Evening star., 1896-12-29


maine, 23 Quincy street; John H. Jones,
217 r street northeast; James Finckler, 81
Quincy street, and Carl A. johnson, 231 X
street northeast.
Chairman Servers Report.
A. r. Serven, chairman of the COM
mittee on railroads, made comprehensive
report on the work of the committee in Its
effort to prevent the passage by Congress
of the bill which was lately passed by
the House of Representatives, and whic h
gives to the lexington and Soldiers Home
Railway Company further extension of
time in which to experiment with the COM
pressed air motor as a means OF propui-
sion for it's cars.
Mr.. Serven stated that the law requires
the underground electric system to be put
in operation on the lexington and Belt
railway lines by December 10, 1897. The
committee believes that these companies
should be treated exactly as the Metro
politan company had been. When the act
of August g 1894, was passed, requiring
that company to put in the underground
electric system, 1t also provided for the
forfeiture of its charter If it did not COM
ply with the law. This legislation had
produced the best Of results Why should
not the same requirements and penalties
be imposed upon the lexington and Belt
companies? There was no reason that
would justify a discrimination In their
favor as against other companies. Mr.
Serven said that the executive and rail-
way committees, following the precedent
Congress had made in the case of the
Metropolitan road, had prepared and Sc
cured the introduction in both houses
of bill providing for the repeal Of all
acts chartering or extending the Ecking-
ton and Belt roads, if they do not, equip
with the underground electric system as
the law provides by December 10, 1897.
In referring to the resolution passed by
the House, granting an extension OF time
to these companies the chairman stated
that he had seen Mr.. Babcock of the House
District committee during the first week OF
this session, and had asked for an opportu-
nifty to be heard on any proposed lexington
railway legislation. He supposed Mr.. Bah
cock had forgotten 1t, however, as the COM
mittee had not been given a chance to be
heard on the resolution reported favorably
by that gentleman. This was the bill urged
by the receiver of these roads, which,
grants further extension of time to try air
motors and to equip with them or the elec-
trio by July l, 1888.
The report stated that the reasons the
House committee gave for the urgency In
passing the bill were: First, to protect the
public and the shareholders who were to
be sold out on January ., unless this bill
became a law before then and, second, to
give another chance to try the air motors,
as fire. which destroyed glass factory in
Germany had prevented the trial already
authorized, which the company had not
made because 1t claimed that 1t was i'm
possible to get the air bottles to equip the
cars. If this story was true how was 1t
possible to get the bottles for the cars
that had been put on trial in New York
during that period? The investigation into
this alleged fire had demonstrated that
the story was entirely unfounded. The
sale which was to be had on January was
also proven to be the creation of an TN
reliable Imagination, as no such course l as
been in contemplation, and could not be
had within that time under the conditions
of the court in which the proceedings were
pending.
so it appears" said Mr. Serven, that
the hasty action of the House was based
upon deliberate misrepresentation of those
urging the passage of the resolution upon
the House committee.
Only the COmbina ation's Benefit.
1.-The resolution was introduced on Decem-
Der 49, reported to the House on the fol-
lowing day. and passed after being consid-
cred at special meeting of the District
committee at which the receiver of these
roads and his attorney were permitted to
be present; but no interested citizens were
given the slightest opportunity to be pres
ent or to express their views of the charac-
ter Of the additional legislation needed to
satisfy their wants.
1.-The arguments urged that the extern
sicns are needed to protect the interests of
the public and the minority shareholders of
these roads are the f1imsiest kind of spe-
ciousness. The extensions are solely and
nation which is in control Of these roads,
and Is apparently striving to freeze out the
minority shareholders and Its bondholders.
Only the Intervention Of a court Of equity
efforts to completely wreck these reads.
The scathing terms of Judge Cox's recent
decision fitly characterize their actions.
Defeated in the courts, they now come to
their tactics. They repeat the representa-
tions which the courts have found TO be
false. and they scatter glittering promises
to dazzle and deceive. Their past record in
the wrecks of laws that they have violated,
orders they have ignored, and promises
they have broken. A single hours investi-
cation will ascertain the truth Of these
statements.
''This band of railroad wreckers want to
be relieved from all legal restrictions upon
their schemes. The courts have held them
accountable under the provisions Of the
act, passed at the last session Of Con-
gress. every section Of which they have
already violated. SO far as 1t has been pos
sible. They. and they only. are the sup
luton. There Is not single public in
terest In these roads. that will not be
damaged II this resolution becomes law.
1t viii amount to an absolute condonation
Of past offenses and a substantial encour-
agement to future lawlessness. The past
history Of these roads justifies and requires
the most stringent provisions Of law and
The Supreme Court Of the District has up
held the act of June 10 as reasonable and
just in the provisions for equipping these
roads with rapid transit.
"The executive and railway COMMITTEES
took active steps to lay the true nature Of
the matter before several SENATOR'S includ-
ing members Of the District committee.
and have been promised q hearing by the
chairman Of that COMMITTEES before the
resolution win be reported. Mr.. Servcn un-
derstood that some members Of the House
committee have said they had been de-
ceived on this resolution. and that they
had indicated to the Senate committee
their hone that the resolution u,oald ha