Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-09
FOR RAPID TRANSIT
lexington and Belt Line Railway
Bill Again Up.
SENATE ADOPTS CONFERENCE REPORT
Extensions Granted to Both Com
panies In and Out of Town.
MUST ABANDON HORSES

After weeks OF delay, caused by the in
trusiOn of extraneous matter relating to
the Metropolitan railroad, the lexington
and Belt railway bill WAS today brought
from the oblivion. OF a disagreeing con-
ference and sent on it's road to the statute
books Fer some days there has been a
general feeling that, owing TO the persist
cree of the friends and officials of the
Metropolitan road, the lexington bill
would fail to become law at this session,
and up TO yesterday this feeling had almost
become a certainty. Last Saturday, how
ever, The Star published, from the highest
authority. q statement of the true feeling in
the Senate, where certain Influential men
interested in the lexington bill had be-
come greatly provoked at the action Of the
House in allowing the Metropolitan amend
Tnent to creep into the bill and - stand in
the way of legislation. 1t was then an
EOunCcd that the prospect for action on
propositions advanced by the Metropolitan
road next session was poor indeed, in view
Of the circumstances, for what practically
amounted to threats had been made that
nothing whatever would be given to that
company if the lexington bill should fail.
Signs of Weakening.
Monday morning the Capitol represen-
tatives of the metropolitan line began to
show signs of weakening. They inaugurated
a movement to secure certain trackage ar
rangements that would in part compensate
for the loss of the Columbia road extension
granted b. the amendment to the Ecking-
ton bill Before the close of the day the
conferees OF the part OF the House were
told that they might withdraw the amend
ment, If theI desired TO allow the bill to
pass, and early this morning the confer
eEce report had been prepared and was
s gne1 by every member of the House con-
ference committee. The Senate conferees
We're Senators Mcmillan, Proctor and Har-
rIs- The two former We're out OF town. Mr.
Harris hes.tated about signing in their alb
sence. although they had both attended the
lass conference on the bill, when the Sena-
tCFS ana Representatives had agreed to
disagree. A telegram was sent to each of
the absent Senators, explaining the s!tua-
ton, which differed in nowise from that
WHICH existed at the time of the last meet
ing. Before the Senate met at noon Mr. Nc
MILAN had wired his acceDtance of the re-
port. in accordance with which his name
was signed to the report, and Mr.. Harris at
once followed suit.
Senate adopts the Report.
Promptly after the meeting of the Sen
ate Mr.. Harris presented the conference re
port. which was adopted without division
and sent at CnCe to the House This con-
ference report is a compromisa. The House
gave up the Metropolitan amendment. and
the Senate surrendered the paragraph pro-
Vid!ng for the branch along Florida, Grant
ana sherman avenues, WaIach street and
henesaw avenue TO the Geological Park
What the Bill Requires.
The bill as 1t now stands requires the
lexington and Belt companies, within three
months from the date of it's passage. to
begin to equip their lines lying within
the city limits with compressed air motors,
T.. IF
shall, in the Judgment of the Commission
ers, prove proper and satisfactory the
Commissioners are directed to issue per-
mlts to the companies to equip their lines
within the District with such means of
rapid transit, and within SIX months from
the passage of the act the companies shall
cease to use horse power on ali their lines
But II these motors shall not be approved
then. within eighteen months from the
passage OF the act, the companies shall
construct and operate on all their lines the
underground electric system. No extension
provided in the bill shall be operated by
horse power.
The Eckington's New Line
1t is further provided that within thirty
days after the passage of the act cars shall
be regularly run over the existing tracks.
beginning at the Intersection Of G. street
and New Jersey avenue, thence by G. ana
North Capitol streets to T street according
to schedule satisfactory to the Commits
slonerS- The lexington read IS authorized
to lay down and operate a street railway
line along the following route: From the
junction OF Sth and d streets northeast hy
double track; thence south along Stn street
TO & street south; theLce by single track
west on G street south to 1th street east:
south on Ith to VI street south; east on II
street to Georgia svenUe northeast; on
Georgia avenue to 9th stleet: north on 9th
to c street, and west on G street to Sth at
the point of the beginning of the single
track
The lexington read is authorized to in
crease It's capital stock and to issue bonds
TO the amount necessary to pay for the
cost of the IMPROVEMENT. and it is provided
that that coinUany shall not have its stocks
and bonds outstanding at any one time TO
a greater amount than the actual cost of
the construction ard equipment of the
road. whiIn cost shall he determined by
the District Supreme Court.
The HeIt Lines Extension
The Belt Railway Company is authorized
to construct and operate double-track
road from 18th and streets northwest;
thence north on 4th to Florida avenue:
thence north, crossing Florida avenue to
HarewOOd street; along Harewood TO Elm.
to Linden to Pomeroy, to the east building
ine of 7jh street extended.
Another extension is authorized from the
pre- sent terminus OF the Belt road on Water
street near y street south. thence south
HiCng Water street to p street by an cx-
tension of the present tracks of the Belt
read. thence east on 7 to Delaware ave-
rte. but it is provided that if there is not
81 fTiCienI for two tracks on Water street
without encroaching on tracks already
there the Belt company shall purchase at
its own cost sufficient ground to open Wa
ter street along the projected route to P
street.
1t IS REQUIRED that the construction Of
the extensions authorized in the bill shall
be completed within one year after the ap-
Ircval of the act. and If any one Of the eX-
tensions shall not be completed and ope-
rated regularly within that time the Au-
thcriZation for such extension shall be
vCid.
Those sections of the bill relating to the
abandonment of certain parts OF the Belt
line are stricken out. The Belt line is au-
thCTized to increase its capital stock under
the same conditions as those applied to the
lexington road. Other provisions of the
bill relate to the general care OF the tracks
and the method of doing the work of max
Ing extensions.
Must Report to Congress.
One of the most important pieces of
stI eet railroad legislation is that contained
in next to the last section of the bill as