The times., 1898-02-09
THE RAILWAY HEARINGS
The Subcommittee Finishes the
Consideration of Extensions.
The Ecki igton Company win Not
Assume 'he Debts Due the Belt
Line Employees.

The public hearings in the matter of
politan Railway and the Capital Trac-
tion Company were closed yesterday
before the Subcommittee on Railroads
of the House District Committee. The
subcommittee Will, meet the whole
committee this morning and 1t is likely
that the recommendations of the fall
committee will be known at an early
day. N -
One of the developments of the hear
ing yesterday was that the lexington
road will not assume the debt due the
Belt Line employees, which has been
made a condition sprecedent by the
House committee fof legislation looking
to consolidation of1therBelt Line with
suburban roads. igtJlt
Mr.. Crosby, representing the Ecking
ton and Soldiers Home Railway, said
that his company had been putting up
money for the Belt Line for some time
in the public interest, but that there
was limit to that kind of expenditure.
1t was not entirely, he said, philan-
thropic expenditure, but it was to be
expected that Congress should take this
into consideration.
Mr. Crosby further stated that
it was fair that the controversy
between the men and bondhOlders OF
the Belt Line should be stricken from
consideration of legislation for the
lexington road. He did not object to
the form OF legislation proposed by the
Odell bill for the lexington road. II
the New York law should be applied
he would not object. He stood ready
to accept anything that was just. He
hoped that something would be done,
and quickly, because there was a risk
of loss of the money he was now put
ting up for the Belt Line. The stock
of the Belt Line was owned by the
Columbia and Maryland Railroad, and
the stockholders were liable for debts,
but in different degrees, and hence the
impract!cability of getting them to pay
the debt of $1,000. 1t was not fair to
ask the lexington road 10 pay that
amount.
Mr. Odell said that he would be un-
willing to vote for the lexington road
bill unless that $1,000 were paid.
The objections and recommendations
as TO the extension of the Capital Trac-
tion Company were taken up. Colonel
cassell objected to the proposed loop in
the neighborhood of the Corcoran Art
Gallery. Mr.. Ballinger did not object
to the loop or any kind of extension.
Mr.. A. A. Wilson did not object. He
said. Anything to get the railroad"
The loop from the terminus at the
3. & o. around by the Maltby building
was next considered.
Mr.. Babcock said his property was
on the loop and he didn't like ii but lie
wouldn't object, simply because it
la ra hp
protest was entered by ". l.. Cole.
as to the loop in Mt. Pleasant so far as
Park avenue was concerned. He had
no objection TO some other street.
Mr.. Chaplin Brown said he objected
to the objections. He thought that the
Capital Traction Company should have
the right 10 make this extension re-
gardless of the rights or plans of other
railroads.
Mr.. NJ l. Weller made q brief but
strong argument that the Capital Trac
ton Company continue its tracks east
on Pennsylvania avenue to the river.
Mr.. c. H. Barker, on behalf of the
people east of the river, favored the
measure. r.
DR.. Hammond of Thirteenth street,
opposed the Metropolitan road on Thir-
teenth street, and suggested that it
run on Sherman avenue.
MF. NJ "A. bdllit4SeE Sttiu tAdt ht Hclu
stated that the Assistant Engineer
Commissioner had reported that Sher-
man avenue was impracticahle. He
thought that 60 per cent of the people
affected were in favor of the extension
on Thirteenth street
The chairman said that ii was most
astonishing statement for reputable
business men 10 make that Sherman
avenue was not a practicable route.
IL ~, L..
vor of both roads having fair show as
to the loop in Mt. Pleasant
Mr. w. II. Saunders said he would
prefer Sherman avenue, but. failing
that. he would not object To reaching
the Holmead subdivision by Thirteenth
street He didn't think the objections
urged against Thirteenth street were
valid.
This ended the hearing, So far as the
pUbiic is concerned