Evening star., 1902-05-01
THE UNION STATION
SENATE DISTRICT COMMITTEE TO
CONSIDER HANsBRoUGH PLAN.
What the Senator Himself Saws of the
Project-Not Likely to Receive
Much Support.

The proposition of Senator Hansbroueh to
have the District of Columbia build and own
the union railway station in this city and to
allow all railroads to use it on the pay
ment of a rental to be agreed upon will
come up for consideration in the Senate
committee on the District of Columbia to-
morrow morning. Mr.. Hansbrough will to-
day decide upon the exact form in which
his proposition will be presented, whether
1t will be made to include the station only
or the entire terminal facilities In the Dis
trict
Under the existing law" said Mr. Hans
brough to a Star reporter TODAY land by
the provisions of the bill now pending be-
fore the Senate, We are going to give the
railroads entering the District some five or
six millions of dollars one way or another
and it has been estimated the total will
reach SS,oOO0O0 in the form of a bonus
from the government to the railroads be-
fore we get through. l say IL that is true
why not double that sum and bond the Dis
trict for the amount necessary and put up
the grand monumental union station under
plans to be drawn by the Secretary of War
and let the District control this terminal
business If we do that 1t will be necessary
to repeal the two acts of 1901 and LET in
all railroads that desire to come into this
CITY since this proposition has been sug-
sested senators have come to me and said
that 1t was a good thing TO let in cempet-
ing lines. L think it would be for the Dis
trict of Columbia, and we would be follow
ing along the line of what has been done
IN Boston, Mass. in the case of their sub-
way. on which they are receiving as rent
ais from railways about 3 per cent which
pays interest on the bonds and provides for
a sinking fund
The rental that would be charged the
steam railways here for the use of tbe
union station would be reasonable, and mn
doubtedly an agreement could be reached
When asked Vice President Green wheth-
er this proposition would be satisfactory
to the Pennsylvania railroad he replfed that
they would be delighted to have the Dis
trict build the station He said if the Dis
trict desired to engage In this project he
would wish Godspeed to the District in its
efforts"
When this proposition comes before tbe
District committee tomorrow there is little
likelihood that it will receive any material
support. One or two senators may favor it,
but as rule members of the committee
regard the suggestion not only irnprac-
ticable, so far as Congress is concerned
but of doubtful advantage to the District
The idea of bond loan Of $40 600 600 to
do this work, 1t is thought, would not likely
receive any considerable support in Con-
gress.
While municipal ownership would find
certain amount of support yet as a
practicable proposition reasons will be
urged against this plan in addition to the
unpopularity of a bond loan Senator'S
who support the bill disavowed the esti-
mate of Mr. Hansbrough as to the amount
the District and general government are
Jointly contributing toward the project for
doing away with grade crossings when the
bill was under discussion in the Senate
last week.
Those who think that there would he M
advantage in having the District build and
own the union station even should that
proposition be accepted by Congress argue
that such action would in no way make ii
easier for another road to ba
than under the plan now embodied in the
bill before the Senate or at least than is
embodied in Senator Patterson's amend
ment even In some modified form, They
claim that in years to come when another
road would seek the use of the station the
roads already occupying it might show that
they had no more facilities than they need
ed, and under that plan could remain in
complete possession of the entire station.
They say the only possible way to make
the project a financial success would be to
practically give to the railroads the ad-
vantage of the credit of the government.
Government bonds bearing interest per-
haps per cent less than bonds of
the railroad company, would permit a sink
ing fund sufficient to In time wipe out the
debt, even If the company itself were to
pay as rent an amount equal to interest 1t
would have to pay on money to be used
in providing the terminal itself This
might, in fact, be giving the companies the
use of the station at a lower cost than
they would secure 1t If they were to pay
interest on the necessary amount Of money
to build the station. keep 1t in repair and
provide a fund for depreciation such as is
usually laid aside in such cases.
They declare their belief that In the de-
velopment OF this city in the years to come
it Is quite likely that other stations will be
built as the need for them arises, and that
the proposed union station, although more
than adequate for present needs, will In
time be found to lack capacity to supply
necessary facilities. Above all, those who
do not favor the plan by which the District
would build the union station say they have
no confidence that in the long run the Dis
trict would be able to get the best end of
the business transaction involved in this
deal.
The intricacies Of bookkeeping and the
endless opportunities for getting conces-
sions from Congress in one or another way
from time to time, they declare to be so
great as to in the long run make 1t more |
than probable that the District would lose |
by the transaction. The Baltimore and |
Ohio Railroad Company has already said |
that the proposed station will involve an |
expense three times as great as 1t now has |
In the handling of its cars, so that in the |
fixing of rent 1t would be liable to resist |
such an increase as far as possible, though |
In building the station 1t could not escape |
the entire burden Of its share of expense. |
These matters will all be discussed by |