republicans, out
side or the members OF The u. Z. committee. In
the absence OF partisan opposition to the request
OF the District Tor relief and OF the OF ignor
anee concerning the evils complained OF, Mr.. Van
Wyck's statement on the floor OF the Senate that
these railroads had Congress by the throat seems
10 suggest the only remaining explanation OF In
action
As supplement to the quotations showing the
urgent requests OF the District for relief IN the
matter a lew extracts from senatorial remarks,
not OF recent date, may be given TO show that In
telllgent and upright men, without regard 10 the
party or section represented by them nave, by the
ENDORSEMENT OF their words OF appreciation and
sympathy, shown that the complaints OF Washing
ton i'll this matter are well founded. The evil OF
permitting railroad TO occupy the mall was fully
recognized from the time that such permission
Was eXLorted from Congress.
CHARLES SUMNER IN DEFENSE OF THE MALL
In opposition to railroad Use OF the mall Charles
sumner said In the senate in 1872: "Sir, do not
think that this privilege ought to be granted, and
my reason is precise and specific. 1t proposes to
take q considerable section or land, which IL you
look at the map you Will see properly belo lgS TO
the park OF Washington. / am unwilling at this
early period In the history Of this metropolis TO
begin by cutting out slice from this Enclosure set
apart Tor the future. II you do IL now where are
you TO stop? VIII you not be called to cut out
the park be reduced from that form and those pro.
portions IL now promises TO enjoy? This metrOpo-
lis Is now at its beginning and yet doubling In a
decade. during The last ten years its population
has multiplied two-fold, and In the coming ten
years there Is every reason TO believe that the de-
yelopment Will be as large II not larger OF course,
with the Increase oil population is the demand for
park, especially in The central situation which
that enjoys. i use the language or another when
say that parks are the lungs OF great city; but
where Will De the lungs OF this metropolis II you
begin TO reduce the park? Rather should we sa-
credly keep 1t all intact, so that hereafter when
you and l. sir, have passed away and this metropo-
lis has grown To grandeur and beauty which I'm
aginatlon cannot now conceive, that park may
main in its entirety a blessing to the people, for
sir, was born In a city which has the enjoy
ment Of such a blessing. There is in Boston what
Ii knOwn As the comlnon, set apart in the very
earliest days OF the town, when II was IN tact
what the nIme Implies, a common for the pastur-
age OF CATTLE but thong often lied IL has been
preserved and untouched. Railroad corporations
anu other companies have tried In vain to OBTAIN
a corner from II. Tue Jealous fathers nave saved
that beautiful piece OF earLh Till Is The first
treasure OF Boston, unless we except her common
schools, here all are equal before the law have
often thought what would have ensued II some
time ago. yielding TO corporation pressure In It's
various IOrmS, tle city had consented TO sacrifice
that beautiful Enclosure. There it Is the very
apple OF the eye 10 Boston, and nobody now fears
that II Will he diminished by loot. And should
not Washington have similar possession? Are
you willing, sir. now at this early moment OF her
history, when she is just beginning to grow, or
Father when her growth is Just beginning TO be
apparent, TO despol her OF this UNREASONABLE
attraction, where the useful and the
beautiful commingle? think, sir, you
will act improvidently II you do so. 1 thilk
whether you look at health, beauty, or enjoyment
for park ministers " all these. Therefore sir
would Keep 1t intact BY no consent OF Congress
would allow any business interest or disturbing
Railroad company To IasUen Itself upon this in-
closure. They should be excluded, and when say
this would not carry them OF far, Let them
plant their sIaIioDS Just the other side They
Will then be perhaps third or q mile from Penn.
sylvanla avenue, traVersing the center OF pOpula-
ton, with cOnvenienceS such railroads In no
other city enjoy. With those open TO them why
should We allow them TO enter our pleasure
grounds? II there were no proper place without
going long distance, mile or Two miles, there
would be some reason. perhaps, for entertaining
this question; out when consider the facilities
which they may enjoy only the other side or the
PARK line, with land there cheap and easy to be
had, | am aStoniShed that any one can be willing
TO sacrifice the park simply 10 bring them a few
rods nearer Pennsylvania avenue" Senator
sumner then described the dangerous annoy.
anceS from the railroad crossings In Fairmount
PARK, Philadelphia, and read from the last an
nual report OF the commissioners OF the park be.
wailing these annoyanceA In conclusion, he
said:
them pass through our library and take their
stand on that unequaled pOrtico, FROM which they
may look down upon an aInplI heater more like
that OF ancient Rome than that any other capi-
TAI, with river beneath and hills Ia the distance
IA river much larger than the ancient Ttber, and
hills much more beautiful than those that stand
around ancient Rome, ana Capitol, too, but how
much more beautiful than that which once gave
the law 10 mankind. Stand on that portico, sir,
and survey that ampitheater; your eye will then
rest with satisfaction on tie outline Of this very
park, stretching from the Capitol beyond the
Executive Manson, and destined 10 be breathing
pace LOT the immense population OF future genera
lions. stand on that pOrtlco and try 10 Imagine
what this park may be. And now IL Is proposed
not only 10 diminish that breathing place. but to
disturb II by the smoke OF steam-engineS, and TO
hope no such thing Will be done. There Is place
for all things, ana this ] know the place for a
railway station Is not public park"
THE RED BASDASA SHAKEN IN THE FACE OF GREEDY
CORPORATIONS.
In the same debate Allen q. Thurman said
speaking OF the land proposed to be given to rail-
roads: 1T is part OF that property known as the
mall. II Is a part OF that property which was set
apart and dedicated as park In the very origin of
this city, in the very plan OF the city; and now
wish 10 call the attention OF the senate 10 q fact
which involves the good faith OF the nation. The