Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-20

l STRONG FONTS IN THE DxBArE-vALUABLE PRIV
LEsEs GRANTED FREE oFCosr TO THE RAILROAD
| COMPANY WITHOUT Protection FOB TIE PEOPLE
| OF THE DISTRICT.
| After the STAR's report closed yesterday the
debate on the conference report of the Penn
| sylvania railroad bill continued for some time
| and was finally ended by the report being
| adopted by the House on a yea and nay vote.
Mr.. Heards remarks in support of the re-
port were interrupted by little dialogues be-
| tween Mr.. Circuit and Mr.. Cannon. in which
the latter gentleman stated emphatically that
he would not vote for any proposition that di-
| rectly or indirectly had its object the re-
vania road from the mall.
Mr.. Heard then continued his remarks. He
had no objection. he said, to the commission
amendment and he would vote for il as
separate measure. He thought, however it
should be broadened and made to include all
tine railroads in The city.
Mr.. Milliken asked if the amendment which
had been abandoned was not the only thing in
the bill for the protection OF the public.
Mr.. Heard answered in the negative.
Mr.. Mllliken then said: This bill, as under
stand, grants to this company franchises and
rights which are of vast benefit to it,"
NJ. Heard-'And Of equally great benefit to
the public. / think
WHERE DOES THE PROJECTIONS OF THE PUBLIC
CONE IN?
Mr.. Milliken remarked that the bill did moth
ing more for the protection Of the public than
10 say that the railroad company shall not
claim any further advantages than are granted
in the bill
Mr. Heard thought an ample consideration
WIS given to the public in the increased facili-
ties which the bill grants. Continuing he said:
There is one element of the people here
which insists that these facilities shall be given
without the conditions which another element
would impose. There Is one element which
would insist that while the railroad company
may have these increased facilities. which are
admitted to be necessary. they shall be
coupled with conditions which myself do not
propose to insist upon being put in this bill.
As an original proposition | should consider the
question upon its merits. but do not consider
| it proper or necessary to put such conditions
in this BILL
MoDEsrY OF THE RAILROAD COMPANY.
Mr.. Hemphill then took the floor and made
| strong plea for rejection of the report He
said:
Great credit is taken by the gentleman
from Pennsylvania Mr.. Atkinson) and tine gem
tleman from Missouri Mr. Heard for the fact
that this bill does not ask Tor anything but
what the railroad company already possesses.
Well. ilasmuch as the railroad has everything
on earth that it can have here do not think
that they are entitled to 40 much credi: for not
asking FOR more. And in a certain sense they
do not ask for anything more than they have.
But the do ask TO be confirmed in the occu-
pancy of some things that they have had here
tofore and to which they have no earthly right,
bu. which they occupied, not only without
law. but absolutely in opposition to the law.
So far as it is necessary to legalize the of
the sidlngs OF the railroad company so that
they may pass from their main tracks into the
property they acquired or into the warehouses
OF business people Of this community, sup
pose there is no one to object to that. But the
question comes back here. the main question.
and it is this: If the railroad is to get every
thing it asks under the bill is it not the proper
time for those of us who believe somebody else
in this community have rights as well as the
railroad to see that something is done to secure
the rights of the community to which
We believe the people are entitled?
THE COMMISSION PROPOSITION.
"NOw. we did adopt. after a full discussion in
the House. proposition that this matter should
be investigated by a commission, and q report
made to the House. 1t was never at any time
suggested that the commission was not broad
enough in its scope; nor was any amendment
offered making it broader than it was originally
arranged for In the amendment And think.
Mr.. Speaker. the experience OF the members of
this House will bear me out in the statement
that the management and handling Of one rail-
road in this District by one commission Is
mucQ rs any tnree men IN rQe country can
dertake: for after the most strenuous efforts on
the part of the people Of the District Of Column
bia, and some Of us here on this floor who claim
to represent their interests we have not been
able TO manage this single railroad company:
and it Is even doubtful whether they have not
been able to manage the majority of this House
IN opposition to the rights and interests Of the
people of this District.
AVERY POOR REASON.
''But the gentleman from Pennsylvania OBJ
jects to dealing with the Pennsylvania road be-
cause at the same time are not dealing with
another road and all others which may possibly
come in at some future time. say it is a very
poor reason why we should not deal with one
which We now have because we do not at the
same time provide for dealing with others
which We may never have. Now. so far as this
railroad is concerned something has been said
of the freight facilities of the railroad COM
pany with regard to southern traffic. These
facilities have never been hampered or injured
to any great extent: and it il not essential sir
that the Pennsylvania railroad should occupy
the streets Of this city with three or four or
five tracks. or that it should take the public
property of the United States without paying
rent for its use or occupancy. nor Is il essential
that they should run upon grades i'll this city
and kill the people Of this district at grade
crossing in order that the people of the south
should have additional freight facilities
DEATHS ON THE TRACKS.
Here followed q discussion between Mr..
Hemphill and Mr.. Atkinson as to the number of
deaths caused by the Pennsylvania road in the
District
Mr.: Hemphill said over 100 persons had been
killed or wounded.
Mr.. Atkinson held that only two persons had
been killed since 1888
Mr.. Hemphill said: Il know the gentleman
from Pennsylvania says that from 1888 they
have killed but two persons. But you know
| the idea railroad company has as to what it
does towards the injury Of the public and the
idea that the public have as to what the rail-
road does with reference to the same
! thing are two very different matters
and stand here now speaking for
those who have been injured and not
for the corporation that has done the injury
Mr.. Hemphill then said that his authority for
the statement that in the last twenty years over
one hundred persons had been killed or
wounded by the Pennsylvania road in the Dis
trict was the District Commissioner"
ANNOYANCE TO THE RAILROAD COMPANY.
Continuing Mr.. Hemphill said: 'Mr. Speaker,
the gentleman from Pennsylvania says that the
appointment Of this commission will simply be
an annoyance TO this railroad company. Well,
now. II seems to me that when a railroad is oc-
cupying public ground. running its trains
/ through the streets here; when il will not even
build bridge Except one small BRIDGE over
/ the public grounds that it does occupy when il