Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-09-17
Pie-Crust Promises.

1t now appears as If the promises mace
as to improved motors by the Eckington-
Belt street railroad combination are OF no
value; the act of Congress which provides
for modernizaton of the plant Is likely to
be disregarded the public desire and need
thown aside as of moment From
statement made by a thoroughly informed
official-which statement is printed in the
news columns of this issue of The Start
seems that the much lauded and long ex-
pected compassionate motor-cars will not
operate in Washington for some time to
come.
The residents of the national capital have
frequently been RECALLED with delightful mar
ratives as to what the Eckington-Belt peo-
pie were going to do as soon as they had
fair opportunity to turn themselves LOOSE
blessed with a surplus of human energy
and endowed with sufficient dollars, the
combine proposed to set a pace in local
street-railroading which should make every
competitor weary and sick at heart. 1t
turns out, though. that the syndicate has
not as many dollars available as it, per-
haps, thought it had, so a halt has been
called, and the chances are almost entirely
adverse to any increase of investment in
the equipment and operation of the roads in
question.
wholly unexpected situation it is averred
that the lexington and Belt companies are
being run at loss of about one hundred
thousand dollars year. That announce
ment will not shock any business man who
is at all conversant with the manner in
which the roads have been run. From the
outset the syndicate has steadily persisted
in running counter to public sentiment and
has paid no heed to the just demands of
those who are or used to be its patrons.
First there was the vicious fight for the
privilege of an overhead trolley equipment.
In that contest the syndicate alienated
great deal of profitable affection. Then
followed the breaking up of the Belt line
system and the endeavor to make three
roads out of one, with the consequent
stabling of horses on the public streets
and other aggrayating circumstances. The
effort to maintain the overhead trolley on
New York avenue was another costly piece
of folly that did the syndicate's pocket
book more damage than the syndicate prob
ably imagined was possible. Accustomed
to operating in communities where meek
ness in the presence of great corporations
d characteristic. these Philadelphia
hnanciers We're astounded to discover that
the people of this disfranc hised city were
possessed of rights and insisted upon their
enjoyment; failing which. however. they
could be resentful enough to make things
extremely uncomfortable even for big po-
Htical bosses.
There is no sufficient reason why the
lexington and Belt properties should not
make satisfactory dividends for the stock
holders Properly equipped. and operated
on principles which view the public COM
fort worthy of consideration. the loss OF
enc hundred thousand dollars a year would
be eclipsed by a handsome profit. 1t Is
strange that the syndicate ignores the
street-railroad idea of today; the idea which
has 1t that liberal investment of funds IN
equipment and operation is much more
profitable than the impecunious policy OF
attempting to maintain a transit system in
which half-fed horses the most con-
spicuous features.
That Congress will take note of VIVA
promises to be wi1ful disobedience Is quite
likely; 1t ought to do so in very emphatic
way 1t would be a proper and popular
thing for the national legislature to revoke
all the route extensions granted to tbs
Eckington-Belt combine in the same &C
which now, SO far 1t relates to motors
is being f1agrantly violated.