Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-06
A Talk With Chairman Mcmillan
of the Senate Committee.
some QUESTIONS TO Be SETTLED
Grade Crossings and the Street
Railroads the Chief.
F A RS Oh p G. A S


today, and, together with Mr.. Charles
Moore, clerk to the committee, was en-
gagged in arranging matters in order that
legislation pertaining to the District CT Co
lumbia may be taken up and considered at
an early day. About fifty bills have been
referred to the committee by the Senate,
and at the first meeting of the committee
to be held under it's new chairman, next
Friday all these measures will be referred
to subcommittee. This will give each Of
the thirteen members plenty of work to DO.
The committee room is in process of
thorough refitting and refurn:shing.
A Star reporter called on Mr.. Mcmillan
today and inquired regarding his plans for
promoting District legislation.
Chairman McMillan's Plans.
II am not so much believer in great
deal of legislation as 1 am in having the
right kind of,lesislaticn,' Mr.. Mcmillan
replied in response to a question. THE
change in the Craftsmanship of this COM
mittee will really make very little differ
ence in the work. Mr.. Harris and have
worked side by side on District matters for
long time, and we will continue to do so.
There Is one change, however, that L
hope will facilitate our District legislation.
In all important matters 1 think it would
be well to have the chairmen of the Sen
ate and House committees On the District
of Columbia, together with the Commits
sioner who has any particular matter under
charge get together in order to exchange
views on any measure it is sought to have
passed by Congress, so that we may have
an understanding about what would be ac-
ceptable all around. 1t frequently happens
that either the House or Senate committee
acts Oh bill which is not at all acceptable
to the other committee, and such matters
could be readily understood by short con-
ference and long delays would be avoided.
To Promote Prompt Action.
"It seems to me, too, that instead of re-
ferring bills to the District Commissioners
it would promote prompt action and
clearer understanding of questions to have
the Commissioner under whom the matter
would come to meet the chairmen Of the
two committees and explain his views. l
hope this will be done
The Grade Crossing Question.
"There are several important matters
that 1 hope this Congress will be able to
deal with successfully. One of the most
important is the question of grade cross
ings. 1 want to see the railroad companies
carry out their agreements with the COM
mittee. The Baltimore and Ohio company,
for instance, has promised to build via
duct, over which its tracks can enter the
city, and in the case of the Pennsylvania
ment will be made to settle the question Of
grade crossings. This matter was thor
oughly discussed in the past, but the de-
tails of proper plan could not be decided
upon agreeably to all concerned. l favor
having the track of the Pennsylvania road
depressed, so that surface traffic may he
accommodated above the tracks by means
of bridges.
The Street Railroads.
'Then there is the street railroad ques-
ton. Ny own view is that 1t is much better
to require the existing lines to extend their
tracks to meet the wants of the growing
population in and about the city rather
than to charter new companies. Our prob
lem Is to provide the most satisfactory
means of transportation for the people
rather than to promote any real estate in
terest by building lines so that land values
can be advanced. For instance, if all the
railroad lines of the city were under one
management it would promote the public
interest, as a.person could go anywhere by
paying one f&re. When there Is demand
for street car service beyond the terminus
of an existing road l think that road
should be required to extend its tracks to
meet 1t.
Sentiment of the People.
II believe too, in allowing the people an
opportunity to say where the extensions in
the city should be permitted. I remember
extend it's tracks on l. street to give cross
town service there was very vigorous ap-
peal made by the people on that street
against granting the charter for the extern
sion. The street being narrow would have
been ruined for residence purposes by hav-
ing double track laid down along it.
The committee declined to grant the de-
sired permission, in view Of this fact, and
those who sought the privilege thought the
people on the street should have nothing 70
say about the matter. think they should
be consulted. Now, the Belt line wants a
cross-town line NJ street, and has pre-
sented petition signed by a great many
residents on NJ street, but those residents
live, believe, on the extreme western and
extreme eastern part of the street. 1t seems
to me, too. that the difficulty that would be
experienced at Thomas circle, at the corner
of nth and NJ streets, would be very great.
The tracks Of the Capital Traction Company
now go around that circle, and to have an
other set of tracks there would make 1t a
very dangerous place for pedestrians
But think Congress will be able to give
the citizens a cross-town road that will be
perfectly satisfactory.
No More Experiments.
'"There is a great deal Of talk about hav-
ing compressed air cars on the Belt line NV
own opinion is that the underground electric
system is the proper one to put down within
the city, instead Of losing time with ex-
per1mentS. II seems TO ME that that Is the
most satisfactory system. I want to see
Washington provided with the very best
street railroad system it is possible to get.
The character of this city not only makes
this desirable, but it is absolutely necessary.
1--WE have couple of bills to charter new
telephone companies, but my view is
against the unnecessary tearing up of the
streets, as is the case with the street rail-
road companies. I think it better to regu-
late the existing service rather than to
charter any new service. The value of a
telephone Is the number Of people who can
be reached by it. If we were to have two
or three companies the service would not
be so satisfactory and 1t would cost each
subscriber more than If served by one COM
pany."
In Favor of Cheap Gas.
How do you regard the effort to secure
cheaper gas?" the reporter asked.
1T am in favor Of having cheaper gas,
but we want the best quality of gas at the
same time,'' replied Mr.. Mcmillan.
1t is expected that there will be a full
meeting of the committee on Friday, when
the wheels of District legislation on the
Senate side of the Capitol will be set in
motion.