Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-06-21
District when the amendments to the bill are
REPRHsENTArIyH MOORE.

1 Mr.. Moore of New Hampshire has some de-
cided views on the railroad question, and on the
last District day he offered an amendment to
the Atkinson bill referring the entire question
| to commission. This is Mr.. Moore's proposal:
| That the subject of the location and reloca-
| ton Of the tracks, sidings and stations OF the
| Baltimore and Potomac and Baltimore and Ohio
railroads in the city Of Washington be referred
| to a competent and impartial commission COM
| posed of three persons, one an expert In rail-
| roads, one a civil engineer and one repre-
| sentative of the business interests OF said city,
| to be appointed by the President Said COM
mission shall thoroughly and impartialiy inves-
| tigate the subject matter referred to them and
| shall make full report with accompanying BILL
at the opening of the second session of the
! Fifty first Congress"
| To a STAR reporter Mr. Moore said:
| "Ths railroad controversy in Washington
| calls for a comprehensive settlement There
! are three parties to the contention--the gov
| eminent the public and the railroads. The
governments interest Is paramount in accord
! ance with the original plan of estab fishing
this District. BY IN adroit move made
! eighteen years ago Col Scott of the Pennsyl-
| vania railroad secured a location for his prin-
| cipal passenger station in this city on one of
| the important government reservations. As
! an act Of generalship il was an advantage equal
| TO the possession of Little Roundtop at Get
| tysburg. This concession was q grave mis-
| take on the part of Congress. IL the reserva-
| ton Is worth preserving intact. The railroads
|
recovered. 70 pass the Atkinson bill alone
would be, in effectto confirm the railroad in its
| possession. This will be denied, but in view
of what took place eighteen Years ago the de-
NAL should count for nothing.
1t seems to me perfectly clear that proper re-
gard for the interests of the Government as well
as rights of the public, demand comprehensive
settlement Of the whole railroad controversy
IN Washington. which will otherwise remain as
it long has been, q source of irritation and con-
7 tant aatt oh arIl1 hoh
to secure what is best for all concerned. An
eminent commission. such my amendment
contemplates, that will hold its gaze at the
problem for the next four months hear all
sides and then decide, could present to Con-
gross the basis of just and permanent settle
ment Having had some experience III settling
controversies of similar character between
railroads and the public have no hesitation in
recommending the proposed reference to
commission as safe and wise ANY settlement
that Is not right will not be permanent 1t is
for the interest of all parties that the settle
ment should be permanent, and therefore it
should be right"
REPRESENTATIVE POST.
Mr.. Post and Mr. Lee were disinclined to talk
on the subject of the railroad bill, Mr.. Post
because it was not his habit to be interviewed
on pending bills. as he did not he said look on
himself as a legislator, but conceived himself
to be IN Judicial capacity and not supposed to
have any views until the arguments were all in.
REPRESENTATIVE LEE.
Mr.. Lee did not wish to be quoted, as he had
not entirely made up his mind ON some of the
questions. He wished to do what was best for
all interests.
REPRESENTATIVE MUDD.
Mr.. Mudd said to a STAR reporter:
Il was designated as a member of the
committee just prior to its action upon
the bill, and therefore was not in a POSI-
ton to make minute an examination
of the details thereof in connection with
the localities to which they apply as l would
like to have done. l voted for the report be-
cause thought it is due both to the CITY and
the rural communities that transport their
commodities to Washington that ample freight
facilities should be provided. / believe that
the sidings named in the bill should be legal
lied. They were acquired, as l understand, in
bona tide manner by the company under au-
thOrity from the city Commissioners acting
themselves in good faith under a supposed
right to grant such authority. The sidings are
necessary for the business of the road and the
public and were in large measure constructed
by and for the benefit of certain business
establishments contiguous to the road. 1t is
not reasonable in my judgment that the COM
pany should be subject TO continual and
harassing indictments for infringements
of the law which at the most are merely
technical. i do not consider that it is neces-
sary or just to withhold the formal Equalization
OF rights thus equitably and honestly acquired
in order to force the company into an aban-
donment of other rights conferred by the full
est authority of Congress to the situs of its
present passenger depot, or as a spur to the
conscience of Congress to deal justly and fairly
with the question of the removal of the depot
as a separate and independent proposition
''As to the provisions of the second and third
sections OF the bill think in general way
they are right and proper They confer pow
ers, subject in all cases to the approval of the
District Commissioners, which in my judgment
areapproximately co-extensive with those usu-
ally conferred under the general incorporation
laws of the several states. Speaking for myself
however, as a member of the committee
L will say that 1 am not opposed
to any amendments tending more clearly
and specifically to set forth and define the
limits within which these powers may be ex-
erclsed. This bill has no necessary connection
whatever with the question OF the ultimate re-
moval OF the passenger depot. The several
sldlngs mentioned In the bill can be legalized
and the additional privileges that may be re-
CURED to keep pace with the growth of the
business OF the road can, within properly de-
fined bounds, be granted with thorough con-
sistency with the removal of the depot below
the mall, should Congress see mt 30 to legis-
late.
The people of my district in MARYLAND are
very much Interested in this road and its re-
tentlon of adequate terminal facilities in this
city. Burdened as they were with poverty
they granted literally of rights of way and
tdAcu themselves 10 SuDScflDe 10 us capital
stock and encourage its building. They did
this IN great measure in order to provide
quick transit into their capital city, both for
passenger travel and for their freight transport
tatlon. The people Of this section of the city
contiguous to the road, far as can gather
are In favor OF the legislation contemplated in
this bill. My action upon this subject will, to
large extent, be guided by a consideration of
these two respective interests. l shall before
the next District day go over the grounds i'll the
Localities affected by this bill to satisfy myself
| as to the p.opriety of any amendments that
may be suggested for the purpose to which /
| have before referred"
/ REPRESENTATIVE SNYDER
Mr.. Snider. however, has some definite ideas
| as TO what should be done with the railroad
| Mr.. Snider does not believe in the possession
of the mall by the railroad and, further, he
does not believe i'll the possession of the streets
| by the railroad.
80 long the railroad is allowed to retain
| possession OF the streets of Washington" said
| MIR. Snlder, 1.-THE sidings should be legalized
| and the road allowed the proper facilities for
the transaction Of their freight business. So
! lar favor the Atkinson bill, but this railroad
} or any other railroad should not be al
! lowed to retain possession OF the streets or OF
| the mall. proper solution of the terminal
| question has never been arrived at by the peo-
| pie OF Washington. A plan of railroad termina MS
! should be 10 rmulated which would move the
| baltimore and Potomac road from the mall
and DO away at the same time with the use of
streets for railroad purposes.
| sinking the tracks / am opposed to- for
| many reasons. In the first place, l think the