Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-02

In the opinion of the business men Of Wash
ington the Pennsylvania railroad company has
for months deliberately DISTRACTED and delayed
the delivery of local freights in order to whip
the merchants into the support of legislation
confirming the present illegal holdings and
uses of property by the railroad, and prac-
tically turning over to it to be disposed of at
pleasure the whole of South Washington. This
policy of coercion and intimidation has sub
jected the local business interests to great
damage and immeasurable inconvenience and
annoyance. The point in the endurance Of
these hardships has now been reached when
those who are unwilling to be kicked
into compliance with the railroads
unreasonable demands begin to consider the
ACCESSIBILITY of retaliatory measures in self-pro-
lection. Hitherto considerations of self-inter-
est on the part Of the local business men, who
naturally desired to stand well with the trans
portatiOn agency upon which they largely de-
pend, have kept this part Of tie community in
q neutral attitude in regard to efforts to COM
pei the railroad to obey the law. The fight for
the law has been left in the main to
the people of South Washington who have
suffered in life and property from the rail-
roads Illegal acts. If the whole community
should be driven into a desperate attempt to
establish that the railroad is not above the law
there would at least result a settlement of the
dubious question whether it is Congress or the
Pennsylvania railroad which has the power OF
exclusive legislation in the District. and whether
the property owners of the city have any rights
which the railroad is bound to respect.
The railroad gratuitously enjoys in this city
BY the favor of Congress property and privi-
leges for which it would be compelled to pay
several million dollars elsewhere. 1t has free
right Of way along the public streets and the
use of public reservations station sites. 1t
cuts in two and spoils the largest park within
the city limits. Not content with this gratuity
OF several millions, It occupies property and
extends its tracks to streets not granted to it.
1t subjects the streets over which its transit is
authorized to illegal uses by converting them
into freight yards. 1t illegally blocks import
ant avenues Of the city, and by belt, often
impossible and always dangerous, it
cuts off the river front and large Sec
ton of the city from the business center
1t acts in every matter as il it were by favor of
Congress above the law. So much has been
given to it that it seems to expect everything
else for the mere asking, and acting on this
theory it has helped itself to some things with
out even the formality Of request Any at
tempt to secure from it consideration for the
people of this community such it is COM
PEELED to show in other cities, and to require
ii to pay regard to the law, is resented
as a personal and presumptuous attack, an Of
fence to be punished. 1t Is not believed
that the business men of Washington are to be
whipped into craven submission to the rail-
roads demands The terminal facilities of the
railroads must be increased and improved but
protection Of the lives and property of the
people of the District must be a factor in any
arrangement made, and concessions for the
benefit Of the railroad should be counter
balanced by concessions in the interest of the
people.