Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-05-28

The Post replies to The Stars exposure O
the Objectionable features of the Atkinson bill
by lodging a discussion of the merits or de-
merits OF the measure. and by ascribing Til
Stars attacks upon the bill to personal hos
Utility. occasIoned by disappointment at the re-
lection OF Its arguments or those of one of il,
editors by a majority OF the House District
committee, and displayed with especial bitter.
ness within the last three months. The Post is
lame In its facts and lame in its logic There
Is no feeling of personal hostility towards the
railroad IN this office. TIE STAR admires the
enterprise and prOgressiveness which the road
has displayed everywhere else than in Wash
lngton- 1t appreciates the valuable services
which the railroad. for value received. confers
upon the modern community, in its capacity
as public servant But The STAR, while COM
mcndIng the public servant, has steadily re-
sisted the effort of the corporation to make It
self public master. and 10 place itself above
the law. The Posts statement that the posi-
tion Of this paper on the question is one re-
Gently assumed displays a reckless ignorance of
local history. The STAR opposed the Illegal
encrOachment of the local railroads, and en-
deavored to protect against them the lives and
property of the people. before the Posi- was
born. And its most vigorous assaults upon
them in the public interest we're made
long before the Posts present management did
thp people of Washington the honor to under
take to give voice to their sentiments Preser-
walton of the city's parks for public use and ell
ioyment. free from the occupation of railroads
ami an C>ncr private interests. nas always Deen
a hobby" of The STAR. The principle that
corporations are as much subject to the law as
4 L
appropriate public property, make illegal use
OF the streets opened 10 it. violate the laws
concerning the speed of its trains and the
guarding of its crossings. and by so doing rob
the public, and destroy life and the value of
private property. has always been a ''hobby"
OF The STAR. The claim that the rail-
roads should adopt il this city the same
methods OF increasing public security
and convenience by the removal OF
grade crossings that they adopt in other cities
OF no greater size and less importance. is also
hobby" of THE STAR. These hobbies have
been substantially endorsed by every public
meeting dealing with the railroad question
which has been held in Washington. by a long
succession of boards of Commissioners of the
District, and by an impressive array of distin-
gulshed men in Congress who have been of
sufficient calIber to be able to perform their
constitutional duty OF representing the people
OF the District. and not solely their local con-
shtuencles, In dealing with District questions
The STAEs opposition to the Atkinson bill is
based on these hobbies. 1t would enlarge the
freight facilities of the railroad. and at the
same time IT would remove portion of its no.
thorOughfare belt of surface tracks by eleyatng
or depressing and bridging them, and il would
take the tracks from the mall. or. if that we're
impossible, II would cover entirely from view
the tracks on the mall, or remove the station
from the north to the south side of the reser-
Walton. thus reducing an evil which could not
be completely cured. The Atkinson bill pro-
poses what the road wants and nothing else.
rections indicated, present conditions will be
perpetuated and nothing will ever DE accom-
plished for the public relief. To indorse this
measure The STAE would be compelled to be-
tray every interest Of the community in which
it is published for the benefit of a foreign cor
poration, to sacrifice consistency and to be-
come a traitor and renegade in the local camp
1t prefers to stick to its hobbies
and to the defense of the lives and property of
the people of Washington and of the beauty
and healthfulness Of the capital 1t prefers to
to be of as well as in Washington. and it can
only regret that the interests or conviction of
any newspaper published mere should compel
1t to inure the capital to the extent of its powe
by taking the opposite course.