Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-06-22

management of the two roads shown the
least sign of sincerity At no point has
there been evinced disposition to seek the
best rapid transit device available.
These two roads combined form a sDien-
did system of trackage, suitable for fully
meeting the public demand for transporta-
ton and. when equipped modern basis,
capable of earning for is owners nand-
some profit. But the holders of control
ling interest in the roads have deliberately
put the properties in chancerv, INDUCING
in the familiar process of freezing out
the smaller stockholders. Not content
with wrecking the roads. alternating their
patronage and disgusting the citizens gen
orally with the piratical methods employ
ed. the receiver of the companies and his
superiors have persisted in seeking what
they know they can not get save through
the surrender by Congress OF one Of its
most peremptory principles -na;pely, that
the national capital shall be preserved
from the dangers and the Disagreement of
the overhead trolley. When the law of
June III last was enacted, over a year ago,
the time limit on action was SO small tina.
the prompte5t energy would nave been
deemed necessary by any honest concern,
seeking to meet the will OF the legislature
and the people. Instead, however, OF gong
at once to work to ascertain in a fair way
the best means of rapid transit. and. per-
haps at the same tine the cheapest con-
forrDabe to The public requirements. the
management proceeiad to do business first
with an unheard-of motor which utterly
failed to put in an appearance. Then court
proceedings were begun with the result
that a receivership was ordered 1t will le-
,iu1,l 10
facts to persuade the citizens of Washing
ton that the reccivers:;D was not part OF
the play that the air motor promises We're
not intended solely buffer against per
enptory action by Congress and that Tie
ultimate design from the beginning was
not to tire out the citizens and TO trick
Congress into yielding to the requests for
overhead construction.
The citizens will not tire out easily. They
are daily witnesses Of the success of the
underground system. They enjoy the bless
sings of streets free from dangerous en-
cumbrances. They know that the tenn
pC:ary annoyance of disturbed street sur
faces are insignificant " hen compared with
the resultant comfort of such lines as those
that traverse Ninth and + streets, and not
at all to be compared with The discomfort
and danger of the permanent occupation of
the streets by trolley poles. Congress may
be triched into granting further eXten-
sions of time for experiments next Win
ter. but it will be impossible for the trolley
lobby. however strong it may be, to induce
that body to charter the dangerous over
head trolley.
meanwhile the various air motors may
be brought forth ir such succession as
pleases the maniy aEnent OF the roads. In
few days the lest tins expires. III. leg
islatlon then requires the equipment Of the
roads with either COMPRESSED air or under
ground electric. but unfortunately it pro-
vides no imme,iia,e penalties for failures
There are penalties in the law, to he sure,
but they cannot be enforced until after the
expiration OF the year allowed tor equip
and his colleagues III and o,t OF Congress
that this liability IIay yet be nullitiad by
the securing of additional legislation, Ter
which there viii be ample time next WIN
ter.
So it behooves every friend OF safe
streets, every citizen who believes that
W Washington deserves none but the best in
The way OF rapid transit, to persist i'll the
refusal to permit the introduction here of
the overhead trolley, to GeciIne to be wear
led into acquiesc1nce by the dhly-dallylnS
OF these companies, anu to be always on
the alert to oppose the assaults On the no
trolley law that are certain 10 be made.