Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-09

A spirit of defiance of the law seems to
have been aroused among certain corpora
lions doing business in and around the Dis
trct of Columbia. The street railway COM
panies particularly exhibit symptoms of
the presence of this virus in their cor
rorate veins. and unless the most vigorous
measures are taken to eradicate the germs
an epidemic of contempt for the statutes
and the authorities Is among the grave
possibilities of the near future. The Eek
ington and Soldiers Home road is respon-
sible in a measure for this defiant attitude
on the part of the corporations toward the
regulations as they exist. 1t persisted in
the effort to maintain the overhead trolley
poles within the city limits after the law
had commanded their removal until the
courts threatened imprisonment of the
active agents of the company. A few days
ago the Washington and Glen Echo COM
pany decided to take the law into its own
hands. after the Commissioners had re-
fused to grant permit to extend the
tracks from the old terminus to closer
connection with the Chevy Chase road
This extension involved the crossing at
grade of an important public highway. 1t
was the object. too, of bill introduced in
Congress at the last session which failed
OF passage. The Commissioners rightly
reasoned that If the matter required q
special enactment they were bound to
await the will of Congress i'm the case. and
declined to act. Notwithstanding the lack
of authority. the company by stealth under
the cover of darkness. made the extension
and is now enjoying the advantages that
il affords
Inspired. perhaps by the success of this
defiance of the authorities. the Washing
ton. Alexandria and Falls Church Railroad
Company assumed an attitude of superior
lty 10 the law. and the Police Court is
now engaged in adjusting the responsible
ties that have resulted. The last case is a
most fragrant specimen of contempt for all
regulations and reason. The Aqueduct
bridge is unquestionably in the direct line
of the rapid-transit facilities that have
been provided on the Virginia side of the
river 1t is desirable that the railroads
should be permitted to cross il to accom-
modate their patrons. But the bridge
structure is in an unsa tisfactory condition
Some of it's piers are weak, and Congress
is continually being asked for money to
strengthen them. 1t is too narrow to allow
the tracks to be laid unless extra width is
provided. Thus to put the structure in
condition for safe and satisfactory use for
both ordinary travel and street railroad
traffic considerable sum must be ex-
pended. The Star has always insisted that
the repairs should be paid for by the rail-
read companies enjoying the privileges to
which they ere incidental, though the
bridge should remain government struc-
ture. 1t has also urged that the right to
cross should be given not TO one company
alone. but to all roads entering into a
proper fiscal agreement with the govern
ment and the District.
After persistent refusals by the authori-
ties. including the Secretary of War, to
issue the necessary order. the company
ROW attempts to lay its tracks upon the
bridge without authority and by stealth,
placing its officers in a position to be prose-
cuted and severely punished. However
much the public may be accommodated by
this extension or by that of the Glen Echo
road. the fact remains that there are two
ways to accomplish end, and that In
these instances the companies have chosen
the wrong way, the Illegal way, and the
way that earns for them the condemnation
of all who believe that public safety and
general security lie only in strict obedience
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