Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-01-09
BY TELEGRAPH.

WASHINGTON, Jan. Sat o'clock
this afternoon the House took up for
consideration the bill to authorize the
Norfolk and Western to enter the Dis
trict of Columbia. Hardly had Mr..
Hemphill called the name Norfolk and
Western" before Mr. Atkinson was on
his feet with a point of order. His
point was that the bill should be con-
sidered in committee of the whole. No
body doubted that Mr.. Atkinson was
right, and the Speaker decided that the
point was well taken. Mr.. Hemphlli
asked unanimous consent to dispense
with the first reading of the bill, but
Mr. Atkinson objected. The bill was
then read in detail. Mr.. Meredith ex-
planned the provision of the bill and
made an earnest speech in favor of its
passage. He said every man, woman
and child in the Eighth district wanted
| the road built, because it would open
the beautiful country in the most beau
tiful State in the nation. The citizens
of the District, almost to..a man, want
the road. They had said so in mass
meetings and by petitions. He said
q corrupt and disreputable gang
of lobbyists have been making
nuisances of themselves by buttonhol-
ing members to vote against the bill,
and this, he said, was done in the in
terest of another road which desires to
prevent honest competition. 1t had
frequently declared in the public press
that the only opposition to the n. " w,
comes from another road. 1--WE do not
want to be placed in the position of
paving tribute to another corporation.
We do not desire to be longer in the
power of the Pennsylvania Railroad,
the most soulless, the most grasping,
the most Unsuitable corporation l have
ever known" A little hot cross-firing
took place at this point between Gen.
Henderson of Iowa, Gen. Enoch OF
Ohio, and Boutelle of Maine, with ref
erence to the meeting of business men
last Saturday night, which Gen. Hen
derson concluded in 4 spirited manner
bv saving II think the interests of this
District should be fought for by gentle
men like gentlemen, not by rowdies,
like rowdies. Gen Enoch then got
the floor in advocacy of the bill. He
went into lengthy description of the
possible ratiiications ofthe Norfolk and
Western and the interest of the South
and Southwest in the bill. He contend
ed earnestly that the bill gave away no
property rights and no unusual rights
of any kind. After the conclusion of
his speech Mr.. Hopkins, of Illinois,
grappled with him on legal PROPOSE
ton but Enoch, who is a good lawyer,
got what, in pugiIistic parlance, is
known as the double Nelson" and
won a fall. At 8 o'clock Mr.. Hemphill
said that if there was any opposition to
the bill he would like to hear it. but up
to that time the friends of the bill had
been fighting wind. Mr.. Atkinson,
though a cripple, arose with the
nimbleness of a college athlete and fairly
yelled: Il am opposed to it, and in
tend to speak against ii" ''How much
time do you want asked Mr.. Hemp
hill. II don't know, but 1 want to
control my own time" was the Penn
sylvanian's reply. Mr.. Buchanan, of
New Jersey, wanted to amend the bill
to make the company pay for the privi-
legc of coming in. Mr.. Hemphill
thought if railroads were to pay for en-
tering the District, the roads already
in and making money should be made
to pay first and not begin with
a new road. After some spar
ring Mr.. Hemphill gave way to
Mr.. Atkinson, who occupied the
floor in opposition to the bill. Mr.. At
kinson based his opposition largely on
the fact that the bill contained no pro-
visions against grade crossings in the
city. Ifthere was anything the people of
the District are a unit on, it is in re-
gard to no more grade crossings. Mr..
Atkinson finished his speech at 800,
when the debate closed. Mr.. Atkinson;
in order to consume as much time as
possible, demanded separate vote on
each amendment and the amendments
fell thick and fast. Mr.. Atkinson offered
an amendment providing that the road
should cross the Long Bridge instead of
going through Georgetown. On ris-
ing vote just seven men stood up with
Atkinson, while Us opposed him. The
gentleman from Pennsylvania then
called the point that no quorum had
voted and demanded vote by tellers.
One hundred and sixty voted against
Mr.. Atkinson's amendment. 1t was
declared beaten. Mr.. Buchanan, of
New Jersey, submitted an amendment
that the road shall not cross or run
upon any streets at grade. This latter
amendment also went up the flue.
At IS o'clock this evening the bill was
still under discussion.