The morning times., 1896-02-23

The House District Committee yesterday
gave a bearing TO those interested in the
Falls Church and Potomac Railway Com
pany, which seeks TO extend its lines within
the District.
Mr.. Hines explained that the company
is a strong one and proposed TO cross the
river by a ferry at The foot OF d street
southeast and proceed to the market by
Il route which has been approved by the
Commissioners.
There has been some rivalry, Mr.. Hines
said, between his line and the Washington
and Mount Vernon Railway Company as
TO entering the Dist riot. The matter has
previously been before Congress, when
an amendment was inserted in the Mount
Vernon bin giving the same rights to the
Falls Church line.
The Washington and Mount Vernon line
agreed to pay the Pennsylvania Company
500 per day for the use of its tracks
across Long Bridge. The Pennsylvania
Company would take off its AIeXar dria
trains.
Major Hines said his company could not
afford to pay such rates. He stated that
his line would develop ami benefit Il
pOpulous section. The vice president of
the line, he said, is Joseph Willard. There
| is nothing speculative in the project, but
it would prove great convenience. The
delay in crossing by 'erry would be from
| three to five minutes. They have been
refused the privilege OF crossing on the
| Aqueduct Bridge.
OBJECT TO THE FERRY.
The Commissioners have objected to
the bill because they hold that the ferry
| would deprive the road of its rapid transit
| character.
| Mfr. Meredith sad he thought the Com
missioners were somewhat inconsistent,
| having a year ago recommended that the
Mount ernon aud Falls Church lines should
cross on the same ferry and use the same
| tracks within the District. They now an
| tagoniZe what they then considered ex-
| pedicnt. He considered that their adverse
report on the pending bill was without
! justification.
Mr.. Lacey said that with lower rates,
rapid transit and numerous trains, Falls
| Church would become 10 Washington what
Germantown is to Philadelphia. He thought
the ferry would interfere with no one He
admitted that they would ask for bridge
whenever they could get it, as they were
not so benighted as 10 prefer a ferry TO a
| bridge.
Mr. Richardson created some meTimeut
| by asking Mr.. Meredith if he thought the
proposed rapid transit road would afford
| any improved facilities for those on that
| side OF the river who desire to come u
Congress.
Mr.. Meredith said there are so many
desiring to succeed him that he did not be-
licve matters could be made any worse.
DR.. Wylie spoke in favor of the road and
said the committee should have no ob
lection to ferry, ON the ground that a
some future time request might be made
for a bridge. Congress could deal witt
that question when it came up.
In reply to i question, Ma jor Hines saiC
his road would be eight or ten square:
from the Pennsylvania avenue line, and i
would not be in the least injured by compe
tition. The steam roads are the onl!
ones that would be hurt by4t the proposed
line.
1t was decided that Major Hines and hi.
associates should amend their bill TO oh
viate the objections made by the Commits
sioners and return it to the committee fOl
further consideration.
REAsSESSMENT BILLS.
Mr.. I. W. Birney was then heard by tht
committee in regard to the reassessmen
bill, previously reported favorably. H
said those who had gone into court. pal,
S1l costs and had their assessments sc
aside would not be molested, while thei
less fortunate neighborS, who had been un
able to so into court and have these as
sesSmentS annulled would be reassessed.
Hundreds Of people, he said. had been re
lieved by the courts and those who had no
obtained such relief would, under the pro
posed law, become the victims of discrmina
ton. Great injustice would especially re
suit from the large number of sales of prGI
erty made subject to the annulling of tn
taxes.
A general discussion of the question
followed. in which Mr.. Hazleton, eX-diS
trict attorney, participated.
The committee will, on next Thursday
give hearing at 10 O'Clock TO those il
tercstcd in the incorporation of the Colun