Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-28
The Bill Discussed Today in the
House.
THE UNDERGROUND ELECTRIC SYSTEM
Some Members Como Out Flat
for TroIIeys.
G r o S ST WIN NEED S

business Chairman Heard claimed the fool
| for the consideration of bills reported from
the District committee. 1t was nearly
| o'clock when the House settled down tt
business and the first District bill wal
| called up.
This was the bin for the construction OF
| the l. street railway as a branch Of the
Belt Railway Company, coming over from
the last District day. Mr.. Heard called at
tention to the fact that when the House ad
! journed an amendment was pending. offer.
ed by Mr.. Hepburn of Iowa, requiring the
Belt Railway Company to equip it's entire
line with the underground trolley by Jan.
uary 1, 1895.
Mr.. Hepburn said he had offered his
amendment for the purpose of getting rapid
transit, an object which Congress had been
endeavoring to attain for years.
Mr.. Richardson said he sympat hized with
the object of Mr.. Hepburn but he believed
that on this proposed line the underground
trolley cannot be commercial success al
this time. Mr.. Richardson proposed a COM
promise, which would permit the use OF
horses for two years and require a me-
chanicai motor after that time.
Mr.. Heard suggested the Incorporation of
language in Mr.. Richardson's amendment
excluding the overhead trolley. This was
accepted by Mr.. Richardson, who said that,
Of course, he had no intention of permitting
the use Of overhead trolleys In this city.
Mr.. Richardson Doubtful.
Mr.. Richardson in explaining his amend
ment said 1t has not yet been shown that
the storage battery or the underground troll
ley system are commercially successful, but
two years may produce a competent under
ground motor. at which time the company
Will be required to adopt it,
Mr.. Hepburn said 1t will cost the COM
DanX xll.UUO mile To mt ood
TWO years later to put In a change of mo-
tor, and he does not believe that the COM
rany will do 1t. IL this company gets the
right to use horses, II will never give IT up
me company will do just as the Metropoi-
ltan company has done for the past five
years. defy the efforts Of Congress to COM
pei change of motor power. He does not
know how the Metropolitan company does
II, out he knows that 1t is done. and that
the company pays no attention whatever to
the commands Of Congress. He is not
willing to trust the company with the
privilege asked unless it is hedged about
with the requirement for a mechanical
motor.
Mr.. Cannon of Illinois expressed his favor
Tor rapid transit on street railways He
was member Of the conference committee
wmch reported the agreement requiring the
washington and Georgetown Railroad Com
pany to change its motor power.
ne doubted, however, IL the Belt Line can
anord TO put In the expensive system OF
Favors the Trolley,
Mr.. Cannon then announced his willing.
ness to vote for an overhead trolley on the
Belt Line. He made a speech in behalf OF
the overhead trolley, and scoffed at the dan.
gers charged to this system. He wo aid
make 1t obligatory on the Belt Line Com.
pany to use the overhead trolley on its en-.
tire line. However, IL that cannot be done ht
would rather have a horse car line than nc
railway at sll on L street. 1t would be to
tne penent OF property owners on l. street
ana TO the public to have horse car line
on street. Mr.. Cannon held that the Bell
Line does not run through thickly settled
portion of the city, and, therefore the over.
mead trolley would not be dangerous. No
company in the United States would un.
dertake to put in the costly underground
system on the entire Belt Line
MI Bingham OF Pennsylvania said he
regrets that the overhead trolley is excluded
py Mr.. Richardson's amendment He spoke
OF the extension of the trolley system In
Philadelphia and claimed that IL has proven
successful. He believed the overhead troll.
ley to be the best and most practicable sys-
tenn in use.
The Brooklyn Menace.
Mr.. Coombs of Brooklyn. N Y, expressed
his surprise at Mr.. Bingham's satisfaction
with the overhead trolley. Mr.. Coombs
spent yesterday in Brooklyn, where the
universal opinion Of the people Of that city
that the trolley is not only noisy and dan.
gerous, but that 1t spoils the beauty of the
city He would never vote for the oyar.
head trolley in Washington. He acknowl.
edged that this city is most promising
field for railway corporations and he would
go slow in granting franchises He would
not grant any franchise without couplins
with 1t a requirement for the best and safest
motor power.
granting privilege to the Commissioners
to select any kind Of motor power for the
read, not excluding the trolley.
Mr.. Hepburn, replying to Mr.. Bingham
read the report of David r. Walker chief
of the electrical bureau of Philadelphia
in which the overhead trolley Is not recon.
II ended for large cities, but 1t is stated that
the underground trolley Is practical and
best. Mr.. Hepburn said the reason the
overhead trolley is generally used In
Philadelphia is because a corporation has
fastened itself upon the city and the peo-
pie cannot shake the trolley Off 1t is part
v hich desires to fasten the trolley upon
Washington. He said the overhead trolley
corpora ton is fighting the development OF
the underground system, and that 1t does
not want to see the underground system
put into operation in this city.
Mr.. Everett said he was strongly of the
opinion that if this cross-line road was nee
! essary it should be on some other street
He then spoke in reply to Mr., Bingham or
the subject of overhead wires. and said thai
so strong had the sentiment against over
head wires become that they had been or
dered to be placed underground by Novem
| Der.
Mr.. Richardson spoke in favor of the ras
sage Of the bill, and objected to the ques
| ton involved in this bill being obscured by
| the discussion of matters not involved.
question of public convenience, of public
necessity, should not be embarrassed by tn,
! fact that in the opinion OF this man or thai
man it ought to be done in just this way o.
] that way. Because some thought the roat
ought to be one square to the north, and
others thought it ought to be one square L
| the south, 1t was no reason that the bill
| should be defeated. The line had been Sc
| Iected, after due consideration, and approx
| ed by the District Of Columbia Commits
| sioners as the best route.
| No Need, Says MIR. GrOut.
| Mr.. Grout Of Vermont denied the ALLEGED
necessity for crosstown road. There are
already two crosstown lines. and there IL
no demand for one more. AS proof Of this
he cited the fact that the Herdc company
| has not put in line here. There is nc
travel to require 1t. The real secret of the
| efforts for this line is that Kalorams
| Heights is to be accommodated. He die
not believe In putting line on L street fol
a possible future population in Kalorama
To do this 1t will be necessary to incon
venience the people of L street and to de-
! teriorate the value Of property.
Mr.. Walkers Suggestion.