Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-07-12
THE ATKINSON BILL.
The Railroad Measure to be Discussed
Again Monday.

MR.. MooRE's NOTION TO RKcoMNIr WITH IN
sTRUcTIoEs IN oRDER-PKNDNo AMENDMENTS
THE QUESTION OF SURFACE rRAcKs-How IT
Is PROPOSED TO MEET oBJRcT1oss
The Atkinson bill will probably come up in
the House on next Monday. District day. The
pending motions are Mr.. Hemphilrs amend
ment striking out the first section Of the bill
and Mr.. Moore's motion to recommit with in
structions 10 report a bill removing the pas
senger station from the mall. Either on this
motion to recommit or on direct amendment
by the way OF proviso at the end Of the bill, or
in both ways, IL IL expected to test the House
upon the question of railroad occupation Of the
mall. There are some Representa- like
Mr.. Heard who do not favor removal OF the
station from the mall, but who are willing to
compel the road to remove its tracks from 9Th
street. cover them completely in their course
through the mall and thus reduce the disigure-
ment and obstruction to as great an extent a.
can be accomplished without disturbing the
present passenger station. II the proposition
to remove the station and tracks entirely from
the mall should be defeated or postponed IL 10
probable that this scheme of improving an
occupation which must be endured will be pre-
sented for consideration by way of amendment,
either separately or in connection with some
treatment Of the grade-crossing evil
SEVERAL PLANS PROPOSED.
There are several plans Of reducing the num-
Der of grade crossings, upon which the opinion
of the House may be tested by amendments.
The South Washington organizations favor an
elevated road, running through purchased
squares between l and X streets, and along the
river 'front.' The board of trade recommends
depression and bridging Of the tracks west of
Al street on the avenues now occupied by the
road. substantially the plan which Senators
Morrill, and Ingalls, and Engineer Commits
sioners Twining and Ludlow have advocated.
An amendment offered by Mr.. Heard is pend
ing, which retains the tracks where they are,
but provides that the company shall. under the
direction of the Commissioners. construct SUD-
ways for the passage Of vehicles and passengers
under the tracks on 4th and 18th streets. By
Attn street ~ street is probably intended, as
there Is no 4th street southwest. The South
Washington peoples plan would remove all the
grade crossings from Maryland and Virginia
avenues, the board Of trades plan would
abolish them west of AZ street and Mr. Heard's
plan would permit the people to pass under the
tracks ut two points, emitting entirely any pro-
vision for the important crossing at 7th street,
where, according to reliable count recently
made and published in The STAR, nearly 5000
people and considerably over 1900 vehicles
were in the daylight hours of single day sub
jected to the obstruction of ii6 coverings Of
the gates and to the dangers from an equal
number OF passing trains or engines.
OTHER AMENDMENTS.
In addition to the propositions in relation to
the mall and grade crossings which are de-
signed to protect property and life, by way of
compensation to the public for the privileges
to be granted by the BILL there are amend
ments pending, proposed by Mr.. Atkinson. which
are designed to avoid specific objections to
the different sections of the bill. One obiec-
ton made to the bill has been that IL confirms
surface tracks and authorizes the construction
OF additional surface tracks west of 4 street,
over the part of the road from which it is sought
to remove grade crossings. and that the meas
ure not only does not cure the grade-cross-
ing evil itself, but tends to perpetuate the sur
face tracks and prevent any relief from them
in the future. To meet this objection Mr.
Atkinson proposes An amendment to the
second section, which limits the Commits
sioners' powers Of authorizing additional side
tracks to the space east OF ~ street. But no
similar amendment is proposed to the first and
third sections. The road may still condemn
aud run tracks to its acquired property west Of
"a street, anu the existing tracks illegally &C.
cupying open spaces Of the United States west
OF that street are confirmed. Should all
propositions concerning present treatment OF
the question of mall occupation and dangerous
grade crossings be defeated, it is thought likely
that the Representatives who desire to protect
the people and the parks will endeavor to so
shape the bill that it will furnish the least OBJ
stacle to these improvements in the future,
and Will propose amendments in the line of Mr..
Atkinson's which will confns the application
OF all three sections Of the bill to the space
east of AZ street, leaving the tracks west OF that
street to be considered later. 1t is commended
i'll support OF such amendments, and not denied
that there is ample, convenient and cheap
room for freight facilities east OF that street.
THE PUBLIC RESERVATIONS.
Another amendment proposed by Mr.. Akin
son adds to the third section of the bill the
provision that nothing herein contained shall
be construed as making u grant or comfrma-
ton to the said company of any land now the
property OF the United States. This amend
ment Is evidently proposed to meet the objec-
ton which has been urged against the first
section OF the bill that IL grants or confirms to
the railroad the use of six small reservations or
open spaces, the property OF the United States,
which the side tracks now illegally traverse
and occupy. Some of those who do not favor
the surrender Of the use OF this public property
TO the railroad without compensation in any
shape TO the public are of the opinion that
whatever provision Is made i'll the line of Mr..
Atkinson's amendment should be attached to
the first section OF the bill The opinion is also
expressed that it would be more simple to ex-
cept from the legalizng provision tracks which
cross and occupy this government property
than to confirm the road in the occupation Of
these reservations and then add that nothing
IN the act Is to be construed as making such
confirmation. Other amendments that have
been offered are one by Mr.. Moore referring
the Whole question to commission, one by
MIR. Lind making it the duty of the road in
consideration OF the privileges conferred to
carry persons free OF charge between points
in the District. and one by Mr.. Baker recon-
uniting the bIll with instructions to provide
for the removal of the passenger station and
for depressing all tracks where practicable, or
for overhead passage ways.
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