Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-26

sons committee that he was clearly of the
opinion that he did not possess the author
ity to do so. but was strongly in favor of
placing the District government by leSisla-
ton within civil service rules, and would
give any effort in that direction his sympa-
thy and support. The report further reclt-
ed that the Commissioners are earnestly IN
favor of applying the rules to the District
government, and had on June nth passed
an order that all appointments to positions
under it shall be made under civil service
rules, to be adopted and promulgated ds
soon as practicable. The committee was of
the opinion that the Commissioners were
crippled in carrying out the order for want
of the necessary preparation and facilities
for conducting the proper examinations.
1t therefore convinced that the best
course to pursue will be to prepare bill
and secure its passage by Congress, which
will enable the United States civil service
commissioners to make examinations upon
application of the District Commissioners.
Upon motion of Mr.. S;ddons, the committee
was continued until further notice.
Deadly Grade Crossings.
When President Warner called for the
report of the committee on railroads it an
nounced that it was not ready, but that
the board desired to hear from members of
the committee and other gentlemen familiar
with the subject of grade crossings in the
District of Columbia, and he called on Mr.
Frank Hume, chairman CT the committee.
to give the meeting his views on this all
important and vital matter.
Mr. Hume said that the committee rad
only TO repeat and emphasize the views
expressed in former reports upon the sub
jcct of permitting the railroads within the
city limits to maintain grade crossings or
to occupy with their tracks the surface OF
the streets.
Maryland avenue. east of the Long
bridge is little less than a freight yard"
said Mr.. Hume. Trains are in constant
rp hainr moved
so that travel across the tracks suffers in
cessart interruption and delay. and the
hazards of these crossings are measured
only by their Instructions. Elsewhere
throughout the city grade crossings simply
bring yearly record of an appalling loss of
life and mutilations Of body. Ii these con-
ditons We're difficult of remedy. if their
solution involved compleNed problems of
construction and enormous cost the COM
mittce might be less positive in its views
and recommendations. But grade crossings
and surface tracks are disappearing. except
where exceptional physical conditions for
bid, from all our large cities.
Will Insist on Safeguards.
THE committee, therefore, feels warrant
ed in insisting that the safeguards which
are elsewhere employed to protect human
life shall not be lacking in the capital of
the nation. The surface of the streets
should not be suffered to remain become
railway roadbed but wherever practi-
cable the tracks should be depressed be-
meath or-elevated above the street level,
and bridges should take the place of sur
face crossings. and in our judgment it
should lie the declared, unwaveTing poiCy
of the board Of trade to exert its utmost
influence toward securing such provisions
and stipula tons in all grants to new rail-
ways through our city as will compel the
adoption of the best modern devices for
! the protection of human life
No Restrictions on the Roads.
In conclusion Mr.. Hume said that while
these plans or devices would cost money,
it would be trifiing compared with the sums
+! expended by railways upon improved road
beds and bridges, luxurious cars and alao-
crate station houses. AT the same time, 10
| re striction should be put upon these great
avenues of commerce which could hinder
their legitimate development or business
success because if the board Of trade mad
a PURPOSE a mission CT duty. it was to
encourage every enterprise which VIII give
ampler commercial facilities to our cit-
zcrs, ard thus open the way TO that
gre with and material prosperity which the
eminent advantages of Washington may
rightfully assure to it. Not only should no
great highway be barred out. but lines
purely local should be granted the amplest
privileges of entrance and exit, thus pro-
viiing new means of intercourse and out
lets for our traffic.
Mr.. Tallmadge Lambert. member of the
committee, followed Mr.. Hume in Il re-
sumo of the relations of Washngtonans
to the country at large and their impera-
tive duties in connection with their guard
ianship of the national capital
He said the question of grade crossings
was the most important that now confront
ed the citizens. and there was no PROPOSE
ton that should be more strongly pressed
to a legitimate end than that there shall no
longer rest upon the District this blot upon
the municipal progress-a grade crossing
within the District of Columbia. The eX-
pense Of such a reform should not lie taken
into consideration, because in the -. I Of
Washington the expense or value of an i'm
provement should not be measured as in
other cities because there was no standard
10y which to compare other cities with our
own.
Mr. Lambert held up a roll Of paper. II
hold in my hand, said he, "a list of casual
ties occurring on the railroads in the Dis
trict of Columbia. 1t covers only the last
three years and yet requires thirty pages
of closely printed, typewriter manuscript.
On the Baltimore and Ohio, alone there
were thirty-six casualties, twenty-three Of
which were traceable directly to grade
crossings, while on the 3. and p. there
were sixty-five casualties, twenty-six of
which We're due entirely to grade crossings.
The Baltimore and Ohio maintains twenty
five grade crossings in the District, while
the Baltimore and Potomac maintains
twenty-seven.'
No Drastic Measures Needed.
The practical method of relieving the city
of this evil might be safely left, said Mr..
Lambert, to the joint deliberations of Con-
board of trade. 1t was not proper to