Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-04-04
What Mr.. Dodge Did Saw.

To the Editor OF The EVENING STAR:
/ was much surprised to read in the STAR of
today the statement Of Jour reporter that at the
railroad meeting last night Launched out
into criticism of Senator Ingalls, for his super
cilious treatment of the citizens and their
rights" did not say word about Senator
Ingalls, treatmea Of the citizens except his de-
clining the request of Mr.. Fendall, the chair
man OF the Citizens Committee of One Hun
bred. for a hearing on the railroad question.
1t was the railroad companies whose refusal
to recognize the rights Of citizens that criti-
cised by referring to the statement Of the
press that, at the hearing before the House
committee. Mr.. Barclay of the Baltimore and
Potomac company said that the citizens had no
right to say anything on the subject
further said that presumed the railroad
companies felt justified in assuming that posi-
ton by the statement Of Senator ingalls, in the
Record of December 81, 1888, and in the Post
of February 20. 1888, in which latter he said:
This is q reservation, the same as Fortress
Monroe, the navy yard or Yellowstone Park
that we citizens were here merely by permits
sion and ON sufferance only, and Congress and
the President could order us of Mt any time,
or could remove us by force if necessary. as
trespassers were kept out of Oklahoma by the
United States troops"
did not say that he said no man who could
get credit for a barrel OF -four at their grocers
wanted any change made so far rs the rail-
roads were concerned, but that the did not
want sunrage-a very Inherent statement, in
deed. 1t was such statements, said, that led
the railroad companies to utterly ignore the
rights and wishes Of the citizens
Neither did say that the sentiment of Con-
gress seemed to be that the citizens had no
business to give expressions to their views. On
the contrary said distinctly that / thought
both Congress and the railroad companies were
satisfied that the time had come when the mat
ter ought to be definitely settled and was con-
tident the citizens could be heard before the
House committee at least
Instead Of saying that seventy persons had
been killed and one hundred and fifty injured
down i'll South Washington" said that num-
Der had been killed or injured by the railroads
In the District during the past seventeen years.
In referring to the difference between the
attitude of the railroad companies toward the
citizens now and formerly said it was simply
due to the fact that formerly the city councils
had control of the matter. while now the citi-
zens have no authority or voice in the matter.
When in 1885 the Baltimore and Ohio wanted
certain privileges here it came to the city au-
thorities and humbly asked for them and was
glad to get them with numerous conditions
attached, and in 1856, when they asked of the
city a renewal of its privileges, it not only
sented to remove its depot from Pennsylvania
avenue back to its present position, but also
agreed to pay $4,000 to improve the contigu-
Gus streets.
Now the railroad companies not only ignore
the rights and wishes of the citizens, but they
say it's none of our business. W. G. DODGE.
April 3, 1890.