Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-21

ground. The bill, he said, would establish
the precedent of compelling a private cor
poration to pay government employees. The
pension feature of the bill was also crit
icised by Mr.. Loud. =
Some gentlemen run mad on the subject
of pensions" he declared. 'One citizen Ia
as much entitled to consideration as an
other, in my opinion and the man who has
no more right to a pension than the man
who has not enjoyed that privilege"
He characterized the bill as bad legisla-
ton which was wrong and vicious and
ought to be defeated.
Mr.. McDermott's Complaint.
Mr.. McDermott was allowed fifteen min
utes to discuss the measure. He began by
stating that there was no state in the Union
where the system Of compelling railroad
companies to guard its street crossings COM
pared with the system here
He said that In other cities railroad COM
panies were compelled to place men at the
street crossings, which was eminently prop
er. But, he added, the companies paid these
men and hired them; had the privilege of
selecting them, issuing orders to them and
discharging them when they saw fit. The
regulation here, he declared, had been
promulgated for the sole purpose Of Gre
ating political positions. The men were Sc
prescribed by the Commissioners, and their
regulations In no way subject to the dicta-
ton Of the railroad companies who paid
them. He declared that twice as many
men were employed as were necessary, and
that the companies interests were not prop
erly looked after by Them.
AS an illustration of the bad system of
government regulation of private enterprise
in the District Of Columbia Mr.. McDer-
mott referred to the City and Suburban
road This road. he said, had originally
been capitalized and bonded at the exact
cost of it's construction. 1t was then re-
reconstruct re line wi
the underground system. This had exactly
doubled its cost. The men who put their
money in originally. Mr.. McDermott de-
clared. had practically lost it.
There is not chance that within twenty
years this road will earn a penny on it's
capital stock he declared.
illustrating the burdens the road had to
bear, he said that 1t was required to carry
passengers thirteen miles for a fare of four
and one-quarter cents; that tax of four
per cent upon its gross receipts was levied,
and that tax upon his real estate holdings
was also levied in addition to this Last
year. he said, the Commissioners had doub-
led the police crossing men on this line,
so that the expense of this item alone to
the road now amounted to 2 per cent tax
on it's gross receipts
The Bill Defeated.
After Mr.. McDermott had concluded other
short speeches were made by Mr.. Gaines
TenD and Mr.. Finley against the bill.
while Mr.. Mudd spoke in Its favor Mr..
Cowherd then moved to strike out the
enacting clause of the bill. This motion
was put and carried on a viva voce vote.
The bill was then reported to the House
from the committee of the whole and Mr..
Cowherds motion again prevailed without
rising vote
Senate bill 1866. relieving George w. King
from the alien act. was then passed without
amendment, and Mr.. Mudd announced that
the committee had no further business to