Evening star., 1896-12-09
DISTRICT IN CONGRESS
Bills of Local Interest introduced at the
Capitol Today.
To Allow the Chesapeake Railroad to
Enter the District-Speed of
Street Railways.

place Is stated to be: Beginning at the
southeasterly boundary line of the Dis
trtct of Columbia where the line of said
railway shall reach the same, and running
thence by such public roads or other prac-
tioable routes which may be approved by
the District of Columbia, going over the
trucks of the Baltimore and Potomac rail-
way to the Anacostia river, thence across
the said river by proper bridge. thence
along East Capitol street to the terminus
on the east side of 18th street east. 1t is
provided that cable, electric, pneumatic
other mechanical power may be used for
operating the cars of the road, but that
steam pc wer in locomotives shall not be
permitted. The rate of fare is fixed at
cents on any part or the whole of the road
and within the District of Columbia six
tickets are to be sold for 20 cents. The
road Is permitted to make transfer ar
rarSements with other reads in the Dis
trict of Columbia.
Riverside Park.
A project which has been much talked of
In the past was again brought before Con-
gress today through bill offered in the
Senate by Mr.. Elkins, by request This
bill provides that the area known the
Potomac flats shall be set aside for all
time as public park. to be known by the
name Of Riverside Park
Speed of Street Railroads.
1t is likely that the subject of permit
ting the street railroads in Washington to
run at a speed greater than ten miles per
hour will soon be agitated. AS this mat
ter is subject for regulation by the Dis
trict Commissioners it will probably be
brought to their attention shortly. In many
other cities street railroads are permitted
to regulate their speed of travel as they
hoe ho foof thaf thnu hold
liable for damages to injury to persons be-
ing regarded as sufficient incentive for
them to exercise due care. In Detroit there
Is no regulation on this subject, and if
teen or eighteen miles an hour in the city
limits is frequently attained by the street
car companies.
1t is said that although the rate of speed
here is limited to ten miles an hour that
that rate has been exceeded on the 7th
street cable line, which has been shown to
run at the rate of twelve miles an hour
1t is also believed by many that the cleo
trio car lines frequently attain rate of
speed in parts of the city which are not
crowded equal to eighteen miles an hour.
These facts will be brought to the atten-
ton of the Commissioners as evidence that
fast travel does not necessarily involve
danger to pedestrians.
Senator Mcmillan, chairman of the Sem
ate committee on the District of Columbia,
had his attention called to this subjec. to-
day by Star reporter, and was asked
WuelAeI ne lnOuSnt II would wise to
remove all limitations against fast travel
against the street railroads of this city in
view of the fact that in his own city of
Detroit, Mich, there are no such restric-
1onS. Mr.. Mcmillan replied that the con-
ditions In the two cities are not similar us
the main streets Of Detroit on which a
high rate Of speed Is maintained by the
raiiroad companies are exceedingly wide
end in that way lessen the danger az street
crossings. He thought, however, that a
rate of speed not exceeding twelve miles
per hour in the city Of Washington could
oe permitted without involving great risk
mr.. McMlilan thought 1t highly desirable
that the people here should have a quick
car service within limitations of safety.
A Telephone Line.
Mr.. Grosvenor of Ohio has introduced q
bill in the House authorizing William ].
Browning, chief clerk of the House of Rep
fesentatives, to build a telephone line from
the House folding room to the new annex
folding room in the Mcdowell building.
corner of North Capitol street and. Massa-
chusetts avenue. using the government
pores now on North Capitol street.
District Appropriations.
Representative Grout OF Vermont cnai--
man of the subcommittee on the DISTRICT
bill of the appropria tions committee has
returned to the city and is ready to settle
down to work
Il apprehend that we may wait 1i:,le
Wnie before commencing on the District
o;l 20 let the joint committee on the char
ltles investigation report" said Mr. Grou+
today. However, If they are NOT reaGv
we may go To work on some other seq
tlons of the bill between now and the hoi-
uass anu lake up the charities item later"
House Committee.
Chairman Babcock of the House District
committee will call meeting of the COM
mlttee Tor next Wedr esday. 1t is his pur
pose on that occasion to have a general
conference among the members of the COM
mittee relative to the work to be pursued
at this session.
One OF the principal matters to be dis
cussed Will be the proposed Investigation
OF subwayS. 1t will be remembered that
at the last session the question of under
ground wires was found to be a perplexing
one, and the committee decided that before
suggesting legislation upon this subject
they would make an investigat On into the
general question OF subways With this
end IN view subcommittee was appointed
with authority to act during the recess.
Inc campaign, however, prevented all par
ties from taking the matter up
Ihe subway question will come I'D next
Wednesday, and it will then be decided
whether the subcommittee shall pursue its
iI Vestigation during the holiday recess. If
this course be determined upon it Is
thought that a great deal could be ac-
complished by hard work during the recess
ara the report be ready for the commit