Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-03-04
DISTRICT IN CONGRESS.
4 Hearing - 10 the Westminster and Western
Hsryiand Railroad Company.

Msryiasd Railroad Company.
AhnANoHAHNrs MADE BIT THOSE RrPRRsHNrrNo
The RAILROAD ooHPASr AND THosr rNrrR-
xsrFD IN TIE LAND TO BE coxpKnxKp-
OTHER MEASURES OF LOCAL INTEREST.
The subcommittee of the House District com.
mittes having charge OF railroads gave hear
Ing today upon the Warrington and Western
Maryland railroad bill
Mr.. A. G. Stafford, attorney for tie company,
was the frst speaker. He explained the object
OF the BILL which has heretofore been published
at length in The STAR.
In regard to section Of the bill the company
would favor An amendment which will permit
the company to proceed under the general laws
OF the District in making their condemnations.
IL is difficult to make special law applicable to
condemnation Of railroad lands, and the COM
pany would be willing to come under the gen.
eral law.
Mr.. oLARK's OPPOSITION.
Mr. J. T. Clark, vice president OF the Pali-
sades OF the Potomac Land Company, appeared
to oppose some portions OF the bill. MIR. Clark
said the objections made by his company we're
to the proposed change Of route by the rail-
road company. The railroad wouid come mn
to the top Of the hill and destroy the property
for purposes of subdivision into building lots
The railroad is asking for a change in
route, because they can build their line cheaper.
The land company prefers the original route
selected should be adhered to. The District
Commissioners, in their recommendations upon
their bill, had not shown any favor to the land
company.
The land company objects to any power be-
ing given the railroad company to take any
land by condemnation for round houses &C.,
save what the general act gives They want to
except the property Of the Palisades Land
Company from the operation Of the condemns-
ton clause.
The land company wants an amendment
providing for payment Of damages to owners
OF the property condemned or residue Of the
tract.
Mr.. Stafford objected to this 1t would hold
the railroad company liable for damages to
people other than holders Of the property con-
Mr.. Clark said the railroad company is try
ing to tie the land up in manner which will
prevent any sales for year.
Mr.. Stafford denied the allegation.
Mr.. Z. q. Cottrell. in behalf of the land COM
knowledge that the railroad should run on the
opposite side of the canal. leaving the high
oluns. This bill is simply the act of the rail-
road company calling upon Congress to legis-
iate between the two companies He is in
formed that the railroad company wants the
new route to save the expense Of raising the
Chain bridge.
WHY THE cHANaFIs ASKED.
Mr.. Post, for the railroad company, denied
the statement Of Mr.. Cottrell. 1t is not to
save the expense of raising the bridge that
the route is desired to be changed The
change Is asked because the railroad company
has found that the first route selected is sew
enteen feet under high water mark for it's
length.
The desirability Of the route on the north
SIDE ID apparent. The grades are more access
lble. In fact. il the original route were Sc
iected the grades could only be surmounted by
| "switchback" in order to make the connec-
| tons with other roads which this company de-
| sires.
The objection of certain citizens to the DOS
| sible erection Of round houses in the vicinity
can be answered by the statement that the
District Commissioners have at all times
power to prevent any such nuisance.
THE COMMISSIONERS URGED THE CHANGE
I Mr.. Stafford said the general law gives power
to condemn such land as 10 necessary. The
| objections urged to the route Of this road we're
overruled by the District Commissioners at q
| recent hearing. The suggestions for a
missioners because the route would injure
the approaches to the Chain bridge.
| No land can be taken from the Palisades Com
pany until the District Commissioners author
| ize 1t. A trial by jury is provided as q re-
course for the Palisades Company if that com
| pany is not satisfied. However a provision
| should be made which would allow the railroad
| company to throw up the bargain and not take
any land if the arbitrators decide upon a sum
which the railroad company could not afford to
pay.
Mr. Cottrell urged the omission of that Dor
ton OF the bill which authorizes the company
| to condemn land for a round house. He OBJ
lected to naming the purpose for which the
| land should be used. The railroad company
has the right to condemn land and then use it
for amy purpose they choose, SO their rights
| would not be interfered with by the amend
ment
OPERATING UNDER SPECIAL CHARTER
| Mr.. Stafford objected to this. The railroad
company is operating under a special charter
| and does not want to come under the general
law. The company must proceed under the
special charter.
THE NORFOLK AND WESTERN ROAD.
The subcommittee then took up the bill au-
thorizing the Norfolk and Western Railroad
| Company to extend its lines into the District.
Mr.. Joseph S. Miller appeared for the COM
pany.
The time suggested by the Commissioners
| for the completion Of the road, two years, ID
somewhat short, and while the railroad COM
pany does not make any fight upon the point,
| 1t is suggested to the committee.
MIR. Rusk asked what Limitation is placed
upon the construction of the bridge across the
Potomac MIR. Miller replied that this matter
would be under the control of the Secretary of
War. Mr.. Miller fled with the committee a
| petition signed by large majority of the men,
| bers of the Virginia legislature favorlng the
| bill.
Mr.. Miller said the route selected is one
which will do absolutely no damage to the city.
| 1t would be impossible to get into Washington
| by route which would be better In this re-
| spect than the one selected
TO INCREASE PREssMKN's WAGES
Mr.. Campbell of New York introduced bill
in the House today providing for the increase
of wages of pressmen in the government
printing Office to SO cents an hour, day work.
and 60 cents an hour for night work.
THE EXTENSION OF THIRTy-sEvENTH STREET,
The Senate District committee has received
| from the District Commissioners a favorable
report on Senator Gibson's bill to extend s7th
street northward.
AGAINST THE STEAM ENGINEERING BILL.
Senator PETERS steam engineering bill is not
popular with the Marine Engineers Beneficial
Association Of this city. The association
has forwarded to Chairman Mcmillan resolu-
lions which state that the bill would, il it be-
came Law, work great injustice to the licensed
engineers who work here. James r. Nash, ].
A. Watts and VIM. A. Moore constituted the
committee which bore the resolutions to the
Senator.
IN FAVOR OF THE HIGH LICENSE BILL
President John F. Doherty Of the Catholic