Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-28

Washington and Maryland road, which now
holds charter soon to expire, but to be
revived by the bill which passed the Sem
ate night before last, with the trolley syn
dictate. This is denied by the representa-
tives of the two interests named, but there
q veriflcation of the story that the Wash
ingon and Maryland is merely one end Of
the combination. One Of these facts Is that
the Washington and Maryland and the
lobbies of Congress by the same attorney.
The other significant fact is that In the
bill granting the extension Of charter pro-
vision Is made for the use of the Ecking-
toms city tracks by the Washington and
Maryland in its local terminus.
The Recent Transfer Proposition.
Indeed, there are many small things, per-
haps insignificant in themselves, that are
being pointed at now with great persist
ency and spoken of as straws to show the
way Of the wind. One of these is the re-
cent offer of the Columbia. lexington and
Metropolitan lines to give free transfers
to the suburban road If its incorporators
would consent to build the line from the
suburbs along 18th street east, and tap the
ends of the three trunk lines mentioned.
1t is now suggested that this Willingness
on the part of these three roads was IN
spired by the theory that it would be
cheaper to buy up this road later when the
time for general consolidation should come,
with 1t in this shape, than If 1t should pc
built according to the original plan of its
projectors. The idea Is fairly broached
now that this was a far-seeing plan on the
part of the genius which Is said to be be-
hind all the operations of the syndicate.
Another of these ..straws" that is point
ed at now Is the legislation that has just
been enacted, granting the ROCK creek
read the right to combine by lease or pur-
chase with any connecting line. Gossip has
it that this means a probable combination
between the metropolitan and Rock Creek
companies. This may not be in any way
connected with the recently-formed COM
bination of eastern roads, but 1t Is being
spoken of with frequency just at present
to show the general mystery that hangs
over the entire situation.
Hill to Fight the Trolley.
Senator Hill has determined to enter the
ring as regards street railroad matters with
vengeance next session. His fighting
spirit. it Is said, has been aroused by the
opposition that has developed to the Colum-
bia suburban bill, and which on the floor
of the Senate the other night was openly
charged to be inspired by the Philadelphia
syndicate. Senator Hills interest in this
bill is merely that of a Senator who has
given a promise to a friend to help him 10
secure legislation. He disclaims any idea
of working in the interest of anybody ex-
cept widow of this friend of his, who
quite recently died very suddenly of pneu-
monia. Mrs Hill regards this promise he
gave to the man now dead as being abso-
lutely binding upon him, and he has deter
mined to fight the matter now to finish
1t is understood that he fully realizes, and
in fact acknowledges, that In doing SO he
will be obliged to fight the great eastern
syndicate, but it is said that he has cheer
fully accepted the responsibility. He has
undertaken greater warfares than this be-
fore.
The Suburban Rond.
1t Is reported that another effort is being
made to compromise the differences be-
tween the friends of the suburban road
and those of the existing lines that are
antagonizing the bill. A meeting Of the
District committee of the Senate will be
held tomorrow morning, and this compro-
mise will be then presented. Its nature is
not known at this time. There may yet
be some more skirmishing on the line of
battle even before the session ends.
In the Way of Denial.
President Schoepf of the lexington Rail-
way Company disclaims that his company
has any trolley design on the city. The
company, he says, is honest in its inten-
ton of putting in conduit system.
The Philadelphia syndicate, said Mr..
Schoepf, has not taken any step in an
tagonism to the suburban railroad, but the
lexington and Soldiers Home Company
would resort to every legitimate means to
defeat 1t, for the reason that 1t would
parallel the lexington lines extension one
square distant for twenty-one squares.