Evening star., 1899-01-05
Hearing on Pending Bill to Grant a
Charter.
COMMISSIONERS LISTEN TO ARGUMENTS
Messrs. SeVen and Henderson
State Reasons for Approval.
BOARD WILL CONSIDER THEM


hearing on the bill recently introduced in
the House of Representatives to amend the
charter of the City and Suburban Railway
Company so to provide for a cross-town
street railroad. The bill, No. II 251, author
lies the company to extend its line by sin
gle track from Lincoln avenue and street
east"ardly on street to Path street west,
thence south on oath street to Massachu-
setts avenue, thence along Massachusetts
avenue to X street, thence eastwardly on X
street to Lincoln avenue and thence on
Lincoln avenue to the place of beginning
The proposed extension is to be an under
ground electric sy- tenn, and is required to
De completed within one year, the company
being authorized to issue bonds or stock to
the amount of the cost of construction
support the Measure
The president of the North CAPITOL Street
and lexington Citizens Association. Mr. A
X Serven, and the chairman of the railroad
committee of that organization, Mr.. W. G.
henderson, appeared in support of the
measure MIR. henderson said there is no
question of the necessity and desirability of
such cross-town line, and he believes the
route named in the bill will meet practically
no opposition from the people He referred
10 the TACT that the citizens of both Ecking-
ION ana tnat vicinity, as We'll as those re-
Suing IN the northwestern sections are
practlcally without facilities for crossing
lhe city by means of street railroad trans
portatlon- BY means of transfer with the
nth street line of the Belt railway he
stated, people from both sections partiru-
larry those from the eastern portion of the
cltS, would De Afforded a much desired and
convenient route 10 me central and busi
ness parts of the city.
Reply to Inquiries.
Replying to an inquiry of Commissions,
Beach, Mr.. Henderson said IL IS trua tho
Dill was introduced by request. and he ax-
pIalned that the association he represent-
ed might be said to be the father of the
measure He does not know whether the
Dill VIII meet the approval of the City and
suburban Railway Company or not but
the people trust that it will. In answer
10 another inquiry from Captain Beach.
ne SAID 1t would be very satisfactory to
the cltlzens of both sections to have the
measure so amended as to provide for free
transfers recrlpocally, between the pro-
posed line and all intersectng ones
Answering a question of Commissioner
wight, Mr.. Henderson said in his opinion
an extension Of the line, by double tracks
along T street would not meet the require
mentS ara convenience of the people as
Wen as Will the route suggested in the bill.
lie referred to the fact that the railroad
committee of the board of trade recently
declared that great public necessity for
NAOSS-lO"il llit tNlStS, ana that
snouId be built, remarking that the route
stated in the bill under consideration an
pears to be about the best which has vet
been suggested. But what the public most
desires he said, is cross-town line, and
IL the route mentioned does not meet the
approval Of the Commissioners. he begged
them TO amend it so to provide for such
a line as will afford the people the rail-
road facilities they undeniably need.
CrOsstOwn Road Needed
Mr.. Server indorsed all that was said by
Mr.. Henderson, explaining that his people
are not welded or committed to any one
line or company. But they do insist he
added, that some crosstown line is impera-
lively needed. He referred to the alleged
failure or refusal of the Capital Traction
Company to extend its L street line east of
Ith street, although it had at one time
practically agreed 10 so do. The route men,
toned in the bill, he stated, is merely in
the nature of suggestion, and if the Conn
missioners can afford the people the relief
they so much desire and stand in need of
by suggesting another equally convenient,
they would not by any means insist upon
the one outlined.
In the unavoidable absence of Mr. O T
crosby, the president of the City and Sub
urban Railway Company, his secretary, Mr.
James b. Lackey, explained that while the
former company and the Belt company are
SO intimately connected that he has no
doubt a system of free transfers between
the proposed crosstown line and the Bet
road could and would be promptly ar
ranged He agreed that there exists
pressing necessity for a crosstown line but
he suggested that 1t might be arranged to
run on NJ I'D l. streets. Commissioner
Ross, however, expressed the opinion that
such route, especially the use of NJ street
would meet with sufficient opposition TO
Kill the project, even should the Commits
sioners favor 1t.
Approval Anticipated
Mr.. Lackey was unable to say that the
route stated in the bill would meet the
approval of the City and Suburban COM
pany, but Mr.. Bradley Davidson was in
clined to so believe, stating that in his
opinion the route would, as Mr.. Henderson
said, receive the practically unanimous
sanction of the people living not only I'm
the eastern and western sections but also
OF those residing thereon.
The Commissioners took the matter lIndar
consideration, promising to dispose of it at
the earliest possible day.
Chr. Xanders Melliston effects surprising
cures of grippe. 900 7th st.-Advt.
Charged With Perjury.
William Brown and John II @ Newcoroa