Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-05-12
SUBURBAN STREET RAILWAYS.
The Use of Public Roadways-A Dis
cussiOn in the Senate.

The Senate Saturday decided that when a
street railway desires to spread itself into the
suburbs 1t shall not do 50 along the
public highways. The matter came up
on Senator Hale's motion to reconsider
the bill authorizing the construction of a
branch road from the main Brightwood road to
Iakoma Park. The amendment provides that
hone OF the tracks OF this branch road shall be
within the limits OF any street, road or high
way.
senator Harris thought the amendment was
entirely unreasonable.
Senator Hale said that the president Of the
road had called upon him and asked him what
was his purpose In moving to reconsider; that
official had assented to the amendment offered
Senator Harris made further objection and
then Senator Hale said that a remarkable con-
dltlon OF affairs existed. Whenever an attempt
was made 10 limit or restrict a railroad COM
pany in any of its plans, and the company
was itself willing, the Senate District
committee insisted that there should be no
limitations and assumes a guardianship of these
corporations. He Instanced the Tenleytown
Railroad Company and Its tracks as an example
of careless legislation. Travel on that road at
night was dangerous now.
Senator Harris said he thought the route and
such things could be left i'll the hands OF the
District Commissioners.
MORE Rights THAN IT WANTED,
Senator Hale was somewhat warm bv that
time. He said the Senator from Tennessee
(Mr. Harris) desired to give the road
more rights than it wanted. He Senator
Hale) was not satisfied to leave the public
rights to be adjudicated by the District Com
mlssioners- That was not imputation either.
The Commissioners were busy men and were
apt to be overridden.
Senator Harris said that he had COM
mltted the grave error of supposing that
the Commissioners and the District COM
Inlttee knew as much about local mat
tiers as even the Senator from Maine.
That gentleman MIR. HaleJ had been taking
charge OF about every bill concerning street
railroads that had come up this session. Per-
sOnaiiy Senator Harris declared he was not in
terested and did not, in fact, know an officer
OF the company.
Senator Hale asked Senator Harris whether
or not the company had been asked by the
committee TO lay Its tracks outside the high
way, and Senator Harris responded by saying
that be had not seen any one connected with
the company. although he was the subcom-
mlttee In charge of the bill
CRITICIsISG THE COMMITTEE
Then Senator Hale asked if it was possible
that bill had been considered by both sub
committee and full committee on the District
and had been reported without even q hearing
Of parties interested.
Senator Harris made no reply, and then
Senator Hale said that the District committee
had gwen Its case away.
Senator Hawley sad he favored the amend
ment and agreed with Mr.. Hale as to the
nuisance on the Ienleytown road
The amendment was agreed to and the bill
passed
oBJECT1SG TO OVERHEAD WIRES
Shortly afterward the bill to change the
route OF the Rock Greek Railway was taken up
SENATOR Hale offered an amendment prohibiting
the use of overhead electric wires on the road.
This brought on a lengthy discussion as TO the
danger OF electric wires, Senators Hale and
Vest supporting the amendment and Senators
stewart ana Hoar opposing it Finally a COM
promise was agreed 10, by the terms of which
overhead wires are to be permitted outside the
city limits for three years after the passage OF
the act Senator Hale said he could not vote
for the erection OF such wires within the Dis
trict
Senator Vest said he was also directly op-
posed 10 overhead wires. lit is very well
known TO all OF u.s." SAID he THAT il will he
bur a very few years until this city will cover
the whole District. practically, with the ex-
panslon that Is going on now With the mani
lest fact that the city of Washington will IN
crease with the government OF the United
States, which is simply III its early manhood as
a nation there can be no sort Of question that
the time Is immediately before us when the
population Of the city Of Washington will oc-
cupy the entire District of Columbia"
The dangers OF overhead wires were then
discussed at some length.
Senator Stewart offered q substitute for Sec
ton OF the committee bill. 1t required the
District Commissioners to conduct the condem-
nation operations and directed them Ito furnish
the money necessary to pay for the purchase
or condemnation of said lands and to compep-
safe the owners therefor
Senator Vest at once objected to the District
being required to pay for the roadway to be
occupied by the company, and Senator Stewart
said he had offered the wrong amendment He
then produced another substitute, in which the
corporation was ordered to pay the costs
The bill on objection and Senator Hale's de-
inand Tor the yeas aud nays went over.
Candidate Against Congressman Morrill,.
AT Leav n1orth, Kan, the Hon. Joseph
Bleakley, president OF the Leavenworti
County Farmers Alliance, has formally an
nounced himself as q candidate for Congress
IN opposition 10 Maj. L. n. Morrill, the in
eum6ent This news has Just leaked out, bu
Is authoritative.
Ralph Allen, who tried to rob a diamond
salesman IN the Palmer House, Chicago, April
), was sentenced TO nine years imprisopmep