The times., 1900-12-19

solitary dollar for these the three greaiest
items of expense that any railroad must
pay when it enters Washington.
Now, Mr. Chairman, in considering
this proposition, II seems to me there are
two or three things that the House wants
to consider First they want to know
the necessity for the change. Next they
want to know the cost of the change.
and next they want to know whether
the necessity Is so great as TO be equal
TO lie amount of money and property
NAT NC are to give for it, and lastly.
ari mes: important. in my mind, they
want to know whether this proposition
Involves certain rights of the Govern
meBt that TO my mind, at least are far
more even than the two and One-half
millions in property We give away. In
the first place, want TO call attention
TO the fact that the Pennsylvania Rail
road as 1t comes into this city does not
run over the best part of the city OF
Washington by any means. 1t is largely
down along the river front, and largely
along property that is of no very great
value, that is being used for coal yards
and switches. and there is no great ne
cessity for this change.
Now. | want to call attention TO what
the company gets. l will ask gentlemen
TO turn to the report OF the majority in
this case, on page %. where they will
find the report Of Colonel Bingham to
Gen. John NJ. Wilson. the officer in charge
of public buildings and grounds. | want
TO say thai while the chairman of the
committee suggests that the District
Commissioners and the citizens are in
favor of it, the officers in charge OF the
public property in the District of Co
lumbia. fhe Secretary of War through
his subordinates reports directly against
the bridge proposition. and against Civ
ing them any of the land on the Mall
aud at Garfield Park.
In the minority report we estimate the
value OF the property. including the ap-
portionment of $685. coo for the bridge
at S2,2l2, 500. Gentlemen will observe that
il is something more than the estimate
in the Senate report The answer is this:
The Baltimore and Potomac now occupies
about four acres of the Mall. or about
175000 square fee., not included in the
Senate estimate, although they do not own
the property and never did. This bill,
however, will give it to them, but they do
not own it now. Gentlemen know, IL they
are permitted TO go there and erect a
80 GOO depot and tracks, no Congress
will ever remove il, and it therefore prac-
tically gives it to them forever.
Il suggest TO the House that today We
are going out and buying grounds for pub
lie buildings and making public reserva-
tions. 4 few years ago We spent almost
million and a half of dollars to acquire
property adjacent to Rock Creek for pub
lie park. We spent l do not know how
many millions to get land for the Public
Library. A proposition is now being dis
cussed in the papers to condemn all the
property on the south side of Pennsyl-
vania Avenue, to be used for buildings
which the Government may need in the
future And now while we are buying
property for public use at public expense
it is proposed that We give to this railroad
company fourteen acres Of as good land as
lies in the city Of Washington. And in
this way We propose TO cut up and ruin
forever the most magnificent reservation
in this Capital City.
When the gentleman talks here about
wanting to put the railroad terminals in
the best shape. such shape as TO beautify
the city. / say the minority OF the COM
mittee stand here today representing
those who desire 10 make this a beautiful
city in the interests not only of the Dis
trict of Columbia but of all the people of
the United States. Every man in the
United States has an interest in that
magnificent reservation. II is marked off
on the original plans OF LEnfant. II was
reserved by Washington to be the best of
all the city's system of parks. II lies in
the centre of the city; and / say to you
here and now that if this city IS to be
made as il should be made-the most
beautiful capital under Gods sun. you
never can make it such IL you give to this
railroad company those fourteen acres in
the centre of that park.
There lies for the landscape architect
and the landscape gardener an oppor-
tunity which exists in no other city in
the world and 1t is proposed today TO give
away that opportunity In order that peo-
pie travelling by this railroad may land a
few feet nearer Pennsylvania Avenue.
That is all there is of it.
Now, Mr.. Chairman, have an amend
ment prepared, which | shall offer at the
proper time, giving the railroad company
all the rights granted in this bill. except
that this reservation shall be untouched,
and requiring them TO remove the tracks
from Sixth Street and locate the depot
between E and D Streets and between Sixth
and Tenth Streets, as they may find most
convenient, with the right TO use such
reservations as lie between these points.
This will give them all the rights that
could possibly be required"
MIR Cowherd's remarks. illustrated by
the map Of Mr.. Babcock and another map
prepared under the direction of the Sec
rotary of War, were given strict attention
by the House. The gentleman from Mis-
souri, was piled with many questions by
Mr.. Rixey, Mr.. Williams OF Mississippi,
Mr.. Dinsmore, Mr.. Grout. Mr.. Babcock.
Mr.. Dalzell, Mr. Pearre. Mr. William Al
den Smith, Mr.. Gaines, Mr.. Newlands, Mr..
Steele, Mr.. Henry OF Connecticut, Mr..
Fitzgerald OF Massachusetts, and Mr.
Powers
Mr.. Sims followed Mr.. Cowherd He
made a strong plea for the preservation
of the Mall and the defeat or modification
of the bill.
Mr.. Hepburn took the floor in advocacy
of the bill and followed much the same
line of argument as that pursued by Mr..
Babcock.
The Contest Begins.
The contest between the majority and
minority began when Mr.. Babcock moved
that the Committee of the Whole rise for
the purpose OF reaching an agreement as
to the close of general debate. The mo-
ion was opposed by Mr.. cowherd On a
viva voce vote the Chairman ruled that
the ayes had it. and division was de-
manded. This resulted-ayes, sc; noes.
CO. Tellers were called for and ordered
and the vote by tellers res lted-ayes, 100;
noes, s2. The committee then arose
In the House Mr.. Babcock moved that
general debate close at 3GJ in the Com
mittee of the Whole Mr. CSwherd asked
for more time TO discuss The provisions Of
the bill. but Mr. BaScock was obdurate.
The first question being upon ordering the
previous question on Mr BaDcocks mott
10 close debate, the decision was given
10 the ayes. 4 division was ordered re-
sulting, ayes. III; noes, 70. Tellers were
called for, but Mr. Babcock, foreseeiug Gli-
clustering, asked for the yeas and nays.