Evening star., 1895-06-20
THE ECkINGTON ROAD.
The Trolley Behind 1t Al
To the Editor of The Evening Star:

Your editorial comment in yesterdays
paper in regard to the decision of the
newly self-constituted court for interpret
ing the laws of Congress relating to the
lexington and Soldiers Home Railway
Company was well timed and to the point
The fact is that this trolley corporation
purpose to hold on like grim death to tho
overhead wires on New York avenue in
the hope that they may find Congress
favorable not only to itsa continued and
permanent use on that thoroughfare. but
to its extension over the, other lines
operated by that comparyt in this city.
Their whole aim and purpose from now
until the meeting of Congress in December
next will be to delay by every conceivable
preteXt removing the wires and poles from
New York avenue, in the hope that a fur
ther extension will be granted them by
the incoming Congress, and ultimately the
use of the trolley on their other lines, and
just so long as the trolley is permitted
to remain on that avenue just so long will
the danger exist of the object desired being
accomplished. -.
1t is to be hoped, therefore, that The
Star, as the representative of those who
| are opposed to the use of the trolley within
the city limits, will vigorously insist upon
the prompt enforcement of the law by
those charged with the duty of it's eXecu-
ton, and that no excuse will be accepted
from this company or delay permitted in
complying with its mandate. If the Com
missioners were imbued with a little of the
energy and executive force exhibited by
A. r. Shepherd when he was governor
of the District the only reply that would
be made to the refusal of this company
to comply with the law would be to send
q force of men to New York avenue at
midnight on the 1st. of July and tear down
the unlawful obstruction, as was done in
the case of the market house on Mount
Vernon Square.
Everybody knows that the lexington and
Soldiers Home railway is controlled by
he
in the United States, and it Is miserable
subteTfuge for the directors of this COM
pany to attempt to excuse themselves for
violation of law upon the ground that the
company is financially unable to properly
equip the road to meet the demands of
the street car travelling public. The trolley
is behind it all. I. Z. x.
What Gov. Shepherd Would Do.
To the Editor of The Evening Star:
In common with many other citizens. I
am waiting to see the outcome to the de-
1iance of the lexington railroad officers of
the anti-overhead trolley act of Congress.
What are our Commissioners "going to do
about it?" Will they, as usual. merely re-
fer the answer of Vice President Schoepf
to their attorney for his opinion? And if,
as is probable dn view of said attorneys
private relations, by common rumor, with
the lexington corporation), he renders an
opinion which is in effect TN favor of the
holds that the Commissioners have no rem
edy-what then? Must we suffer in the
capital of the nation the spectacle of a law
of Congress, deliberately enacted after long
debate, defied with impunity by an alien
corporation, while, at the same time, many
of our best business men are being prose-
cuted In our courts for storing goods on
the parking adjoining their places of busi-
ness?
The fallacy of the answer of Vice Presi-
dent Schoepf to the warning notice Of the
Commissioners is evident to even novice
in the law. A few-days will demonstrate
whether ths anti-overhead trolley law is to
be laid up for repairs, in company with the
fire escape law and others alleged to be in
operative, but which, with man of fiber
like Alexander r. Shepherd behind them,
could easily be enforced. There is an i'm
preston abroad among us that if Gov.
Shepherd were in the seat of municipal
power, with undisputed command of the
police fierce, traffic on the lexington rail-
road would come to a standstll on the 1st
proximo. While such 'tie-up" would
cause a good deal of temporary discomfort
patrons, it would not be so demoralizng
to the whole community as will the spec
defied. NJ,
"A West lexington Comment.
To the Editor Of The Evening Stars:
l presume that every thinking person,
women as we'll as men, were glad to read
soui INST euitoFlal III yesterday otdr.
The company referred to- have shown
great deal of assurance, to use a mild
term, in the past, and this letter which
you refer to is the elimination Of that
assurance. 1t remains to be seen whether
the present District Commissioners, the
mystic three" as you have termed them,
have any backbone at all, or whether the
said company can longer defy all law
and regulation and terms of charter.
1t is to be hoped that the poles will be
taken down on the first proximo, If not by
the company then by the city authorities,
as the telegraph poles in New York city
were some years ago. I suppose the por-
ton of the road north of Florida avenue
can still be operated with the trolley and
between Florida avenue and 7th street the
trolley poles can be tied down on the cars
and horses used-there is nice cobble-
stone, roadway which it would be well to
make use of. WEST ECKINGTON.
Mississippinns ON n Visit.
Profs. Berry and Lowrey Of the Blue
Mountain College, Miss, and a party Of