Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-23
THE DISTRICTS DAY
The Metropolitan Railway Bill Again
Discussed at Length.
COMMITTEES SUBSTITUTE PRESENTED
Various Amendments Offered and
Adopted by the House.
q o II E SH A RP ak

This was District day in the House. but
mere was some delay in getting down to
Wcrk on the District business, caused by
MI Hepburn demanding a roll call on the
approval Of the journal. and Mr.. McRae de-
narding the second morning hour, which
produced a discussion. The Speaker ruled
against Mr.. McRae. and at / o'clock Mr..
Heard secured the floor.
MI Heard called up the bill authorizing
the Metropolitan railway to change its mo-
tive power. AS published in The Star,
substitute bill has been agreed upon, which
submits to the District Court of Appeals
for adjudication the question relating TO
the railway company's Indebtedness to the
District The substitute was presented. and
Mr Heard yielded to Mr.. Richardson Of
Tennessee.
Amendments ORered.
Mr.. Hepburn offered an amendment re-
curing the company 20 complete the change
OF motive power on the main line within
one year after the 9th street line is COM
pleted- Mr.. Washington offered amend
ment requiring the change on the main line
TO be completed within six months after the
completion of the 9th street line. He held
That the question Of underground troll
ley Is no longer experiment.; 1t Is an
established fact in this city, where such
road Is now in operation. He said he has
can be made on 9th street within -FOUR
months
Why. Mr.. Speaker" said Mr.. Washing
ton, with emphasis. the emissaries of this
road have been hanging around the Capitol
for three years trying to humbug Congress
and deceive the people One of the attor-
ago that the change to the Buda-Pesth
system can be made on the 9th street line
within four months" Continuing. he said
the company's ohly claim for time Is that
suit IL han RfnQ the road
The emisse ries hanging around the Capt.
tol seem to have found the gentleman from
Washington concluded. Mr.. Heard said he
would only ask the House to deal reason
ably with the company.
What MIR. Richardson Would Accept.
Mr.. Richardson said he would accept the
amendments requiring the change to be
made on all lines within eighteen months
from the passage of the bill
Then Mr.. Hepburn went further and offer
ed an amendment requiring the company to
make the change on its entire system with
IN one year after the passage of the bill
Mr.. Richardson announced his willingness
to agree to the latter amendment. and 1t
was adopted.
Under this provision the road Is compelled
to have the underground trolley in opera
ton on the eth street and the E street
lines within year.
Mr. Davis Amendment.
Mr. Davis Of Kansas offered an amend
ment providing for the repeal of the charter
of the company. II the change is not made
within one year. This amendment was also
adopted.
Mr.. Hepburn offered an amendment pro-
viding for an extension of the road on East
Capitol street. from 9th 10 lStn streets and
was agreed to.
Mr. Washington offered an amendment
which was agreed 70, providing that the
bonds to be issued for the completion of
this work shall not be sold nor disposed Of
for less than their par value.
The Court of Appeals Section.
The next section of the bill was the sub
stitute providing for the reference to the
Court of Appeals of the question of indebt-
edress of the company to the District. He
explained that the section meets the ap-
proval OF the attorneys for the government l.,
the District committee and the railroad
company. The section has been published
IN full in The Star.
Mr.. Coombs' Substitute.
At this point there ensued a discussion
over the parliamentary status of a sub
stitute offered at the last District day by
Mr. Coombs of New York. requiring the
company TO pay the District $4,000 within
ninety days. the amount of the indebted
ness claimed. A tedious wrangle over the
right of way Of the substitute occupied the
House for some time. Mr.. Coombs' substi-
tute was finally declared to be pending,
and M. Hopkins Of Illinois took the floor.
mise proposes to give the railway company
a new trial. Before the railway company
IS permitted to enjoy the privileges asked
the company should be compelled to with
draw the plea of the statute OF limitations
which Is an immoral and dishonest plea, a
plea which is never made by a man, except
one who wants to win cause by fraud
Men who are honest and above-board never
urge that plea The company should also
withdraw the plea that no legal notice was
given the company or the improvements
under which the debt was contracted.
The railroad company has fought this
ease, not on its merits. but the various
technicalities. 1t is in the power of Con.
gress and IT would be Infinitely better to
require the company to pay the District
the $4,000 than to reopen the case in
court If this company fails to pay the sum
then let some one else take the charter
which Is worth half million dollars and
give to the city the improvements which
have been asked Of the company for six
years.
Mr. Abbott Of Texas, who was one of the
originators of the compromise. said that 1t
effords the District all necessary protection
He does not think that Congress has the
right to assess the company s14T 900.
Mr.. Terry Of Arkansas agreed with Mr..
Hopkins that the company should be COM
PEELED to abandon Its plea OF no notice.
otherwise that plea can again be urged by
the company In the trial before the Court
OF Appeals. :,
Mr.. Coombs' Object.
Mr. Coombs said he has no grudge against
stand In the same position to the public as
Individuals. The railway company owes
the money, but managed to elude the law.
II the assessment for improvements was
right for the citizens to pay II was right for
tho company to pay. The citizens paid or
suffered the consequences. The railway
company has eluded its just responsible
ties and Congress should not permit 1t
longer. He does not want to appear to per-
secute corpora ation, neither does he wish
70 pose as an apologist for a corporation
eluding the law
MI. Dunn Of New Jersey said that when
tne company was chartered II was agreed
that certain conditions should be complied
with IL Is now contended that the COM
pany dld not comply with them. The
courts heid that IN equity the company is
tIade; Dut the company escaped under a
tecnnicaIlty. He would refuse to make any
eeheht 10 forward the interests of a
SoIPoEaIon as against the people. Con-
kress should retain its right to deal with
ms company until the company is brought
10 Its senses.
Opposed the substftute
MI Cogswell OF the District committee
opposed Mr.. Coombs' substitute. He satd
tnat no man on the floor can determine
now much the railway company owes. The
substitute is full Of mischief and Injustice
He urged the passage Of the bill in behalf