Evening star., 1898-03-25
THE COLUMBIA RAILROAD
A Possible Successor to the Late President
Mentioned.
The Strain md Worry Of Street Rail-
road Omcfals In Connection
With Pending Le8fslatfOn,

Naturally no action has as yet been taken
by the board OF dir ectors Of the Columbia
street railway towsrd filling the vacancy
caused by the death OF the president. Mr.
H. r. Baker. That event was not only a
cause or genuine grief to his associates on
the board, but IL was totally unexpected
IL Is not known to what extent the close
application of Mr.. Baker to the interests
with which he was connected was account
able for the attack of heart disease which
resulted fatally. He was however a hard
worker and gave a great deal of his thought
and time to the affairs of the road which
he so successfully managed
1t would not have been surprising 10
those familiar with the duties of a stree:
railroad official in this city il his death
had been attributed to the strain of the
work and worry which II is claimed is
practically inseparable from such a posi-
uon. II is said this is especially true when
congress is in session. owing to the
cessity of either securing needed legisla-
ton or preventing the enactment of laws
which are regarded hurtful to the in
terests of the roads. There is, perhaps no
more than the usual number of complaints
on this score at this time, but ii is very
common TO hear men who are prominent
ly identified with street railroads say that
they are worn out with the labor of con-
slant attendance at the Capitol, and the
anxiety arising from the uncertainty about
the action of Congress.
Uncertainties Of Begislation.
1t is necessary. they say, when there &c
pording some matter upon which congress
sional action is desired, to look after it be-
fore the District committees Of both houses.
and then frequently the appropriations
committee decide to do something, and all
the work must be duplicated.
Finally, when bill reaches the stage
that it is reported to the two houses. vexa-
tious delays are apt to ensue. and on the
other hand, it is alleged an unwelcome
ceierity of action is sometimes manifested
when measure is introduced which is
looked upon by the companies as harmful
to their business. Altogether. the lot of a
street railroad official when Congress is in
session is. according to their own story,
not happy one. Perhaps other corpora
tions doing business in the District may
have a similar tale to tell but with few
exceptions they don't seem to get as much
attention at the Capitol as is the experience
OF the street railroad companies.
No Definite Understa ndine.
In regard to the presidency of the To-
lrmbia Railroad Company. what little dis
oussion hs S taken place among the direc-
tors on this subject has led. II is said, 10
no definite understanding. The only one
mentioned among the directors as possi-
b:iity is Mr.. John Cammack. who is, per-
haps, the largest individual stockholder.
1t is not thought, however. that Mr.. Cam
mack would care to take the presidency of
the road. and in that event it is said the
choice of the directors will fall upon some
one outside of the board. 1t is stated that
whoever is elected there will be no change
i'm the present policy of the company.