The Washington times., 1902-05-15
Democrats Make a Party
Issue and Oppose
the Bill.
URGE ITS REc0MMITAL
Mr.. Clark Objects to Location Chosen for
Station-Says That Estimate of Prop
erty to Be Condemned Is insufficient
Mr.. Clay Opposes Measure.

The debate on the union station bill
ended In the Senate yesterday The after
noon was taken up in the consideration of
the measure. and It was the occasion for
another stormy discussion.
The Democrats. before the debate be-
gan. bad an informal caucus and decided
to oppose the bill as a body and make a
party Issue of It. They went into tho
chamber In full force and Immediately
began to make speeches against it full Of
venom and apparent determination to hurt
1t as much as possible.
/ 1t was soon seen that they would not
seek to defeat the bill BY voting 1t down.
Mr.. Clark Of Montana. a member Of the
District Committee. struck the keynote
Of their attitude by moving in his open
| ing speech that 1t be recommitted. Sena-
tors Clay and Teller followed suit and
other Democrats showed their unfriendli-
| ness by their Incidental comment. al
though they did not make any set
speeches.
Senator Martin made himself conspicu-
Gus by taking sides against his colleagues
in one Of the best speeches delivered 10
favor Of the bill. He closed the debate In
ringing denunciation of the attack on
the plan. paying incidentally a high COM
pliment to the hard work expended on the
bill by Senator Mcmillan and the others
Of the committee
The debate was enlivened again by sew
eral sharp tits between Senator CALM
ger and Senator Hansbrough. and the
former also was sarcastic at times at the
expense Of Senator Clay.
The friends of the bill believe that the
uniting of the Democrats against the union
station will prove to have been a bad
move. They say that it will necessarily
unite the Republicans to the support Of
their colleagues. 1t was noticeable that
with the exception Of Senator Hansbrough
not a Republican said a word against the
measure yesterday.
The bill will be voted on today at the
end Of the morning business. an agree
ment to that effect having been reached
last Monday.
Senator Clark was the first speaker.
and he talked in opposition to the bill.
A Step Toward Beautifying City.
Mr.. Clark said that he would be very
glad to see the Pennsylvania Railroad
station removed from the Mall. one of
tine first steps in the Identification Of the
Capital City. He said that he had no
doubt the plan Of the Parking Commission
will be ultimately adopted.
II do not understand why the station
should be placed in the great depression
Of delaware Avenue. / suppose 1t is at
the Instance of the railway engineers. The
filling Of this depression will be costly.
In some instance 1t will be to depth of
feet. and the extent is for
several blocks on either side.
1T seems to me that much Of the prop
erty will be practically ruined. Many
Of the members of the committee, | have
no doubt. have never visited the ground
Of the site. have visited 1t. I believe
hat unless the District buys much of this
property the building OF the station will
DC practically confscation."
Mr.. Clark went on to say that 1t is i'm
possible to estimate accurately how much
damages the District will have to pay.
but that in his opinion it will be much
more than the s60O.OGG suggested by the
District Commissioners report.
approves FdlkiuS fldHS
D.. In speaking OF the plans of the Parking
Mr.. Clark said that he would
,xert all his influence to their fulfllment.
lie advocated incidentally the erection Of
| monument to LEnfant.
Mr.. Clark concluded by moving that the
ill be recommitted to the District Com
nittee for further consideration.
Mr.. Clay opposed the bill. He said that
It least scventy-fve dwellings would be
otalIy destroyed. and that sixty or more
you'd be injured. and that in his opinion
he total damage will be at least s3.OO0.O00
r "a. O00, 900.
II believe the Senate should be given
more information regarding these dam
lges,'' lie said, Il believe also that the
most careful surveys should be made in
he vicinity Of the Congressional Library
o ascertain beyond all question that the
proposed tunnel along First Street will do
he library building no damage"
Senator Clay then took up the question
L the donations" by the District and
he Government to the railways. He
tated that a resident of the District,
BUSINESS man of experience. had informed
i'm that the streets to be given 20 the
are worth $l0.000.000. Mr.. Clay
aid that he had been informed that the
district Committee had considered the
ill only thirty minutes.
Pressed With Other Business.
"Mr President" he concluded. II be-
eve the members OF the committee have
cen pressed with too much other bust
ess and have not had time properly to