Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-06-10
THE BILL GOES OVER.
Debate Develops Much Opposition to
Mr.. Atkinson's Measure.
THE COMPANY5 OWN BILL.
Strong Speeches ON Both Sides-Chair-
man Circuit Leads the Figh: for the
District-How the Distric. Commit-
lee Ntand.

The Atkinson bill for the benef. OF the
PENNSYLVANIA railroad occupied the whole OF
the District day in the House yesterday, and
when the session closed no vote had been
reached. In fact, no progress at all was made
by the bill. the time being spent in discussion.
which tor the most part was interesting and
largely favorable to the District. There was
no obt-uction by the friends of the District
merely for delay; but the measure was so much
an object of suspicion and so many requests
for information were made that the friends of
the railroad were kept busy making ex-
plantations. wf1CH for the most part
did not APP EAR to enlighten the House
or satisfy the questioners. BesId s this
there was so mu.E to e said against tho bill in
fa1r debate, which the House was anxious TO
hear. that IT was impossible for Mr.. Atkinson
TO secure a limit to the tim.
GOES OVER TO THE NEXT DISTRICT DAY.
The bill now goes over until the mex; District
day, when it will be taken NJ just where it was
taken up yesterday if the Distri I committee is
eoHtent to let all other Dis = : matters be laid
aside week after week to give the Pennsylvania
railroad right of way.
1t was made evident by the tendency of the
discussion that the interest of the House has
been aroused. and members whose records
have shown them to be ready TO defend the
rights of the people against the unlawful en-
VI wi ~ hhc NShAth6
questions and making remarks which somewhat
Disconnected the supporters of the scheme.
The strongest men in the House came to the
support OF the District. and IT became evident
that could a vote have been reached the bill
would either be substantially amended or de-
feated.
INTEREST N THE DEBATE.
An active interest was shown in the matter
by both railroad officials and agents and by
the citizens of the District. Pennsylvania rail-
road officials and Messrs. Wilkins. Hatton and
W. III. Painter of the Post were present. On
the other hand. members of the board of trade
and many representative citizens of the Dis
trict who are interested in the welfare of the
city. though not active IN the lobby. occupied
seats in the gallery and listened to the debate.
THE DEBATE.
The debate continued Tor two hours after
THE STARS report closed. After Mr.. Atkinson
concluded his statement of the railroads side
of the case many members piled him with
questions. At the conclusion of MIR. Atkin-
sons remarks Mr. Casyell spoke in favor of
the bill. He said he favored the bill because
1t only granted the privileges which railroads
possessed in every other city. He opposed
everybody was satisfied with the situation
of the passenger depot.
MIR. Caswells mind was quickly disabused on
this question. however. as MIR. Washington
asked If the gentleman did not know that the
present station was situated on government
properly, Tor which not one cent had been
paid.
Mr. HENPHmL's SPEECH.
When Mr.. Hemphill took the floor in OPP
position to the bill he said there was no objec-
ton to giving proper facilities to the Pennsyl-
vania railroad, the only dificu. y being th.t the
railroad asked everything and gaze nothing.
There Is another bill before the district com
mittee, which the ommItte has not reported.
which protects the rights OF the people of the
District III this direction.
Mr.. Hemphill then proceeded to overtu-n
the southern freight bug-a-bear. He was
a southern member himself and he
was able TO say from the sworn
statement of the president of the road
that this question had nothing whatever to
do with the through freight traffic.
No southern man should be called on to vote
for this bill for this reason. For local
business the company certainly needed some
additional freight facilities.
The railroad wanted certain privileges and
the people wanted certain privileges. The
railroad was already occupying a number of
public reservations for which not one
cent had ever been paid. Four such reser-
yations besides the mall were occupied by the
railroad. The mall extends from the Capitol
to the White House. the only private obstruc-
tion being the railroad tracks.
A HISTORY OF THE CASE.
Mr.. Hemphiii then gave a history of the
Illegal occupation of the mall by the rail-
road. Originally it was the intention
and promise that the engines should
not run in with the cars, but the cars
should come up to the depot by the momentum
which they had already acquired No
member would vote to erect
a private house on the public reservation. and
how could members explain TO their constit-
uents the giving of a corporation such a
privilege.
Mr. Stewart asked if having a convenient
depot was not a compensation.
Mr. Anderson OF Kansas replied that the roads
had paid 100000 900 for such a convenience in
other cities.
Mr.. Hemphill then continued saving he was
willing TO give additional facilities to the road,
but not to give up everything to the road.
Mr.. Rodgers asked if the insertion of the
words subject TO the approval OF the Commits
sloners, IN section B. which provides for the
condemnation Of land. deprived the courts of
deciding the necessity of the condemnation.
Mr.. HemPhil did not know whether the
words would so act.
Mr.. Rodgers SAID he had grave doubts tina.
the words would be taken by the courts to
mean that the cou. hal no jurisdiction as 10
the necessity of such condemnation.
Mr.. HemPhlll resumIng referred to the one
bridge which crossed tlIc tracks in the mali.
Continuing he spoke % the occu ..ation of the
streets by the road. with streets crossing on
the grade to the great danger to life.
He objected to giving the railroads the
streets, the reservations and powers of con-
domination, and at the same time ignoring the
people.
Mr.. CIRCUIT OPPOSES THE BILL
Mr.. Grout took the floor. He said as the bill
STOOD he was opposed to 1t. The measure had
been reported III his absence. Mr.. Grout men
toned his objections to the bill. He did not
think the Commissioner should be given
: power TO authorize sldIngs. The way the bill
was drawn, too. made no limitation of the
ground which could be chosen for a freight
station.
TRACES THAT CAN BE DEPREssEp.
He said II was proposed to legaiize certain
sidings which are upon land SO high that they
can properly be depressed. Whenever" he
he said. that can be done | maintain 1t should
be depressed. should be put under ground.
have IN my hand here. and any gentleman car
have II fOE inspection II he wants. a map pre-.
pared by Lieut.. Il. v. Green. United States en-.
glneers. and Inade a part of the report of the
Commissioners of the District for the veal
1880. and 1t represents. after you leave Ions
Bridge. a stretch OF land covering five or SIX OF
seven streets from - TO 37.5 feet above mean
high water. and as II only requires II to ~ fee
To run a train fully under ground it would b,
entirely practicable for this track to- he put en-
tlrely beneath the surface.
Now. included III that distance are some O
these sIdiDgs that the commissioner hay,
already granted and which IL il proposed I,
legallZe by this bill. 1 say they should Ger
taIniy not be iegaIlZed. The track for tina
distance shOald be put under ground. SO il
that part OF The city-and the great part OF tn,