Evening star., 1900-12-12
The Ii. and o. Bonus.

The Star showed yesterday in the course
of reprint of letters from various cities
bearing upon the division of cost in the
elimination of grade crossings, how gener-
ally the rule is applied to assess the public
only that portion of the expense which per-
tains to its area, beyond the railroads
right of way; that there is no demand be-
sides for special privileges, or public spaces,
or closed streets. valuable connections or
large money premiums. The direct lesson
from this showing is that the pending B.
and o. bill proposes to treat Washington in
a wholly novel manner, putting upon the
public here the burden of its legitimate eX-
pensc involved beyond the right of way and
the cost of privileges, spaces, and a cash
donation in addition.
There can be no question of the injustice
of this proceeding Could this outrage be
perpctrated at more inopportune season?
Why should Congress propose to add this
heavy debt when the capital is already
groaning under burden unrighteously i'm
posed upon it, for the extension of streets
exclusively at local expense. when the i'm
mediate needs of the capital require every
penny of the revenues, when the pending
estimates propose to absorb even more than
the incon7' in sight, and when in order to
provide such absolute necessities as an ad-
equate sewer system and municipal build
ing il is Inevitable that the District should
borrow money?
Where is the money to come from to pay
for this Baltimore and Ohio bonus when
the local treasury Is such state of deple-
ton and even anticipation in meeting the
ordinary necessities of the capital? The
proposition would be iniouitous if the Dis
tricts treasury were pethoric. 1t is as
founding with that treasury unable to pro-
vide even the current expenses of the COM
murity.
Is the bonus demanded on the ground of
the railroads poverty? Why, then should
ii be squeezed from an unwilling District
without warrant in law or equity or
morals? Ii the corporation is too poor to
meet its just obligations, why should rot
its embarrassment be met by the grant of
the right to connect with the Pennsylvania
lines and thus secure access to union sta
tioE and to the precious southern connec-
tions, thereby relieving it of the greater
part of the cost of curing the existing ills?
This bill proposes to give to the railroad
the southern connection free of charge in
addition to other gratuities Why should
not that extraordinary privilege be capital
lied in this account? 1t would more than
HC. Thirteen years ago the Baltimore and
Ohio road was willing to spend 81 2550 in
engineering works, incidentally eliminating
all but two grade crossings, in order to ef-
feet this connection. 1t asked nothing of
the public November % 1857 at a hear
ing before the Senate District committee on
the proposed Baltimore and Ohio tunnel
under Capitol Hill, H. T. Douglas chief
engineer of the road said:
The cost of our line u2 to 9Th street
southwest. not including the cost of the
depot grounds or of the station buildings
o." the continuance of the line from the
union station to the north end of the Long
bridge would be a little over one and
quarter million dollars y including
the tunnel 1t also includes the cost of
our lines north Of Boundary street, of
course
Why should the Baltimore and Ohio be
now given that connection free. with valu-
able lands and rights and big bonus in ad-
ditlon? The southern connection has grown
greatly in value in these thirteen years.
Why should ii now be estimated at moth
ing while the publics share of the cost of
eliminating the grade crossings is swelled
fiOm nothing to millions?