The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-12-18
DISTRICT BILLS DEBATED
House Considers the B. &P. Grade
Crossings Measure.
ITS Provisions Explained by Chair
naan Babcoek-aEr. co,sherd says 1t
Is aH Imposition Upon Govern-
ment and People 10 Donate the
Railway Company Part OF the Mall.


Of Columbia, being the special order, was
taken up after the disposition of several
small bills
Mr.. Babcock. Chairman of the House
District Committee. moved that the House
resolve itself into Committee OF the Whole
for the consideration of District bills on
the calendar
Mr.. Moody of Massachusetts took the
chair and Mr.. Babcock called up Senate
bill 1929. being bill ITO provide for
eliminating certain grade crossings on
the line of the Baltimore and Potomac
Railroad Company. in the city of Wash
ington, District of Columbia, and requir-
ing said company TO depress and elevate
its tracks. and 10 enable IL 10 relocate
parts OF its railroad therein, and for other
purposes" When the clerk had proceed
ed through tao or three pages. Mr.. Bah
cock asked unanimous consent that TheE
the first reading OF the bill should have
been completed the further reading should
be omitted and that amendments might
be offered to any section.
Mr. Cowherd objected Mr. Babcock
then asked unanimous consent that the
further reading Of the bill be dispensed
with Mr.. Wheeler Of Kentucky objeeted.
The arst reading was completed a. IL, 80
o'clock
AIR. Babcock called attention TO the fact
that mans had been prepared and placed
before the Speakers desk, and he Esoyed
that the committee rise that the Eugi-
neer Commissioner CT the District Of Co
IUmbia might come upon the floor to sx-
plain. With the aid Of the maps the
changes contemplated IN the bill. This
motion prevailed The Speaker OF the
House entered the chair, and Nr. Babcoek
again asked unanimous consent that Cap
tain Beach be permitted TO come upon the
floor TO answer questions.
Speaker Henderson caused TO be read
rule "a Of the Rules OF the House Of Rep
reseDtatiYe. prescribing who shall be ad-
nlitted to the floor OF the House. lie held
that the rule vas explicit ard decided
that he could not entertain the motion
TO grant the privileges of the focr to tie
Engineer Commissioner OF the District OF
Columbia
Tie House again resolved itself into
Committee OF the Whole with Ar. Moedy
Of Massachusetts in the chair and AIr
Babcock proceeded 70 explain the proyi-
sfeHs of the Pennsylvania bill The esIi-
mated cost to the railroad company would
be about ss.o6a, 200. All that the Federal
and District Governments contributed TO
this sum was certain real estate. He
said It vas an ideal plan from an engi-
Deefing standpoint
Sir. Babeosk said that for ten years the
subject 0f eliminating grade crossings
along eHe line of the Baltimore and Po-
tomae Railroad and providing enlarged
terminals has been agitated both IN Con-
gress and among the people OF the Dis
5erict- The rapid increase in the Southern
business ef tl5s railroads. the increasing
size of The crowds OF people who come 10
Washington on special occasions. and the
natural growth OF the city itself. al have
combined 10 make the present terminal IA
ciiities Of The Baltimore ard Potomac
Railroad inadequate TO the point OF dis
comfort Of passengers ard undue expense
on the part OF shippers The crossing at
grade Of two great street railway lines
and OF many mGeh-used streets has been
the source always Of delay and apprehen-
sion. often Of loss Of life. The press OF
the city, the representative bodies of eiti-
zsass and the public generally have re-
peacedly and unanimously called FOR a
change in the location OF The tracks OF
this company, and tne District committee
has long been working on plans to meet
situation ConstanIlEgTowi1g more aad
more embarrassing.
Bills for the abolition Of grade cross
ings in the District OF Columbia had been
before Congress during the entire time
that he had been in Congress-that is,
seven years.
Mr.. Cochran Of Missouri asked If Mr.
Babcock could point 20 any other Anleri-
can city which had made contributions Of
land for railroad Improvements. SIR Bab-
cock said that according 20 . report made
by the District Commissioners there were
few cities that had not made contributions
Of land &c help along certain railroad I'M
proyements-
Mr. Cowherd followed Mr. Babcoek He
said that the bill contemplated the trans
fer of property OF the people valued at
s.. coo, coo and an appropriation of S5e8. coo.
MT. CoWkerd said that the the Baltimore
and Potomac Railroad had crossed the
Potomac River on bridge built by the
Government and hac entered the Capital
through streets for which the railroad
company had never paid a cent It had
built the terminal station OF Government
property for which it had never paid
cent.
Mr. Babsock suggested that when ths
railroad first entered the city the inhab-
itants would have been willing TO give the
company right Of way along Pennsylvania
Avenue
Mr. Steele suggested that the pending
bill did not establish such pernieious
precedent in view of the fact thai the
railroad company already occupies land
donated by the Government
Mr. Cawberd saiG that the railroad com
pany occupied FIVE acres OF public land
whereas the pending bill proposes TO give
the company fourteen acres in the heart
OF the Mall. He said that the Government
had found IL desirable to buy land fer pub
lie buildings and yet the pending bill pro-
posed to give away fourteen acres OF the
choice park land of the city II would
ruin the finest park in the city. He was
opposed 10 giving or selling this land. Mr..
Cownerd illustrated his comment on tbs
bill by the maps before the Speakers desk.
and he held the close attention OF all mem
bers present. He said the Pennsylvania
Railroad occupied the Mall by suReranee
and he thought Il should be compelled TO
Yacate the Mall and build its station 10 the
south of the reservation.
Mr. Cowherd called attention to the fact
that the bin is strenuously opposed by
the Chief Of Engineers in charge of pub
Tic huildings SD grounds, and he referred
to his report 10 the Secretary of War on
the Senate bill, together with the report
Of Col. Theodore A. Bingham and Lieut..
Col Charles J. Allen, attached 10 the re-
port of the majority.
The gentleman from Missouri pointed
cut that to eliminate twelve grade cross
ings the bill proposed the abandonment of
ten streets.
Mr. Babcock explained, with the aid OF
the maps, the changes contemplated IN
the BILL Vixen asked what objection there
could be to removing the PennSyIvaaia
station to point south OF the Mall Mr.
Babcoek said that every citizen OF the
District would protest.
Mr.. Babeoek said that that part OF the
Mall used by the railroads was disused by
the public. wheTeupon Messrss FITZGERALD
of Massachusetts and Gaines asked him
Ehy ard several members answered. Be