Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-09-24
THE RAILROAD BILL AGAIN.
Called Up In the Senate Last Evening
by Mr.. Ingalls,.

by Mr.. Ingalls,.
Mr.. HoAR THINKS THE SIXTH STREET STATION
sHoULD BE REMOVED AND OBJECTS TO CON-
SHERATON OF THE BILL-Ir ACCORDINGLY
GOES ovER-PorSrs FROM THE DEBATE.
The McPherson-Atkinson bill made its ap.
pearance in the Senate yesterday evening. 1t
came when there were great many vacant
seats on both sides of the chamber and it came
in response to q call from Senator Ingalls,. who
said it was Of local importance and would not
require much debate.
SIDE TRACK AMENDMENTS AGREED TO-
The first thing done was to agree to two COM
mittee amendments, as follows:
Sec. 2 That it shall be the duty OF the Com
missioners OF the District Of Columbia, and
they are hereby authorized and empowered
whenever they consider il public benefit, to
grant the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad
Company permission to lay, maintain and use
side tracks and sidings from the main lines or
limo Of said railroad east of 9Th street and west
of 18th street southwest into any real estate in
the said city AUDITING on the streets and ave-
MUGS on which such line of such company is or
may be situated. which may be used or occu-
pied for manufacturing. commercial or other
business purposes, by parties desiring the use
Of such facilities. Such side tracks or sidings
shall be laid and maintained under the direc-
ton of said commissioners and in such manner
as shall least obstrucs the use of the public
streets for ordinary purposes.
Sec. 3. That the Baltimore and Potomac
Railroad Company Is hereby authorized and
empowered to acquire. subject to the approval
OF said Commissioners, for the purposes of it's
business, any one or more Of the squares of
ground IN the city of Washington south of the
line of the said railroad and north of l. street
and east Of Delaware avenue and north of
he hrs and of
east and east of 18th street southeast, and any
one or more squares shall be approved by
the said Commissioners abutting ON the limo OF
said railroad on Maryland and Virginia avenues
east of 9th street and west Of 18th street south
west and to oxtend, maintain and use tracks
from convenient points Oh the line Of said rail-
road into the said property, and to cross
such streets az may be necessary for
that purpose, and to construct thereon
such facilities as may be necessary for its
business and approved by said Commission
ers, and to maintain such facilities in connec-
ton Herewith; such tracks. where they cross
streets, to be laid and maintained under the
direction OF the Commissioners of the District
OF Columbia, and Ill such manner as shall least
obstruct the use of said streets for ordinary
purposes. And in case said company shall be
unable TOR any reason to acquire such proper
ties, or any portion thereof, by purchase they
may DO acquired by said company in the man.
ner provided by sections nun bered from 64S to
lating to the District OF Columbia; but nothing
herein contained shall authorize the condcmna-
ton of any church or school property or prop.
erty OF the United States.
PROMISES.
Senator Higgins was the first to take the
floor in behalf of the measure. He said:
Mr.. President, this bill is one of great mo-
ment to this District and it will tend probably
to the solution OF what has been one of the
most puzzling problems in regard to the adj
ministraion of the District There has been
an understanding. rs am informed, that rs a
consequence OF the passage Of this bill or in
the event OF the passage of this bill by the
Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Company
there shall he carried out an Improvement by
which the bed of the road will he taken of
9th street and put upon the mall. and that it
Will be so covered. making covered way, as to
conceal 1t from public view. and that the pres
ent bridge over 9th street will be replaced by
an adequate structure in respect to its size. its
proportions its cost, and its beauty. should
have been glad If this measure, had been ac-
companied b. some provision WHAT would make
the carrying out of the improvement hav.
Just indicated contemporaneous and concom-
liant with the granting of these privileges by
Congress, but think it ought to be distinctly
that this legislation would not pass
or unobjected to il 1t we're not
upon the expectation that that Improvement,
whatever may be the cost of it, shall be carried
out by the railroad company"
MR.. HoAR OBJECTS.
Then came the question which upset the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company's little bill
once more, for the reply made it apparent
that there was dissension in the committee.
Said Mr.. Hoar: lis it the understanding of
the Senator from Delaware that the passage of
this bill makes 1t more likely and certain that
the depot on 9Th street, on the public park
there, will be mantainedY'
Mr.. Higgins-I understand So
Mr.. Hoar-I object to the bill, then.
MIR. Ingalls, did not understand the inter-
rogatory.
Mr.. Hoar-I understood the Senator from
Delaware to say that this bill would not pass
were it not for an understanding accompany
ing its passage that The railroad company was
to make certain expenditures in relation to
access to its present station-large expendi-
lures, which would make large public i'm
provenent, as he comedies. asked the Sena-
tor from Delaware il his understanding was
that the passage Of this bill rendered it more
likely or more certain that the present 9Th
street depot would be maintained in the fu-
turs, and the Senator does SO understand. II
that is the view object
1t is not certain that Mr.. ingalls, would have
eaten Air. Higgins raw, but there was calm
ferociry on his features that impressed behold
ers with an idea that Mr.. Higgins would be but
small meal for the Senator from Kansas.
The one phase of the subject which was least
desirable and least expected had come to the
front There was much force and tribe OF
warmth in the remarks made by MIR. Ingalls, on
the disastrous admission made by the Senator
from Delaware. III
MR. INGALLS, EXPLAINS.
Mr.. Ingalls, said: "As chairman of the commit
tee, beg to state that the understanding Of
the Senator from Delaware IL entirely without
foundation, and IL the Senator would be good
enough to review his own information, which
was derived, think, from acting as one of the
subcommittee who reported this bill, am sure
no would modify his reply to the Senator from
Massachusetts,. have here before me q map
OF the city Of Washington upon which every
tract of property that is described as accessible
n marked out, and this bill eliminates every
single question that is in dispute between tho
railroad corporation and the people of this Dis
trict, or as to tie occupation of the 6th-street
depot. affirm myself that being opposed to
tho continued location of the depot in that
locality, II believed there was any connection,
mediate, indirect or remote. between the
passage Of this bill and the continued location
Of the depot in that locality, / would myself
oppose IT. l affirm that it is the distinct under
standing that every question in dispute 10
eliminated from this bill and that its passage
& rad fneH h. - IL