Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-03-07
RAILROADS IN THE CITY.
The Sharp Discussion in the Senate
This Afternoon.


Senators expressed their convictions this
the District Of Columbia ALI Of them did not,
utterances.
The Senate was at work on the calendar and
it took up the bill to incorporate the Washing
ton and Highlands street railway company.
Senator Henderson took exception to the lam
guage of the bill in locating the tracks and
said it should be more explicit and decided
Then he went on to say that the profits accru-
ing to street railroad companies were immense
and the stocks in this city were constantly
rising. There should be
for the public now received nothing beyond the
use Of the cars for which it paid He offered q
suggestion TO the District committee which he
trusted would receive attention. He
thought roads should not be pro-
jected by private individuals, but
by some recognized authority-the District
Commissioners-andt then when it was decided
charter should be put up at auction.
Senator Vest said he was opposed to any in
crease in the number OF horse railroads, and
he offered an amendment providing that any
motive power other than horses or steam
should only be permitted The route Of this
city-the northeast--and were it not for
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad and the
nuisances which it creates no portion Of the
city would grow more rapidly. The profits
accumulated by street railroads in this city
were enormous and
THE PEOPLE GOT BUT LITTLE FOR ITS MONEY
Senator Harris objected to Mr.. Vests amend
ment 1t was better to let the corporation be
born first; it could grow afterward.
Voc xlaxL Ia L.
to the conclusion that whatever rules were to
be laid down for the guidance OF a corporation
should be made plaid at the beginning. Now
was the accepted time. Congress had had a
great deal OF trouble about the steam railroad
depots He (Vest) had not exercised his visual
organs recently so far as concerned the PENN
syivania railroad, but he was willing to risk his
reputation for veracity by stating that there
were this morning
A HUNDRED CARS ILLEGALLY OCCUPYING STREETS
and territory that did not belong to the COM
pany. The Baltimore and Ohio was no better
He had waited, with his watch in his hand,
thirteen minutes for that company to
move its trains from a street crossing. The
whole commerce IN that section of the city was
paralyzed-wagons, carts, horses and foot pas
sengers stood idle until the company
graciously allowed them to pass. It
an outrage. Congress had required the
local street railroads to change the character of
the rails u6eQ, YET only one company naQ maze
any attempt, as yet to obey the law. He was
opposed utterly and unalterably to the use Of
horses in street cars.
SENATOR SHERMAN WAS VERY EMPHATIC
in his brief speech. He, too, touched upon the
steam railroad question and said that no other
city in the world, save this, would tolerate the
injury and injustice of the Balti-
more and Ohio road, which mean
ders through twenty squares of the
northeast and took possession Of public prop
erty as absolutely as though that property had
been condemned for its especial use. The Penn
sylvania railroad was not much better. Hundreds
Of its cars obstructed public streets and dam
aged private property. As to the delays caused
by the Baltimore and Ohio and mentioned by
| Senator Vest, he had had several personal ex-
periences. He had frequently been
sroppEp By TRAINS ON CROSSINGS.
He had seen it stated in the newspapers that
a number Of government printing office en-
ployes were delayed by trains across the streets
! and that those employees were locked for the
| thirty minutes time thus lost
The Senator said he was unaterably op-
| posed to any more horse cars, and he stated
that he would vote today to compel all the ex-
| listing companies to change their rails and
| adopt mechanical motors.
The proposed road went through q fine part
| Of the city; it should be Of modern construc-
ton, and now was the time for Congress to in
| sist that it should be SO.
WANTED THE BILL. TO LIE OVER.
Senator Hale said he wanted the bill to lie
over for a few days. The Senate was not care
full enough as to the legislation which con-
cerned this great city, which would be the capi-
toll Of the nation for years, perhaps for
centuries. speculators were endeavoring to
| possess themselves of the streets and the Sem
ate should beware Of them. Every provision
which gives power 10 corporations should be
| first carefully considered.
Senator Hale offered an amendment which
related to the motive power to be used
on the tracks of another road and
| Senator Vest offered an amendment
which compelled the laying Of rails even with
the surface OF the streets or roads over which
| the road ran.