Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-15
A Lively Colloquy Between the New
York and Maine Senators.
THE SUBURBAN RAILWAY BILL
The Vote on It in Committee Was
a Tie.


Iner0 was h lively meeting VI tie LIS
trict committee of the Senate this morn
ing followed by quite as lively half-hour
On the floor Of the Senate. and 1t was all
about the bill to extend the charter of the
District of Columbia Suburban Railway
Company. The House passed bill to this
effect OSLO on Wednesday last, and yes
terday afternoon, among other bills, it was
laid before the Senate. The Vice President
referred these measures in a bunch to
the District committee, and the Record this
morning so stated. When the District COM
mittee met, it's members were under the
impression that this bill was before them
for consideration, and a debate of an hour
ersued, in which the merits Of the bill
were thoroughly discussed The advocates
of the measure insisted that as all of the
otter street railway lines running into the
suburbs have had their charters extended
1t was only fair that this road should be
treated in the same way. Its opponents,
however. argued that this road, when
built, would parallel the Columbia line, and
would destroy, in a large measure, the
value of the expensive cable plant that
has just been instituted by the latter road.
1t was insisted that these suburban lines
should be made to tap the trunk lines or
the city at near the boundaries. and so
avoid duplication of tracks within the city.
The pending bill, it was shown, would prac-
tically nullify this principle, which has been
adopted by the District committee of late.
The Vote Tie.
At the conclusion Of the discussion, the
question was put whether the committee
should report the bill favorably to the SEN
ate, and this was negatived by a tie vote,
5 to 5. The attendance, as on last Friday,
was unusually full. Mr.. Smith of New
Jersey being the only absentee. Had he
been present this morning the decisive vote
would have been reached in committee
Oddly CROUCH the position in the commit
tee was on strict party lines. although this
was more of a coincidence than anything
else. On the motion to report favorably
the ayes were: Senators Harris, Faulkner,
Hunton, Gibson and Martin; the nays were
Senator's Mcmillan, Proctor Gallingeri
HaDsbrough and Wolcott
MIR. Hills Interest In the Bill.
When the committee had adjourned and
the Senate had met, It was found that the
House bill had not been referred to the
committee, but had been held on the table
yesterday afternoon at the especial request
of Mr.. Hill of New York. There has been
a great deal of unpleasant feeling engen-
dered during the last few weeks by the per-
sistence with which Mr.. Hill has been urg-
ing the subcommittee, in charge Of this BILL
to report it to the Senate. Not long ago he
and Senator Murphy joined in a letter to
one OF tne members OIL tne
that was not pleasant in its tone. but was
rather the reverse Later Mr.. Hill wrote
long letter to the same Senator, and was,
If anything, more insistent than before.
The cause of his interest is said to be the
fact that an Albany man, political friend
of his, Is one Of the incorporators of this
road. The extent of his interest was shown
when Immediately after the reading of the
journal in the Senate the Vice President
was about to refer this bill to the District
committee, by his preferring the request
that 1t should lie on the table for the pres
ent. Senator Hale asked the nature of the
bill and Mr. Hill briefly told him that it
was House bill relating to the suburban
.aThen, of course" said Mr.. Hale, "it
ought to go to the District committee.
The Senate, 1 take It, does not intend to
take any action upon it until the committee
has considered the bill"
The New York Senator's Complaint.
II should regret to make this PROMISE,
said Mr.. Hill. "a bill of a similar char
acter which has passed the other house
Gn this Mr. Hill was mistaken, for it is
Senate bill now pending before the District
committed has. been before the Senate
District committee for eight months. Since
December last 1 have been endeavoring
to get report from the committee and
have been unsuccessful The bill has been
considered in committee and is being con-
sidered now. l am advised that this morn
ing in the committee it stood five to five.
There is no reason why this bill, which has
now passed the House and is precisely like
the other, should go to the committee. A
meeting Is to be held on Monday next, i
believe, when this subject will be again
brought up. l can see no reason why this
bill should not now remain here.
MIR. Hnlc's Reply.
II am sorry" said Mr.. Hale, that in
any instance of the very many where the
hoin rai1pd
direction of the desires of these street
railway corporations to get possession of
the streets and avenues of the District, the
Senator from New York is giving his great
force and influence In aid Of this project.
He has given what seems to me the best
Of reasons why the bill should be referred
to the committee. The only reason he has
given why 1t should not be referred is that
the committee, in it's deliberations, has
found itself to be tied; in other words, that
the committee declines to report the bill
to the Senate. That Is a very good reason
why the bill should be sent to the commit
tee for it's action, and if that committee,
which Is our chosen organ, does not report
the bill to the Senate, then We can act as
we choose. Therefore, I move that the bill
be referred to the District committee"
II regret that the Senator from Maine,"
retorted Mr.. Hill. has seen fit to suggest
any undue anxiety on my part to obtain
control of any of the streets of the District
for this or any other street railroad. l
have been engaged, sir, in no such strife.
Some friends of mine in New York. having
some interest in this bill, suggested to me
that they would like to have report on
the BILL.
A Lively COllOIuy.
"How can hey get it." asked Mr.. Hale,
"unless we send it to committee?"
II am referring" Mr.. Hill answered, Ito
a bill that has been before the committee
for eight months, and action upon which
has been promised me repeatedly since the
first day of December
But if a majority of the committee is
not in favor Of the bill." Mr.. Hale insisted.
.how does the Senator expect he can get
action?''
II will come to that in a moment" said
Mr.. Hill.
"The Senator is seeking to down the
committee" said Mr.. Hale.
NO / am not" said Mr.. Hill; "but this
bill must be treated the same as other
bills
THAT is what I want" said Mr. Hale.
Mr. Hill was going on to explain further
his position in the matter. when Mr.. Hale
interrupted with the suggestion that the
motion was not debatable.
THE motion Is debatable," snapped Mr..