Evening star., 1896-02-13
DISTRICT AFT AIRS
Railroad Possession Of the Bladensi
burg Road.
SUBURBAN RAILROAD HEARING
Columbia Heights Citizens Object
to Overhead Wires.
TO PROTECT PHYSICIANS

TO PROTECT PLY SIC1ANS S
There promises to be lively scrimmage
among prospective railroad lines for the
possession of Bladensburg road.
The lexington and Soldiers Home rail-
road desire an extension along that road;
the Suburban Railway Company seeks an
entrance to the city along the same nigh
way, and the Columbia railroad is unde-
c.ded as to what it wants. In fact, Attor-
ney Wilson stated today at public hear
ing given to the representatives of the Sub
urban railroad. that the Columbia Railroad
Company. which he represented, had no
desire to extend its line out Bladensburg
road provided the Suburban road received
permission to occupy it. If the lexington
and Soldiers Home railroad insisted upon
an extension out Bladensburg road, and the
Suburban company was unable to get per-
mission, then the Columbia company de-
sired the extension.
As stated above, this statement was
brought out at a public hearing given this
morning to the Suburban railway, which
seeks through House bill 1888 certain ex-
tensions of its line into the city. 1t pro-
vides for the building of a branch oegin-
ming at the dividing line between the Dis
trict and Maryland on the Bladensburg
road to the intersection of Florida avenue
and 18th street northwest. Also beginning
at the junction OF Bunker Hill road ana
18th street, in Brookland, and running
south on 18th street to Dahlgren Circle;
thence by such line as may be authorized
by the Commissioners to Mt. Olivet road at
its intersection with 18th street east ex-
tended, thence along Mt. Olivet road to
Bladensburg road. Also beginning at the
junction OF Emporia and 9th streets, in
Langdon, on 24th street to Cincinnati
thanna
to Chapel road. to Baltimore street, and
thence along that street to 18th street; also
| on Chapel road from Baltimore street to
Bladensburg road by a single track.
Gen. G. P. Davis, Gilbert Meyers and l..
| G. Loomis represented the Suburban road,
| and were present to urge the bill. Messrs.
| Nathaniel Wilson and President Reuben
| Baker of the Columbia road were also on
hand to hear the arguments and help mat
! ters along.
| Mr.. Nathaniel Wilson explained the bill
in detail, and added it was identical with
| the bill favorably reported at the last ses-
| sion of Congress, and which passed both
| houses, but failed to become law because
| of the failure of the President to sign 1t.
| There did not appear to be any objection
j on the part of the Commissioners to the
| general proposition, although there was a
| disagreement as to what part of the Bla-
| densburg road the railroad bed should be
| built. The railroad people favored the mid
| die of the road, while the Commissioners
| thought the tracks should be placed upon
, one side or the other Major Powell!
| thought the placing of the tracks should be
| left to the discretion of the Commissioners
| The Commissioners will probably report the
| bill favorably.
| Object to Overhead Wires.
Tire Commissioners heard President Bal
| linger of the Columbia Heights Citizens
| Association and President Crosby of the
| Potomac Electric Light and Power Com
pany this morning with reference to the
bill now pending providing for an extension
o, the latter plant. Mr.. Bailinger explained
that the citizens of Columbia Heights wGre
opposed, first. last and all the time to any
overhead wires in their section. The asso'
ciation did not oppose one company as
| against another, but did not want overhead
wires of any kind, and would fight them
| with all its power. Mr.. Balinser suggested
| that the pending bill be amended as to
| allow the new company to erect po-es and
| overhead wires north of Holmead, and said
he could pledge his association to support
| such an amendment.
| President Crosby thereupon made pen
Gil interlneat.on on the bill in accordance
with the suggestion of Mr.. Ballinger and
| stated he thought his company would b5
satisfied with this plan.
| Before the hearing closed Mr.. Baliingel
explained that the objection of the Column
bia Heights Citizens Association TO the biz
was solely upon the overhead features o
| the bill. Otherwise the ASSOCIATION mad NJ
| objections to offer.
| Physicirns on the Witness Stand.
Senate bill ISL, relating to the testimon!
| of physicians in the courts of the Distric
| of Columbia, was the subject of report t.
Congress today by the Commissioners. The.
inclose two reports upon the bill, one from
the justices of the Supreme Court of tn
| District, and the other from the presiden
of the Medical Society of the District.
The bill proposes to exempt and prohibi
| physicians from disclosure in the courts o
| irforma ton obtained in attending a pa
tient in professional capacity. The judge
report against the measure. They say
''The enactment sought by this bill woul
| be a serious obstruction to justice in con
| tests over life insurance, personal injur
from negligent or willful act, wills an
others in which mental capacity is involved
In such cases facts coming under the oh
! servation of the attending physician ar
generally of first Importance, and in case
; involving questions of mental capacity tn
opinion of the physician, based in whole o
, in part upon communication made to hir
by the patient, is frequently the most i'm
portant evidence adduced. These objection
are not obviated by placing such evidenc
within the power of the person afflicted
| or of his legal representative to permit @
| deny. 1t is not to be anticipated that sue
person will ever consent to the exam.na ito
| of a physician whose testimony is expecte
: to be adverse to him, and the other part
| perhaps with the full knowledge of the sitl
alton, would be powerless in such instance
; to require the truth to be shown
The report of DR.. Busey, president of tn
, | Medical Society, says the bill was drafte
| by direction Of the Medical Society. It i
!, he says, modelled on the law Of the state
! | New York, and is substantially the sam
: as similar laws in force in twenty state
! ! and one territory of this country, the fir.
!, of which was enacted by the state of Or,
u gon in 1872, and the latest in 1887 by til
: states of Indiana, Wyoming, Montana an
: | Idaho.
y The report ergues at considerable lengt
: against the position taken by the judge
l. 1t says:
!, The bill is intended to protect physician
, from the compulsory disclosure of inform;
- ton acquired in a professional capacit
, and which may be necessary to enab
,, them to manage cases of sickness with il
y telligence and success. 1t frequently O
- ours that patients will conceal importal
, and sometimes absolutely necessary info