Evening star., 1900-11-28
RAILWAY GRADE CROSSINGS
FIRST BUSINESS BEFORE THE HOUSE
DISTRICT COMMITTEE.
Chairman Babcock Favors Action at
Coming SessiOn-OppOses Extrava-
giant and General Legislation.

AS chairman Of the House committee on
the District of Columbia, Representative
Babcock will call a meeting Of the commit
tee for next Wednesday, if it seems possi-
BILE to obtain a quorum.
1.-The first business before the committee, ("
said Mr.. Babcock to Star reporter today,
will be to refer the railway grade cross
ing bills to the subcommittee on steam rail-
ways, where the bills can be thoroughly
considered. l myself am not familiar with
all the provisions of the bills, and 1 doubt
If other members of the committee are
thoroughly posted The bills came over
from the Senate only a short time before
adjournment, and we have all been a little
busy since then.
'On the broad proposition of correcting
grade crossing evils in the District, am IN
favor OF action at this session if it can be
obtained, but. as l said at this time
cannot express myself upon the details of
the pending bills. Before leaving last sum-
mer l requested the Business Mems Asso-
c1atlon and the board of trade to make
full reports to the committee upon the bills,
and l suppose we will hear from them in
due course of time
THE committee will be ready to take
up any other District legislation which
seems to demand attention at this session
There are many bills on the committee cal
endar, not OF general interest, but of i'm
portalce to one class or another and to in
dlVlduals. The committee will decide when
1t meets how far 1t can proceed at the short
session in taking up the regular calendar.
There Is no question in my mind, how
ever, about the desira ability Of taking I'D
tne grade crossing bills and determining
upon plan for the Improvement of the rail-
road terminals In this city. 1t seems likely
that the cooperation Of the railways can
pe OBTAINED in the undertaking, and 1 am
VI tL ine OPINION that something can be done
at thls session OF a practicable nature"
Mr. Babcock, who Is chairman of the re-
publican congressional campaign commit
tee, said, regarding the policy of the repub-
hcans IN the coming session: "Conserva-
tlsm, economy without niggardliness, and
caution in legislation Is to be the policy of
the republican party in the House during
this session and the next Congress- l make
this statement from knowledge of the at
t1tude OF the leaders Of the House and
their Intentions.
Let no one entertain the false idea.
which has been advanced by the democrats
since election, that because of the over
Whelmlng Endorsement of the republican ad-
m1nistration by the people at the polls the
republicans In Congress are going into ex-
traVagant or 1ncautious legislation. We
did not interpret the verdict of the people
as expressed in the election to mean any
such thing. What it did mean was that
the voters had confidence in the republican
in its platform.
II take it that we have been intrustcd
with duty to perform, and 1 am conf
dent that the party will be faithful In It's
performance. There is no occasion for any
one to fear recklessness. We shall proceed
cautiously in all matters of legislation with
the certainty that If we correctly lntcrpre:
the wishes Of the people as expressed in
the elections the party will be continued In
power.
"In my opinion we should reduce the war
taxes to as great an extent as will be per-
missible by the ordinary demands Of the
government upon the revenues. In other
words, we should not continue the burdens
imposed by the war for the purpose of
raising money to expend upon new projects.
Whatever is necessary to carry on the or
binary and proper functions of government
should be provided, but do not believe in
piling up a big surplus through taxation
levied in war time and then expending 1T
upon civil projects. In that opinion I think
large number Of my colleagues will con-
CIR