Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-26
THE METROPOLITAN BILL
The Conference Agreement Reported to the
House.
A Lively Debate on the Subject Of
Voltage fn Which the Report
In Attacked.

Representative Richardson, from the con-
ference committee on the Metropolitan rail-
road bill, reported an agreement in confer
ence to the House today. The important
features Of the relort were that the House
conferees yielded to the Senate amendment
requiring a change in the equipment of the
road within ninety days. The Senate yields
to the House on the amendment striking
out the word electric in connection with
the description of the underground system
The bill as passed by the House provided
for an underground electric system. The
Senate struck out the word electric The
requires the use of an underground "elec-
tric' system. The House yields as to the
limit of time within which the branches of
the road shall be completed The Senate's
provision that the north and south branch
stall be completed in one year, and tina:
the east and west branch shall be COM
pleted in two years, stands in the measure
as agreed TO In conference.
The Senate recedes from its amendment
abolishins the Metropolitan tracks from 9th
and Florida avenue TO and on 9TH street
and this extension to the Brightwood track
remains.
A new fifth section is adopted by the con-
ference requiring that the Metropolitan
railroad shall Immediately make arrange
ments for reciprocal transfers with all in
tersecting railroads, and that on the COM
pletion of the work for the new motive
power reciprocal trackage arrangements
must be made to permit access for the SUBJ
Urban railroads TO the heart of the city,
either by agreement between the Metro
rolitan and the other roads. or under condi-
tions fixed by the Supreme Court Of the
District.
A Discussion About Volts.
IN connection with this section an ami
mated discussion grew out Of the question
Of the number of volts used by each of the
two underground electric systems. Mr..
Richardson explained that the system pro-
posed to be used was understood to be the
Ruds-Pesth. which was but 800 volts, while
the underground system of the Rock Creek
ro ad required zoo volts. Therefore il was
provided that the cars Of connecting roads
in passing over the Metropolitan road into
the city should be drawn by the Metropol-
itan motors. Mr.. Cannon and Mr. Hepburn
made this the point of attack upon the con-
ference report. Each said that he wanted
the report voted down. and that the ques-
ton of voltage be kept open to be settled
hy the supreme Court OF the District in fix
iLg the conditions under which the recip-
rocal trackags arrangements shall be ef-
Iected.
Mr.. Richardson said that IT was not pos
sible to run the existing system with 800
volts, and that the Buda-Pesth system
could not be run with heavier voltage. A
number OF qTestions on this question were
esked by members in different parts of the
Iiousc, 10 hlcnafOsOn replied
that the solution Of the problem which the
conference had decided on seemed to be the
proper one, and the only one practicable.
The Report Attacked.
Mr.. Cannon made a spirited attack upon
the report, insisting that the voltage should
be Uniform, and that because of the failure
of this report to so provide the report
should be voted down. He referred Incl
dentally TO some Of the pet roads of the
chairman Of the District committee
MIR. Herd at once responded with anger
That II the gentleman meant to insnuate
that he had any pet schemes TO further his
insiEuation was false and cowardly Mr.
Carnon then retracted the statement and
Mr.. Heard accepted his explanation.
Mr.. Hepburn made ten-minute speech
in opposition to the report.
Mr. Richardson then called for the pre-
vious question.
The Point of No Quorum.
The vote on this stood 81 to 10 and the
point OF no quorum was made by the fill
busters. The call of the roll was then or
dered.
After further debate the report was
agreed to.