Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-16
The Union Station Bill.

The passage of the union station bill by
the Senate puts that measure in position To
be. enacted and to become law before the
close of the present session. consumma-
ton which every friend of the greater
O Washington earnestly desires. Postpone
ment in the House to the next session
would not-oniy delay the project by nearly
twelve months if the bill were then passed.
but would risk a total failure of the meas
IRE in the rush of important matters al
the short session 1t is desirable that the
work should be undertaken as quickly as
possible 1t is also important that this
legislation succeed. for if it should fan
through actual defeat or postponement The
District would then be thrown back upon
the laws passed at the last session, which
are very unsatisfactory to the local in
terests.-
The union station bill is distinct I'M
provement over those laws 1t proposes a
single terminal station instead of two IN
itself an important advance toward the i'm
provement of Washington and the conVen-
fence of the public. 1t ensures a station
structure of a monumental type, in keeping
with the projected governmental construc
tons instead of permitting one road to
construct a station of its own design and
htSttt VI hCdtlS anu icfuiAit'S tii' NNiiN'
to provide a station Of only fair design and
costliness. Il removes the railroad from
the mail and thereby clears the citys most
important park for future improvements.
1t shortens the length of tracks above the
surface Of the ground within the city. 1t
clears one of the great arteries of the
city of a formidable wall and opens to
free communication with the western end
of the city one Of the most populous sec
tions of Washington.
These advantages are substantial and Will
become greater as Washington grows in
population aud attractiveress. They are
sufficient to offset the disadvantages of
the present laws. passed in 1901. with their
unjustifiable concessions of money and
lands to the railroad companies. BY the
new bill the burden cast upon the commu-
nifty is heavier than before. but in this case
the municipality gets something worth
while to show for it's money In view of
what IS gained by the changed plans there
is no serious disposition in the District to
demur at the charge. even though it Is ex-
cessive, save to suggest that to the partial
relief of the District the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad should contribute the i'm
provement of the park-like plaza proposed
for the approach to the station. and that
Il larger proportion OF the cost OF tnlS
particular work might equitably be borne
by the national government. The plaza is
to be a national reservation. 1t is to be
the railroads front yard. The Baltimore
and Ohio has saved that large portion of
its million and half donation which was
to be expended south of Massachusetts
avenue, and in recognition of that fact
should make rebate to the national and
local AT Ip3S IN he ept
of deciding. gratuitously, the land owned
by it which is needed for the plaza and the
new avenue from the Capitol to the plaza
and the union station. -.
The District feels grateful in this con-
rection to the Senate District committee
for It's work in securing such radical ard
satisfactory change of the railroad plans.
1t owes especial debt of gratitude to
Senator Mcmillan, whose enthusiastic in
terest III the Improvement of the capital
. has led him to the length of exerting his
strong personal influence with the rail-
road officials TO point out to them the pa
triotic asrwelf as the business phase of the
terminal question. Forgetting for the pres
ent that the legislation of 1901 was in MANY
respects unjust to the District, and that a
better solution of the grade-crossing prob
lem could then have been found had the
matter been approached from a different
point of view than that chosen by Con-
gress. there is reason for congratulation
that an Intelligent. progressive spirit is
shown at this session in dealing with one
OF the most important questions affecting
the welfare of the capital city.