Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-14
trict of Columbia of a railroad station.

| trict of Columbia Of a railroad station.
| think I understand the senator's purpose,
and I do not believe the senator himself
expects we will ever do it. I believe that
we are not going to dispossess the railroad
companies Of this District Of the privileges
that were granted to them more than a
quarter OF a century ago. 1 do not believe
we are going to repal the laws that were
passed year and half ago. unless we
provide, as we do in this bill. for some
thing better for the District Of Columbia.
IT this bill fails. then the two railroad
corporations win proceed to build under
the laws that were passed in the Fifty
sixth Congress. and we will have station
near the site Of the Baltimore and Ohio
and we will have a station substantially
on the site now occupied by the Baltimore
and Potomac road. That is what is COM
ing, and it Is a mere question whether or
not we want that condition of things in the
city Of Washington or whether we want,
as is contemplated by this bill, one magnif-
icent union station that will be monument
and a pride to every citizen of this great
republic.
Senators of course have right to take
issue with the conclusion reached by the
committee. I have not given very much
time to the consideration of this matter. l
have co-operated with the distinguished
chairman of the committee as best could,
and I want to say that in all the history
of legislation no senator has ever given
more careful study. more patient considera-
ton, more enlightened judgment to public
measure than has the distinguished senator
from Michigan (Mr. McMillan) to the bill
that is now before the Senate of the United
States. He is thorough business man. He
is man whose integrity has never been
questioned. He Is man who has the in
terest of this beautiful city at heart. He
is man who, for his life, would not recon-
mend anything that would not in his judg-
ment be calculated to best subserve the in
terests of the people of Washington and
the people of the whole country. He be-
tn &c T 1oli ~,
rests now with the Senate in it's wisdom
to say whether or not, as the senator from
North Dakota suggests 1t may, but which
know it will not do, send it back to the
committee for further consideration, or
whether or not 1t shall be enacted into law
or defeated by vote Of the Senate, and
these two railroad corporations be permit
ted to construct new stations under the acts
of Congress that were adopted during the
session Of the Fiftysixth Congress.
Consider for just one moment the ques-
ton of an ornamental railroad station In
the city of Washington. The railroad COM
panies do not want it. Why should they
want it? Mr.. Loree, president Of the Balti-
more and Ohio railroad, man of wonder
said to our committee: we do not want
any such railroad structure as that We
want a railroad building like the station in
the city OF London. placarded from top to
bottom with handbils We want q business
station. That Is what we want and if l
had my way he said, that is the kind of
station would build because it is a ques-
ton Of business with us and not a question
Of ornamentation. But If the Congress of
the United States requires us to build a
railroad station of this kind we will put
our hands in our pockets and expend mil
lions of dollars for the simple purpose of
characterization and for nothing else"
Mr.. Berry's Rejoinder.
Mr. Berry said the statements that Mr..
Loree wanted a depot placarded with adj
ri aarfQ hot hn
spend a vast amount Of money for this
new union station were not consistent
"If you can argue this from now until
Thursday, morning, it comes back to the
same proposition. after all, that these rail-
road companies are compelled to have, in
order to properly do their business, addi-
tional facilities Tor depot purposes and in
stead Of taking the money out of their own
pockets (and am not abusing them about
1t; have made no abuse Of them about ft)
they are willing that Congress shall step
In and take the money out Of the treasury
and build this fine depot for them, and IL It
win do that they will take it. That is the
situation.
have been paid for by other cities AS I
said while ago, municipal corpora lions
have done q good many things that would
hate for Congress to follow. He spoke OF
Philadelphia. It was asserted year or SO
ago in the newspapers, and, think never
denied there. that individuals offered SIS OOO-
coo in money for certain franchise in the
city OF Phiiadelphia. and yet the municipal
corporations granted 1t to other parties for
nothing. say that Is kind Of precedent
that do not think the Senate ought to
follow.
while do not agree with the senator
from North Dakota La regard to his pro-
posed remedy, and i do EXPECT to vote for
It. at the same time will not vote for this
bill. but should be glad to vote to repeal
the act OF year and half ago, which all
say should never have been passed, which
| can be repealed today under an express
provision"
It Is reported at Panama that General
Alfaro, the former president Of Ecuador
is preparing revolutionary movement