Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-27
DISTRICT AT AIRS
Complication in Securing Rapid
Transit on lexington Road.
SURFACE MOTOR ASKED FOE
Possibility That Congress Wi
Have to Act.
OTHER LOCAL NOTE S

The lexington and Soldiers Home Rail-
way Company will not be permitted to equip
its road with surface motor without spe-
cta1 legislation from Congress. Indeed, 1t
IS doubtful If the Commissioners have the
power to authorize the company. in the alb
sence of special legislation, to employ any
system of rapid transit for the propulsion
of it's cars.
The act of August G, 1890, provided: THAT
any street railroad in the District of CO.
lumbia authorized to run cars drawn by
horses, which has changed may change
its motive power ON any of its lines now
constructed. to cable or electricity, or
change its rails in accordance with the pro-
visions of law, shall have the right to issue
and sell. at the market price thereof, stock
OF said company to an amount necessary to
cover the cost CT making said changes, the
cost of said changes and the amount of said
stock sold, together with the price per share
to he fully set forth, under the oath of tho
president CT said company, and filed with
the Commissioners of the District. And any
company availing itself of the privileges
herein granted shall. within two years,
wholly dispense with horses as motive
power OH all portions of it's line and substi-
tute therefor the power provided for in the
act making appropr;a tons for the expenses
of the government of the District of Column
bia, approved March =, 1889. or pneumatic
or other modern motive power which shall
be approved by the Commissioners of the
District OF Columbia, but nothing in this
act contained shall In anywise authorize
the use of overhead appliances. ="
1T is held that under the provisions of
this section the right of the Commissioners
10 approve any power for the propulsion of
c. rs is limited to two years. for it specif-
cally provides as condition that the road
must avail itself of the privileges granted
by the act within that period
The lexington and Soldiers Home rail-
read, through its representatives, has had
several conferences with the Commission
ers lately upon the subject of surface mo-
tors. President Newbold declared some
time ago that he would equip his road with
surface motors, and the idea was favorably
received by the Commissioners. Maj. Pow
ell has given the subject considerable at
tcnti6n, and is firm believer in the eff
cacy Of surface motors.
The matter recently came up for discus
slen ana the railroad people appeared for
PERMISSION to operate the road with a sur
face motor. question arose in the minds
OF the Commissioners as TO their power in
the premises, and the case was submitted
to the attorney for the District. with the
request that he inform the. Commissioners
as to their power in the matter. 1t is I'M
derstood that he has made an unfavorable
report upon the proposition holding. that
the Commissioners have no right. under the
act abe re quoted, to approve surface
motor.
The decision was received with regret by
the Commissioners, who believed the time
had arrived when the Eckirctnn road
would change its motive power. Just what
course the railroad people will adopt in
view OF the present status of their case is
rot known, although it is understood they
Will ply to Congress for the desired re-
lief Immediately. Should this be done
there Is every reason to believe that Cor
81 less will lose no time in granting the de-
sired permission to change the motive pow
er of the road.
Adverse Report.
Adverse report has been made by the
Commissioners upon Senate bill $40, to In
corporate the East Washington Heights
Traction Railway Company In their report
upon the bill the Commissioners say
THE Commissioners doubt the ACCESSIBILITY
for the public interests Of chartering at The
present time an additional street railway
crossing the Eastern branch below Ben
ring bridge The Anacostia railroad runs
into the city from the most populated sub
urb south of the Eastern branch, but is
not able to pay expenses. and consequently
furnishes unsatisfactory service; this rail-
road has chartered right to extend to the
Bowen road at or near one of the termini
OF the railroad proposed by Senate bill ?49
The Capital Railway Company, already
chartered have rights of the same extern
sions; In fact. the latter named road would
serve the same territory in the country as
proposed InoI"s to- be served by the East Wash
ing loh neisntS traction Company. The
proposition contemplated for that company
or occupying the Pennsylvania avenue
bridge over the Eastern branch by railroad
tracks Is deemed inadvisable"
Eastern Branch Bridge.
The Commissioners have made a favora-
BILE report upon House bill 1862 to author
ize the construction of a bridge across the
Eastern branch. The Commissioners saw
the location named in the bill for a bridge
over the Eastern branch is Judged to he
the best of the locations heretofore sur
De served by bridge below the present
Navy Yard bridge. The proposed bridge
which spans the Eastern branch at Ist
street Is deemed advisable, but the Com
missloners believe the bill should be SUBJ
mitted to the War Department for report
as the proposed bridge spans a navigahle
stream.
District Appointments
The Commissioners today made the fol-
lowing appointments in the iisinfecting
service:
DR.. r. d. Boss. assistant medical sanitary
inspector, compensation at the rate of 81 30
per diem when so employed; appointment
to take effect the 10th instant
e. A. Pitkins, engineer municipal disin-
q
80 cents for the first hour of each davis
work and 40 cents for each additional hour
when so employed: appointment to take eff
feet March -.
Andrew Lewis and Rudolph Murphy, la
borers, with compensation at the rate of
$l.2o per diem each; appointment to take
effect from and after the 18th instant
Some Changes.
The Commissioners today made the fol-
lowing changes in the engineer depart
ment:
Richard Deerfling, clerk in the engineer
department., transferred to the position of
craftsman on highway extension plans at
s. per diem, and H. c. Gould, craftsman on
the temporary roll, transferred to the posi-
ton of clerk in the engineer department
at 81, 200 per annum.
o. w. Comet is appointed craftsman on
the temporary roll highway extension plan,
at 81 per diem.
An Appointment Excites Criticism.
An appointment was made by the Com
missionera today that has provoked large
amount of discussion among the clerks in
the engineer department of the District
government, and brought about degree
of uncertainty regarding their tenure of
otfice. From the clerks point of view, the
Commissioners have violated their own
90