Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-01-10
IT PASSES THE HOUSE.
The Bill for the Norfolk and West
ern Railway to Come In.
OPPOSITION DEFEATED.
Many Amendments offered, but They were
All Hostile Ones and Were Voted Down
Full Text Of the Measure ~ 1t Passed.

the proceedings in the House upon the Norfolk
and Western bill had reached stage where Mr.
Atkinson, on behalf of the Pennsylvania rail-
road, had, As a last resort, been compelled to
take the floor himself to endeavor to talk the
bill to death, no other opposition to it appear
ing. He began by stating that he did not OPP
pose the entrance Of the Norfolk and Western
railroad into this city, but claimed that he saw
in the bill many faults which he desired cor
rected. He criticised the failure of the bill
to provide for gates or wstchmen at the cross
ings and its proposal to fence IN its tracks on
one Of the streets Of Georgetown.
In view Of Mr.. Atkinson's conspicuous cham
pionship OF Pennsylvania railroad interests his
apparent solicitude for the safety Of citizens
from the perils Of grade crossings seemed to
strike the House as being very amusing, for
there was considerable laughter at his remarks.
When Mr.. Atkinson concluded his remarks he
began another course Of opposition to the bill
by offering amendments TO 1t. Within the next
hour he presented large number Of amend
ments, taking wide range.
ALL HIS AMENDMENTS DEFEATED.
Every amendment was Overwhelmingly de-
feated. At no time did Mr.. Atkinson have
more than seven followers. A quorum
present, and, with the exception Of Mr. Akin
son and his corporars guard Of followers, the
House was unanimously for the bill. Finally,
the hour getting late, Mr.. Hemphill carried a
motion that the House take q recess until IL So
o'clock this morning.
RESUMED THIS MORNING.
When the House reconvened at 1:55 o'clock
this morning after the recess It was still the
Legislative day Of Monday, District day." and
Mr.. Hemphiil held the floor Upon his motion
the House resolved itself into committee of the
whole, and the Norfolk and Western railroad
bill was called up.
Mr.. Atkinson refrained from insisting upon
the presence of quorum and the reading of
the bill proceeded.
THE @. AND o. CANAL coMrAyY's RiaHTs.
Mr. Compton of Maryland offered an amend
ment, the purpose of which he explained to be
simply to protect the rights Of the property Of
the chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company in
condemnation proceedings which might be en-
tered by the railroad company
The amendment provided that the canal COM
pany 8 property should not be touched without
the consent Of the stockholders of the canal
company.
Mr. Hemphill moved to alter the amendment
majority of the stock" of the canal company,
and as thus modified the amendment was agreed
to.
ARADICAL AMENDMENT.
Mr.. Buchanan of New Jersey offered a radi-
cal amendment 1t required the Attorney Gen.
eral aud the District Supreme Court to assess
the value Of the rights and franchises thus
granted and to compel the company to pay cash
for these privileges.
Mr.. Outhwaite threw cold water on Mr.
Buchanan's amendment by asking him il he
was willing to require the existing railroad COM
pauies to pay for their rights and privileges
MIR. Buchanan said the N. and ". is taking
advantage of the unrest Of tho people to come
into Congress with a bill which is unguarded
and monopolistic. He wanted the road to paw
for its privileges.
ALL RAILROADS SHOULD PAY
Mr.. Hemphill said that many members would
agree that railroad companies should pay for
their privileges here. but the way to accom-
plish this is to bring in a general bill requiring
the companies already here and those to come
to be assessed. 1t would not be fair to tax the
newcomer and not touch the big corporations
already here.
Mr.. Cultivate said that the property which
has already been given to railroad companies is
bill taxing all roads, and he challenged Mr.
Buchanan to present it, promising to give it his
support
Mr.. HEMPHII.Is REMINDER
Mr.. Hemphiii quietly reminded Mr. Buchanan
that several years ago he (Mr. HemphilD wanted
to require the Pennsylvania road to pay for its
privileges, and if Mr.. Buchanan had been as So
licitous then for the Districts rights in the
premises as be seemed to be today the legislation
might have been obtained, but Mr.. Buchanan
was against the proposition then and it failed.
Mr.. Buchanan took his seat.
AN AIR BRAKE AMENDMENT
Then Mr.. W. A. Stone of Pennsylvania came
forward with an amendment requiring the new
tO ira fpeiu NV
Mr.. Hemphill pointed out the injustice OF
such a provision, which, he said. is evident to
ALL
Mr.. Henderson of Iowa supported Mr. Hemp
hill and called attention to pending legislation
for the safety Of railroad employees that this
amendment would imperii.
THE AMENDMENT DEFEATED.
On Mr.. Stones amendment the yeas were 10
and the nays were l19.
Mr.. Stone had but a moment before asserted
his sincerity in Offering the amendment "for
the profession OF the railway employees"
When the vote was announced he made the
point Of no quorum present. A quorum was
secured and the amendment defeated.
THE BILL PASSED.
The reading of the bill was concluded; it was
reported to the House, and the bill was passed
without division.
Mr.. Hemphill then announced that the Dis
trict committee had no further business to
present.
The full text Of the bill as passed is as
follows:
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States of
America in Congress assembled, That the
Norfolk and Western Railroad Company, a body
corporate under the laws of the state of Vir-
ginia be, and they are hereby, authorized and
empowered to extend their railroad into
and within the District of Columbia,
beginning for the said extension at the
terminus Of the main line of the said rail-
road on the Virginia side of the Potomac river
and crossing said river by suitable bridge at
or near the Three Sisters, or such point west
thereof and upon such plans as may
be approved by the Secretary of War,
to the east side or bank of said
river, and thence following the same in an east
wardiy direction. and by way Of Water street. in
Georgetown, to 30th street or some point west
thereof. and thence to a point On Rock creek
not less than 100 feet north or south Of the
street bridge, and thence crossing said creek
by q suitable bridge, to be not less than twenty
feet clear above the water line of said
creek, and thence to the terminus of
the line in Washington city, which shall be
west OF 18th street west and between Pennsyl-
vania avenue and Virginia avenue, and to be
SO located as not to obstruct the public use of
street and the bridge now crossing Rock creek
at Water street, at or near which point said
company shall erect and maintain anita hla