Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-09-16

The METROPOLITAN Railroad Company,
with a serenity that seems to have been I'M
disturbed by its failure to comply with the
law requiring a change Of motive power. or
by the proceedings Instituted by the United
States government to deprive IL of its char
ter comes to the front with new PROPOSE
ton In the form of bill In Congress to
permit 1t to continue to exist. using the
underground electric system. The bill is
not In the form In which IL should be en-
acted into law, II due consideration is CIV
en- to the city's interests. but regarded only
as a declaration Of the intention Of the
company, its Introduction in Congress Is a
matter for general felicitation. The bill
grants a years time to try the underground
system on the company's 9Th street line.
and requires 1t. in case the experiment
proves successful, to equip its main line
with the same system in another years
time. So far as the measure goes. 1t II to
be commended. 1t is a declaration in favor
of the underground system, by a railroad
company which has been credited with
desire TO reap profits. at the expense Of the
beauty and safety of the streets Of the
Capital by the introduction of the cheap
overhead trolley. The company should be
applauded for its determination. as implied
by the bill, to equip its road with an cleo
trio system that may be a little more ex-
pensive than the trolley, but Is unobjection-
able. No one familiar with the progress
made In electrical railroad construction,
will doubt that. If the projected experiment
Is entered upon in good faith, the city will
soon have one of its principal railroad lines
operated by a system that offers all the ad-
vantages of the overhead trolley, but is
free from the many objections to the use
rk,A
passage of the bill now offered would be in
effect a rechartering of the road. and
condoning by Congress of the company's
past sins of omission. In granting such in
dulgences. Congress could certainly not
be accused of severity IL 1t took precautions
In the interests Of the people. to provide
against a possible change of policy on the
part of the company, and to make sure
what the bill in its present form leaves In
uncertainty. AS ii is framed, the bill would
practically grant an indefinite extension of
time to the company, for IL there were any
reason why the company did not care to go
TO the expense of eQuipping the main line
with an electric con Init, it might not be
difficult for Ii to prevent the success OF the
experiment on the Sth street line. Then
there would have to be new legislation, and
perhaps new experiments. The Star does
not mean to question the intention OF the
present management Of the road, as ex-
pressed in the bill, but 1t Is well understood
that a great railroad syndicate. engaged in
developing the trolley system. has endeavor-
ed to buy in a controlling share OF the stock
of the road. and with the return of better
times, there Is reason to believe that the ef-
fort may be resumed. So whatever legis-
lation Congress enacts now respect
ing the road. should be carefully
considered, with view to protect
ing the city against this threat of the troll
ley. From the peoples point of view, fur
Their grant of time under the old law, which
has not been complied with. and which per-
mitted the company to equip its road with
the underground electric system, II 1t 80
elected, might be preferable to the uncer
tainties of the new BILL which. as 1t stands
gives no definite assurance to the public
in case the management of the road should
be changed. that any effort would be made
ground system. However. the pending bill
Is subject to amendment and with the evil
dences already given In this. as well as in
other cities. Of the efficiency and practi-
cability of that method Of propulsion which
In effect take 1t out Of the field Of expert
ment. there Is no good reason why 1t should
not be 50 amended as to omit all these dan
gerous reservations and conditions. and to
require the company to equip its, whole road
with the underground system within a
given time.