Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-16

THE SENATE uNALTERABLT OPPOSED TO Sane
TIoNINo TIE USE OF THE TROLLEY IN WASH
ISaToN-AcTIox IN TIE HOUSE TO-DAY IxDI-
cATINa THAT THAT BODY WILL FOLLOW
THE ACTION OF THE SENATE.
The Senate yesterday passed the House reso-
luton extending the time for one year in which
the Metropolitan road should change its motive
power. This ID the resolution which, il will be
remembered, was amended in the House 90 Is
to allow the use OF overhead wires on F street.
The Senate District committee, however, struck
all this out and in the Senate yesterday the
resolution as coming from the House was
amended by striking out the following:
THAT within thirty days from the passage Of
this act said Metropolitan Raildroad Company
shall increase its service to such an extent that
it will no longer be necessary for any Of it's pas
sengers to stand up, and no fare shall be col
lected from any passenger in any Of its cars un-
til furnished . seat therein: Provided, that
overhead wires may be used in propelling the
cars by electricity. on plan approved by the
Commissioners Of the District Of Columbia
serted by the Senate:
THAT SO fast as the cars now building are
equipped with storage batteries they shall be
placed on the road: And provided further.
That pending the change the present equip
ment Of the road shall be put. kept and main
tanned in good condition"
OPPOSED TO TROLLEY WIRES
The Senate further expressed its feelings on
the trolley system through the following:
Mr.. Gorman-I wish to say to the chairman
of the committee on the District Of Columbia
in regard to this joint resolution that have no
doubt the time ought to be extended under the
circumstances, but the joint resolution as it
came from the other House provided that this
road might use overhead wires. That has been
stricken out by the Recommendation of the
committee on the District of Columbia. trust
we shall have it understood that If in confer
ence this overhead business is insisted upon by
the Coordinate branch we shall have full notice
OF it when it comes back here for / never could
consent myself to overhead wires on that line.
Mr.. McMillan-I think am perfectly safe in
making that pledge.
Mr.. Hale-1 join the Senator from Maryland.
II there is any doubt about that let us have
ample notice when 1t comes back.
MIR. McMillan-The committee on the District
Of Columbia of the Senate were unanimous that
that provision should pc stricken out.
CRITICIsINa WASHINGTON ROADS,
Mr.. Vest took up another line ard criticised
the roads for their general management Mr.
Vest said: am not much in the habit of travel
ing in private carriages. but I do know from
personal experience that there are railroad
tracks down in this city with the old-fashioned
L rails projecting an inch and an inch and
quarter above the surface and no attempt lie
made to remedy it. There is no city in the
United States that would submit to this sort of
thing for an hour.
understand the joint resolution gives these
companies another year, after they have had
not made asingle attempt to comply with the law
As matter OF course the measure will pass,
and at the end Of the year they will not have
done anything. l can safely predict that from
our experience in the past. Then the Commits
sioners will come in, when a resolution is
offered such as was adopted by the Senate,
with the old stereotyped reply that there were
great difficulties attending the change in the
rails and it was very expensive to make these
alterations in transportation, and there will be
another act passed extending the time another
year. do not know how long shall be in the
Senate. probably not much longer. but think
for natural reasons 1 shall never see any i'm
provement in the condition of affairs here as to
street railroads.
WHAT THE METROPOLITAN HAS DONE.
Mr.. Hale brought the matter back to the
Metropolitan line by saying: 81 should like to
ask the Senator from Michigan what this road
has actually done in the direction Of this change
which leads him to believe that during the next
year they will carry it out and perfect it and
adopt this as their motive power2 What have
they actually done?''
fully examined that part Of the subject. / find
they have erected very large buildings for the
purpose of supplying the storage batteries with
power. They have put in magnificent engines
and boilers-as good as I have ever seen any,
where. They spent some e275, 900 upon the
machinery necessary to supply those batteries
with electricity. They have erected large build
ings for storing the cars and 60 as TO put bat
teries in them when they are completed.
There are about thirty-fve or forty new cars
already built and completed, and We have PRO-
vided here that Just as fast as they have the
machinery ready and everything in condition
they shall run these cars. We have already
seen cars on g street running with the storage
battery. 1t was impossible for the Metropol-
itan company to use at that time the cable and
they had to use some such power az this There
has been great deal Of delay in getting q pat
emit that would supply the need. They think
they have got it. They have spent this money.
and think they are acting in perfect good
faith.
The resolution was passed and Senators Nc
MILAN, Harris and Wolcott were appointed con-
ferees on the part Of the Senate.
THE QUESTION IN TIE HOUSE.
In the House this morning there was quite
lively discussion between Mr.. Heard and Mr..
Washington on the subject Of overhead wires.
The question came up when the House bill to
extend for one year the time within which the
Metropolitan Railroad Company must put in
operation rapid motive power was laid before
the House, with the Senate amendments. Mr.
Heard moved to non-concur In the SENATE
amendments and order a conference. Mr..
Washington opposed this and moved
to refer the bill back to the
District committee. His objection was to de-
feat the Senate amendment striking out the
provision put in the bill In the House at his
motion to permit the use Of q system Of over
head wires. Mr.. Heard very vigorously op-
posed Mr. Washington's motion. He said that
the company did not want to use overhead
wires and that the District committee of the
House had never recommended the use of the
overhead system. He did not know what Mr.
Washington's motive was in insisting upon the
adoption Of q system which no one asked for
and which the Senate would never agree to.
Mr.. wAsHINaToN's PURPOSE.
Mr.. Washington said that he did not think he
was called upon to explain his motives to Mr.
Heard, but that he would say to the House that
his object was to get rapid transit and to relieve
the people. He did not think it necessary for
him to tell his colleagues that he had no desire
to benefit any electric company. The bill as it
stood, he would state. however, was in the in
terest of all electric companies to give them
time to experiment in their system while the
people of Washington were compelled TO ride