Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-05-09
THE LOCAL RAILWAYS
Legislation Meets Repeated Delays in
the Senate.
OF IMPORTANCE TO TIE DISTRICT
Senator Pett'grew Wishes to Speak
on His Amendment.
WHEN IT MAY COME UP

Railroad legislation for the District of
Columbia is meeting continued delays in the
Senate. March I the House of Representa-
tives passed a bill authorizing certain ex-
tensions to the lines of the Capital Trac-
ton Company; March Ii the lexington
and Soldiers Home, the Capital Railway
ard the Belt Railway bills and the bill rer-
ulating taxes upon street railways in the
District of Columbia were passed nv the
House. April 4 the Washington and Ger
tysburg and the Washington and Univer-
sity Railway bills and on April II fine
Columbia Railway bill were passed bv th,
House. All the above bills are on the Sem
ate calendar. with the exception of th,.
Capital Traction Company's bill which is
before the Senate as unfinished business
the Senate bill authorizing extensions by
that company being held up in the Senate
by motion to reconsider. and the Wash
lngton and Gettysburg Railway bill on
which favorable report has been ordered
by the Senate committee on the District of
Columbia ~ VI
IN addition to the above, favorable COM
n1lttee reports have been made on Sanata
Diiis relating to the Washington. Wood
side and Forest Glen Railway and power
Cempsny's bill and bill to Incorporates
the East Washington Heights Traction
Railway, both of which ar on tbe Sana,a
calendar. -o SeA''''e
Delayed by MFR. Pettfyrew
These ten railroad bills, of the greatest
Importance to the District, have been de-
layed from time to time by Senator Petit
grew, who wishes to speak upon his
amendment, which he proposes OFFERING IN
jill the measures granting extensions of
charters, providing that after five wears
the district of Columbia or the govern
ment of the United States may acquire all
the property of the companies by purch.se
or otnerWlse, for its actual value at the
tiine the same is acquired, without taking
into account the value of any franchise
now or heretofore granted, and providing
tnat the District or general government
may operate the roads,
senator Pettigrew does not wish to de-
lay the passage of these bills further thar,
10 speak on his amendment and to have il
voted on. An agreement was made between
Senator Mcmillan and Senator Pettiprew
by which all the railroad bills could be
rsheh up thursday, May ). but this agree
n-ent could not hold because of the ne
cessity for considering the post office an
preparation bill, which Is still pending. and
came before the Senate again today After
tne post office appropriation bin is dis
posed of the Senate Will probably take I'D
the bill to suspend thei opera ton of GER
tam provisions of law relating to the War
department, known as the quartermasters
Dill, which has passed the House.
When the Local BiIIs Mny Come I'm.
When this latter bill, is disposed of the
railroad bills will probably be taken up,
unless the finance committee of the Senate
should be ready at that time to report the
revenue bill, in which case the latter will
be given the right of way. Should the
revenue bill be taken up before the rail-
road bills are reached, the result will be
that there will probably be no railroad
legislation for the District of Columbia for
at least ten days. ~ -'ih- g. :.
The unfortunate feature of these contin-
ued delays in railroad legislation is the
fact that the companies are holding UP the
letting of contracts until they secure au-
thority of law and the season of the year
best adapted for progress on railroad con-
struction is slipping away.