Evening star., 1902-03-18

of the Pennsylvania railroad plans that the
District shall pay all that was imposed
upon it before, and an additional expense
in connection especially with the plaza In
front Of the union station. The expense of
the elimination of the grade crossings is
divided on the basis of the railroad paying
for all within its right Of way. That prin-
ciple was recognized in the old bill, now
law, and Is well established in other cities
where similar problems have arisen, as will
be seen by reference to the article printed
in the news columns today on this subject.
But there is a new element here In the
plaza in front of the station, virtually the
railroads front yard. So far as the plaza
is regarded as a public reservation and its
inlet streets public highways, the title
resting in the United States, on all prece-
dents its provision should be considered as
national matter, and not In any degree
municipal. So far. on the other hand, as
1t is an approach to the railroad station
it should be considered as a railroad mat.
ter. for railroad provision. The District
recognizes, however that these changes
involve great expenditures on the part Of
the roads and will lead to materially i'm
proved conditions as far as the capital Is
concerned and it will readily meet its just
share of the expense.
1t applauds>the principle laid down in the
pending bill that the government shall con-
slider a strictly national affair its re-
covery of the Mall space, for years occu-
pied by the railroad. The United States In
the beginning gave this public land to the
railroad for It's temporary use. The de-
bates In Congress clearly showed that the
ground was to be surrendered to the gov
ernment whenever needed for park pur-
poses. A long line of District Commits
sioners from the beginning urged the ter
mination Of this occupancy, but the United
States. on the principle that it could do as
it pleased with its own, continued the rail
roads occupancy and in the legislation of
last year confirmed its title and gave it an
enlarged area.
Now the land which the government gave
to the railroads is in effect to be bought.
back and added to the public reservation,
the title and use being in the United States
alone. The pending bill recognizes that
this is a matter properly concerning the
United States alone by confining the deal
ings as to it strictly between the United
States and the railroad company. Under
this arrangement the Pennsylvania rail
road sells to the government its present
park holding just as though it were block
adjacent to the Mall. chosen for some pub
lie use and secured by purchase or con-
demnation. This Is clearly the equitable
way of adjustment.
Recognizing that the new plans involve
changes of great moment to the capitals $
welfare. shortening great viaduct which
would bisect one of the arterial avenues of
the city. minimizing the Disagreement of
the city by hiding the railroad tracks be-
hind a beautiful and monumental station
building and accommodating the public by
merging the two stations, the District is
willing to bear its specified share of the ex-
peEse involved in the bill as 1t is now
drawn although it can never forget the in
justice of the proposition involved in the b.
and o. law of last year. which is per-
petuated in this BILL of forcing the ma
tional capital partnership to bear the
heavy burden of 81 100000 as a bonus for
the construction of terminal for which
the corporation on all equitable principles
of apportionment should have paid out of
Its own pocket.