Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-05-12
THE IL. AND u. RAILROAD.
A Board Of Trade Delegation Have .
Talk With Senate Subcommittee.

The subcommittee OF the Senate District
committee. consisting of Senators Mcmillan,
Vance and Higgins, having in charge PROPOSE
tions affecting the Baltimore and Potomac
railroad. gave hearing late Saturday after
noon TO a delegation from the board Of trade.
Mr.. NJ. NJ. Parker the president of the board,
Mr.. Il. II. Warner, chairman of the railroad
committee. and Messrs. c. Il. Church and
iheo. W. Moves, members of the railroad COM
mittee, spoke earnestly and forcibly against
the McPherson-Atkinson bill Objection
was made TO the proposed legalizing OF
the Illegal side tracks. and the proposed
confirmation of the roads illegal occupation OF
certain streets and reservations by such tracks
1t was argued that condonement of the roads
Illegal acts IN this matter would serve to en-
courage tiff 1t needed encouragement
future acts of lawlessness; that the gift of the
tour public reservations illegally occupied
should not be made without some compensa-
tlon TO the public IN the Improvement of the
conditions of the roads occupation; and that
the grant. If unaccompamed by conditions would
tend 10 perPotuate the surface tracks IN their
present position. and prevent all Improvement
IN the direction desired by the people Obiec-
ton was raised against the section of the bill
winch delegates TO the Commissioners the
power OF Congress TO authorize side tracks ON
the ground that il should ii granted be
granted for the benefit of all the District rail-
ways, and not solely for the benefit Of the Bal
umore and Potomac. and that II should not be
granted at all except IN connection with con-
cesslons TO the public by the road. limlta
ton of the power Of condemnation proposed to
land south OF the tracks and east of 80 street
west was suggested.
CONCESSIONS Asked FOR.
The concessions asked for the public were
the abolition of certain grade crossings and
the relief OF the public reservations from rail-
road occupation. 1t was shown that the move
ment against grade crossings in Washington
was similar to that IN other large cities. where
much was being accomplished: and that the
same evils IN deaths, manglings. and damage
by obstruction TO trade and Inconvenience to
travel were experienced here as elsewhere Ii
was argued that the road in view of It's gratni-
tous holdings here and ats large passenger and
freight business could well ord TO make these
improvements. and the conviction of the dele
CATION that the Improvements must be secured
In connection with the proposed concessions to
the road or not at all Was made plain.
AN INFORMAL DISCUSSION.
The hearing was rather informal and was
largely conducted by way of dialogue. in which
the three Senators and all the board of trade
delegation participated. Senator Higgins SUD-
Piled several texts for discussion by stating
what he had been informed was the position OF
tlons thereon. Some of the facts ELECTED. and
especially the fact that the bill proposed. in
effect, to present TO the road without consider
alton public property now illegally occupied,
surprised him, he said, and he expressed him.
self as more than ever convinced of the wisdom
of hearing both sides OF question before TAX
ing action. Senator Mcmillan. as chairman Of
the subcommittee, stated that the arguments OF
the board Of trade would receive due consider
alton; that some OF the matters suggested by
them had already occurred TO the committed,
and that they had requested the Commissioner
to prepare plan embodying these sugges-
tions. Mr.. Mcmillan indicated that the eleva-
tion or depression of the tracks on Maryland
avenue, so that grade crossings on that street
would be removed. the clearing of the tracks
from 9th street and the covering OF the tracks
crossing the Mall were contemplated. The
board of trade delegation expressed them
selves after the hearing as we'll pleased with
its general results and satisfied from the
made that the subcommittee has no
intention OF separating the requests Of the
people from those of the railroad and Of grant,
ing the latter and refusing the former by favor
ably reporting the Mcpherson bill without
amendment.