Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-08

According to the plans of the street rail-
way syndicate which were in part revealed
yesterday through the publication OF pro-
jected changes in the route of some or the
lines controlled by 1t. the Washington pub
lie will soon begin to realize the physical
advantages of a wholesome consolidation or
connecting traction routes. The purpose
now is to give access to the heart of the
city to those suburban lines which have
heretofore been kept at the city limits
through the differences between corpora
lions which have prevented agreements as
to trackage In this way the people can
ride from the country into town without
transferring thus saving much trouble and
time and reducing the confusion attendant
upon the shifting of passengers from line
to line at congested points. These changes,
in fact are in line with the harmonious
amalgamatfon Of the traction facilities of
city and country which the growth of the
capital requires. At the time it does
not in the present stage, destroy compeu-
ton as to the strictly urban area. This is
the right and desirable sort of consolida-
tion and is to be heartily welcomed by the
public.
There is another phase of the case, how
ever. seriously to be considered. If, in
addition to giving the public good service
over modern roads, running to the natural
distribution points over established thor
oughfares at a minimum of discomfort and
a maximum of convenience. the new syndi-
cate will resist the temptation to excess
sive capitalization which has proved such
a bane in Baltimore and which has been
suggested as a local possibility, Washing
ton will have every reason to call blessed
the enterprising capitalists who have
wrought such revolution in the transport
tation affairs of the District. Opposed to
such excessive capitalization stands an in
telligent public opinion. There may like
wise be legal barriers to be inteTposed at
the proper season. 1t is to be hoped, of
course, that recourse need not be had to
obstructive tactics. but that the new own
ers of the properties may decide, as mat
ter Of good policy. to keep their enterprise
within the bounds of sound business and
to observe strictly the law which applies
10 most of the individual properties restrict
ing the stocks and bonds to the sums nee
essdry to cover the cost of equipment and
improvement.
Should this course be followed or should
it be forced by the application of public
sentiment expressed in unmistaka BILE forms
or BY the enactment of new laws to sup
plement existing statutes, Washington will
then reap full harvest of advantages re-
sulting from rational consolidation with
out paying the premium demanded by wa
tered stock and superfuous bonds The
syndlcates representatives have thus far
given two tokens of good faith toward the
people. They have assured the mainte-
nance of a satisfactory wage scale and they
have taken steps to bind the roads together
IN manner insuring maximum of good
service to the patrons. If now they will
follow up these assurances with further
declarations fixing the financial policy
along the lines suggested by existing law
and by the dictates of reason they will
stand in position to reap full reward for
their enterprise based upon an acknowl-
edgnent of the rights of the public in this
all-important item of municipal railroading.