Evening star., 1900-12-11
The Grade Crossings bill.

The House District committee today de-
Cided to report the Pennsylvania railroad
grade crossing bill substantially as it was
received from the Senate. No change
made in the provision for two bridges
across the river and 1t appears inevitable
that the bill will become law in this gen
eral form. The expedition shown in this
case foreshadows that there will be little
delay in pressing the bill to a conclusion
and the prospect is therefore that there
will be actual legislation before spring on
this long delayed question of the grade
crossings in South Washington. There is
obvious inequity in the proposition that the
government shall surrender entirely to the
railroad the present Long bridge, site and
approaches, which the railroad has been
permitted gratuitously to use condition
that it maintain suitable accommodations
for the public and that the government
shall build another separate bridge entire
ly at it's own expense to furnish the pub
lie accommodation which the railroad is
now under statutory obligation to supply
But under the bill the present dam called
Long bridge will be abolished, and the
Potomac will be creditably bridged; and
On the whole the passage of the bill In the
general terms Of the pending measure will
be cheerfully accepted by the people. All
hope Of getting rid Of the railroads occu-
patton Of the mall seemed to have been
lost when the Senate. without demur at
the proposition to confirm the railroads
title to an even greater holding. passed the
bill last session.
The Baltimore and Ohio bill is to be taken
up by the committee day after tomorrow
for consideration. 1t ought not to be passed
upon as hastily as the Pennsylvania bill.
FOR ptajp nr0nogifiOnS which
demand thought and careful analysis. The
Star has sought during the past few days
to make plain the meaning of some provi-
sions of this BILL and today 1t offers addi-
tonal chapters in this general line, which
should be studied before the bill is taken up
by the committee. One of these articles
shows that on the railroad estimates OF the
cost of the grade crossing elimination the
public Is being heavily mulcted in damages,
bonus and privileges far beyond what the
ordinary rule OF procedure requires. 1t ap-
pears upon analysis that these estimates
are both too high and In some large Items
are improperly placed to the credit of the
railroad in the separation of the account
to show balance OF charges attributable
to the elevation Of the tracks For in
stance. the public is called upon to pay
one-half the cost Of the right Of way in
the MOntSllO Cut-OH dIiO oic-Hoil tiAC SooA
of building new roundhouse, water tank
and other terminal equipments for the rail-
road.
Another article in today's issue gives let
ters bearing upon the division OF cost IN
other cities on the basis Of the rule which
| requires the railroad to care for the cost
| OF all the works inside and the public for
| all outside of the railroads right OF way.
These letters show the prevalence Of this
rule in Chicago. Buffalo, Rochester Eliza
beth and Pittsburg. Doubtless many others
could be secured, upon a more thorough
inquiry, to bear out this experience that in
the cities where the grade crossing prob
lem has been solved on equitable lines, the
con munity has been called upon to pay for
only that part of the expense chargeable to
its own area. There Is mention any
where in this record of calls upon the pub
lie in addition to this share. for land
grants special and permanent privileges
and desirable connections, and big bonuses
besides AS far can be found this bill
is the first legislative proposition to cal
upon the public to pay virtually every
penny of the direct cost Of elevating the
tracks In order to remove the grade cross
ings.
1t is the hope Of the people Of Washing
ton that their legislators. the houses OF
Congress, to whose tender mercies the
guardianship of their interests is constitu-
tioLalIy entrusted, will be firm and as
energetic in protecting the equities of the
helpless District and Its tax payers as the
aldermen and state legislators have been
In guarding the financial welfare Of the
several communities mentioned in this cor
respondence.