The Washington times., 1894-06-25
THREATENED BY A COMBINE
1t Is Ready to Gobble Up Street Rail-
ways in the District.
CITIZENS CAN'T BE TOO WARY
Proper Legislation on This Subject.
Trolley Lines Not to Be Thought of-Dor-
mant Charters Serious Menace.

n have nothing like thorough under
standing of District matters, thing whlch
very much regret" 4" said Congressman William
J. Coombs, OF Brooklyn, to TIMES repre-
Sentative when asked >for his views on the
street railway question in the District. "Con-
sequently, in some of my work before the
House, have been striking a little at random,
but under certain well-delned impressions.
/ have particularly interested myself to sift
legislation in relation to street railroads, how-
ever. l am convinced that Congress is not
aware of the importance of proceeding upon
some wel-defined plan whereby the rights oil
the District shall be preserved at the same
time that adequate accommodations shall be
afforded
'sThe District is in comparatively helpless
condition. having no direet representation
upon the floor of the House. Congress acts
as a board of aldermen Tor the District, but
with this difference, that an alderman repre-
sents his fellow-citizens and is accountable TO
them and knows their wants, which the aver
age Congressman does not.
s.Now in this matter OF railroads find that
the various bills before the House duplicate
'one another in many instances. Thus the
tendency is TO make useless for other business
portion of the city. This could be avoided
by wise foresight. Sue should be taken that
the facilities should nct be provided too far
in advance of their necessities. No charter
should be granted unless il is accompanied by
every possible guarantee that the roads areto
be built at once and with the most modern
appliances.
DORMANT CHARTERS A MENACE.
Dormant charters are menace to active
enterprises, and there can be no possible ex-
cuse for granting them. There is undoubt-
edly a foreign combination to gobble up and
consolidate all of the lines. l look with hor
ror upon this as q serious menace TO the city,
for have in my own city had an opportu-
nifty of judging how powerful they are, and
how they trample under foot the rights OF the
citizens Once in their hands it will be i'm
possible to shake them off.
washington is growing city. Its char
acter is established. Capital invested judi
ciously under these circumstances is sure of n
fair return; consequently companies should
not be given so large margins for guarantee
as would be consistent were the conditions
less assured. There is no possible excuse for
the authorities giving away the franchises or
Selling them for a nominal price.
BIDS FOR FRANCHISES.
"My idea in rough is about this: That every
proposition to build 4 road should find its
origin in some commission or board which,
taking the whole field into consideration,
shall decide that public convenience requires
that such road be constructed, and that pro-
posals for the franchise be invited. l can't
of course go into all the details whereby the
city shall be assured of its receiving all ad-
Vantages above proper return on capital, etc
The advantage would be that the ground
would be cornered under some system, and
too much concentration in particular streets
avoided.
''There is always a tendencyin every city to
congestion of certain thorOughfares. A wise
plan in growing city is to favor number
Of centers by providing facilities in that
direction.
OVERHEAD TROLLEY NOT ENDURABLE.
"Washington is beautiful city and l am
proud of it as the Capital of the nation. Its
interests can only be protected by constant
and united effort on the part of its citizens.
They should be careful that enough Represen-
tatiyes be instructed in their condition SO
TO defend their rights intelligently on the
floor of the House.
The newspapers are doing good service in
that direction.
'Ofcourse, it can never be tolerated that
an overhead trolley shall be built within the
city. There is n healthy sentiment existing in
that direction, and should not be overridden
by any trick.
The beauty and symmetry must be pre-
served no matter at what cost OF effort /
shall do what l eau in that direction while l
am member OF Congress"