Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-01

not to remove the Baltimore and Potomac
station from the mall and to leave all
things as they were. In April the B. and p
road not content with being let alone in the
enjoyment of extensive privileges at the
expense of the public, endeayored to secure
affirmative legislation III its favor, and to
acquire the broad privilege of condemning
unlimited land for its purposes in South WASH
ington. The passage of this bill would have
placed that section. ana indeed the whole city,
at the mercy of the railroad. for the only right
left to the people to be used in barter with the
road for the release of the mall and sinking
of its tracks within the city limits was that of
acquiring necessary ground fO- freight and
| Storage purposes. BY steadily protesting
against the use of the public streets and reser-
vations for freight purposes. and by
refusing the right to condemn private
property unless concessions TO public
safety and convenience we're made. the
people were able to apply some slight
pressure upon the railroad in the unequal
struggle with that corporation. bill offered
| in the Senate proposed to surrender that right
gratuitously to the railroad, and also to legalize
its unauthorized occupation of certain public
property. This impudent proposal brought
the railroad discussion from the committee
room into the Senate. Various measures reliev-
ing the city to greater or less degree from ex-
cessive surface tracks and the illegal occupa-
ton Of public streets and reservations were
offered for consideration in connection with
the Baltimore and Potomac roads request for
favoring legislation. new report and bill
we're submitted by the citizens committee.
Senator Faulkner presented bill to regulate
the route of steam railroads in the District from
the District committee. Senator Morrill, intro
duced bill on the subject which came nearer
to the desires Of the people than any of the
other measures entitled to a hearing on the
floor of the Senate.
In July Senator Morrill, made an admirable
speech upon the problem, indicating thor
ough acquaintance with il in all its phases.
Finally the subject was dropped for the session,
neither the measures for the relief of the pub
lie nor those for the benefit Of the railroads
receiving final consideration. The legislation
has not yet been brought up for consideration
| at the short session, and probably will not be
further considered by the present Congress.
The Commissioner report to Congress in De-
cember made brief reference to the excellent
special report on the subject prepared by
Major Ludlow. The Presidents message con-
| tanned a pointed recommendation of action for
| the Improvement of railroad conditions.
The railroads have offended not only as per-
| sistent trespassers upon public property, but
also by the chronic violation Of the law regu-
lating their rate of speed within the city limits
and in respect to guarding grade crossings by
watchmen and safety gates. Several deaths have
resulted during the year from such violations.
In March Rev. Eugene Peck was killed by the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad. In June Balti-
more and Potomac train struck and killed Vim,
for the accident upon the fact that the railroad