Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-07
AGAINST THE rnoLLEY SYSTEM,
What Members Of the senate District Com
mittee Said Last Year.

What Members Of the senate District Com.
mittee Said Last Year.
More than few people Of this city are dis
turbed over the possibility that the new street
railroad combination. which, ~ announced in
yesterday 3 STAR 10 understood to have acquired
the Belt, Metropolitan aud Columbia prop
critics. win endeavor before the close Of the
present session Of Congress to secure legislation
which would permit the use Of the trolley on the
lines In question. 1t Is conceded that the House
would probably favor such . scheme. but that
the Senate would not concur in the House
action ought TO be evident from the interviews
which were printed in Tnf STAR on April II,
1892, just after the House had passed trolley
bill The expressions published were those Of
Senators who were members Of the Senate Dis
trict committee-the body TO which all local
bills arc referred.
CHAIRMAN M'xILLAH.
Chairman Mcmillan is on record Is being
most decided in his opposition to the trolley in
Washington. Elsewhere 1t may be endured.
but the Senator said very recently that this
city was not the one in which such system
should be operated. Throughout his entire
period Of service Senator Mcmillan has main.
tanned that position.
The interviews referred to are as follows:
SENATOR aALLISorn.
Senator Gallinger said: 'Inasmuch as Con-
gross has enacted very stringent legislation on
this subject and has declared Its intent in IN
unsuitable language we should abide
by the letter aud the spirit Of the
law. For reasons that were salts
factory the Senate and House have, prior to
yesterdays action. declared the trolley system
to be objectionable. and following out the con-
clusion have compelled one of the companies
bore to expend several millions of dollars in an
extensive cable plant. To compel competing
company to adopt much cheaper system
generally objectionable to the people Of this
city-would be an inexcusable outrage"
SENATOR HARRIS.
Senator Harris was somewhat astonished at
the revival of congressional trolley advocacy.
II think, said he, that the overhead system
is the best and cheapest, but [ feel certain it
viii never be adopted for use in this city. The
Senate has made known its views OH more than
one occasion, and have no reason for suppos-
ing that 1t has changed its opinion. 1t il op-
posed TO wires in the streete.'
Senator Barbour (sincc deceased) said: 81
am unalterably opposed to overhead wires. I
am immorably fixed in M aversion TO the
trolley system. As between the trolley system
and horses favor horses.''
SENATOR FAULKNER.
Senator Faulkner was very much surprised
when STAR reporter informed him Of
the action Of the House. He had not the
slightest apprehension Of senatorial indorse-
ment of tine Ovet head wire scheme. 1.-The Sem
ate said he, .'has frequently and 40
forcibly indicatedits opinion on overhead wires
that the District committee has always insisted
on cable or storage battery motors The views
expressed in the House today, which
had It that independent motors are
still experimental, are directly contradicted
by the operation of the lexington road on G
street; that such motors are very expensive is
harn md but all H.
the cable system. and If I am correct in nv
estimate Of tho Senate it will certainly not
concur in the action Of the House on
this matter. Aside from any other phase Of
the question it would hardly be fair to allow
overhead wires on a business thoroug hfure like
street and 10 prohibit their use on
the avenue and G street and all other
streets where they would, beyond question,
have been asked for but for the very decided
sentiment in the Senate. The overhead wire
system is now recognized rs the cheapest
motive power that can be used for street rail-
way purposes, and every railroad that can
secure the privilege of using it will undoubtedly
do So"
SENATOR HIGGINS.
VERY pleasant for the railroad companies"
remarked Senator Higgins. ais the action of
the House explained by the interest the
alliance takes in corporations? l sup
posed that the company (the Metro
poiitan company had been given all
the time they actually needed to change
their motor. When the matter comes up in
committee it will be fully discussed. For the
present it is enough to ray that there are very
serious objections to trolley system in this
city"
81 have not heard the matter discussed, said
Senator Wolcots. "and consequently do not
know what arguments have been advanced, but
my present impressions are very strongly
against the establishment Of the trolley system