The times., 1898-06-21
Consolidation Discussed i'm the
House Yesterday.
THE LAW STANDS As 1T Is
A Lively Debate in the House En-
sues, i'm which the Speaker Takes
nm Active Part Many Members
Display n Surprising Interest in
the Affairs of the District.

again SuDmltted the conference report
on the bill relating to the purchase of the
lexington and Soldiers Home Railway
and the Maryland and Washington Rail-
way. Mr.. Hepburn made point of order
against that phase of the conference re-
port that proposed TO repeal the right of
the Capital Traction Company to abb
sorb or consolidate with intersect!ng
lines.
In support of his point he claimed
that the conference had introduced new
legislation. He said they had inserted
provision to repeal outright an act of
Congress of March /, 1895, granting 20
the Capital Traction Company the ri6ht
to consolidate with intersecting lines. Mr.
Hepburn contended that the conference
mad exceeded their authority by insert
ing the provision to repeal statute.
Mr.. Richardson replied that the Senate
had inserted an amendment authorizing
all street railroads of the District to pur-
chase and consolidate with intersecting
lines; that the House had twice, by a
yea and nay vote, refused TO confer such
power on the street railroads.
In obedience to the expressed will of
to assent to that Senate amendment The
Senate conferees then said that unless all
the railways of the District had that
right it ought not TO be pursued by the
Capital Traction Company: therefore the
c0nferees agreed 10 the amendment to re-
peal that power of the latter company.
he said the conferees practically ei.mi-
mated the word conferred" and substi-
tuted the word repealed" thus depriv-
ing all railway companies of the power
Of consolidation. He maintained that
this was not transcending the rules
The Speaker ruled that the confe-ees
had no authority 10 extend legislation to
railroads not concerned or mentioned in
the legislation under consideration He
therefore sustained the point of order.
He said that the differences between the
TWO Houses must control conference
committees and not the subject matter of
the legislation. though ne admitted that
there was force IN Mr.. Richardson's
argument
Mr.. Newlands then moved that the
House recede from its disagreement and
concur in the Senate amendment confer
ring upon all street railroads authority to
ing lines. He said that OF the thirteen
railways in the District it was notorious
, that only three of them paid any profit.
and that some of them are operated at
loss. The advantages of the Senate
amendment. he said, were manifest Ii
would enable railway lines to consolidate
and thus give passengers the privilege
and benefit Of long continuous rides az d
single fare.
Mr.. Newiands added that the result of
the adoption of the Senate amendment
would be the establishment of three or
/ four great lines OF street railways by the
absorption OF or consolida ton of the
smaller non-paying lines with the richer
ones, and that a passenger would ride
ten or twelve miles for single fare He
said this power of consolidation is pos
sessed by only the Capitai Traction Com
pany and that company is entirely will
ing that all the other street railways of
the District shall have and exercise the
same rights Of consolidation.
Mr.. BabcOck said he wanted to make
statement so that the House would clear
+ ly understand the question. He said this
proposition had been twice voted on in
the House and defeated; that in view of
these votes the House conferees did not
4 feel justified in asserting to the Senate
amendment. which emboGIed the very
! proposition that had been voted down.
Mr.. Babcock opposed any grant of gen.
eral authority TO street railroads to COM
bine and consolidate.
Mr.. Hepburn replied that there could be
no sort Of danger in consolidation as
/ Congress has reserved the right to amend,
alter and repeal all street railroad char
tiers.
Mr.. Cowherd. of the District Committee
/ opposed the amendment. saying it would
! destroy all competition of street railways
in the District.
Mr.. Babcock coincided in the opinion
that it would destroy the street railway
system of the District, which he said was
/ the best in the world
Mr.. Dockery joined in the opposition.
He was opposed 10 granting authority to
the rich railroads TO absorb the poorer
and smaller ones. He said the pending
proposition was one 10 create an immense
monopoly in street railroads in the Dis
trict, and that he would oppose it even if
guaranteed that the combined and con-
sofidated lines would carry passengers at
the rate of one cent each.
The debate went on for an hour with
considerable vigor and in the end the
Senate amendment was rejected and the
bin sent back to conference
The conference met Immediately and
agreed to strike out the Senate amend
ment to confer the power of consolida-
tion upon all street railroads.
The conference report was agreed to in
the Senate and viii be adopted in the
House today.
1t leaves the law as it stands. con-
ferring the power of consolidation upon
the Capital Traction Company, but in
view of the fact that il is the only rail-
way company in the District possessing
the right of absorbing intersecting lines.
i: was agreed that that power shall be
repealed in the bill. now pending for the
benefit of the Capital Traction Company.
The result of the conference is that the
authority to consolidate shall be taken