The evening times., 1902-06-12

The House District Committee this
morning had its first hearing upon the
Senate Union station bill. Nearly all Of
the various citizens associations of the
city were represented. as were the Board
of Trade and the Business Mems Asso-
citation Mr.. John P. Green. the first
vice president of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road. and George E. Hamilton. counsel
for the Baltimore and Ohio. were. how
ever the only persons heard upon the
bill Both declared that while the roads
which they represented had not taken
the Initiative in having a union station
built. as proposed in the pending bill
they stood ready to indorse the plan as
at present contained in the measure and
to carry out its purposes. notwithstand-
ing the additional cost which it would
necessita-e over and above what was
contemplated by the railroad legislation
OF 1901
Cost to the Pennsylvania.
Mr.. Green made the statement that
tae union station plan would cost his
company in the neighbrhood of s.. 500. .000
&c exoend under the acts of 1901. Mr..
Mr. Hamilton said that the increased
cost to the Baltimore and Ohio would
be but a little more than 5000. eco but
that the Baltimore and Ohio was placed
at a disadvantage by having its station
placed some distance back ef the To-
cation contemplated IN the act of last
year. Both. however. declared that in
response - the public demand for a
tinion station the companies were will
Ing to accept the measure as it now
stands
Nr Green said that for thirty years
the Pennsylvania had been considering
the question OF removing grade cross
ings II had now become an absolute
necessity, and there was no use OF
thinking of any plan which did not con
tain this feature
He said that when the Pennsylvania
road first came into Washington the
question arose as to what sort of sta
tion should be erected here, and 1t was
decided to give Washington one equally
as good as any upon its lines. This was
done, but now that depot had become
entirely inadequate for the business.
which had grown beyond its dimensions
It could almost be characterized as a
disgrace 10 Washington The company.
he said, realized that
Must Have Increased Facilities.
sir- Sims asked Mr. Green what would
happen in case the pending bin failed
to pass, whether the railroad companies
would go on under the act OF 1901 M
Green said he did not think that It was
fair to ask the railroads 70 hold their
plans IN allegiance
They must do something as soon as
possible TO afford Increased facilities.
and If the pending legislation failed this
session, there was no assurance that It
would pass at the next session, and it
would therefore 90 over for two years.
The companies. he thought, could not be
expected to postpone all plans for i'm
provements until that time. especially
as there would be no assurance that
anything would be done by the next
Congress, IL the present one fails to
act It was, therefore, most urgent that
this legislation be passed. He could
not say. he stated. that the railroad
would not go on with the plans they
we're prepared TO execute under the law
Of 1901.
Want Something Done.
Mr. Mudd asked If the Pennsylvania
would be satisfied if nothing was done
with the pending bill Mr. Green said
that had It been proposed a yea. ago
tive. Now the company realized that
the purpose Of the legislation was in
the right direction. The Pennsylvania.
ne said. shared the feelings OF the pub
lie who were its patrons and we're will
ing to comply with its wishes
Mr.. Mudd wantei 10 know If it was IN
an altruistic spi-5t that the PennsyIva-
nia was willing tc accept the proposition
TO build a union station. SIR. Green re-
piled by saying that the railroads had
never brought the question before Con-
gress, but after it was raised the atti-
tude Of the railroad underwent a change. /
Railroads Become Anxious.
I'VE are willing" ne said. TO 90
ahead and spend this extra amount Of
money, and give the people OF Washing /
ten this station II they want it" Het
added, however, that the railroads /
wanted to know what was TO be re-
CURED OF them. and not be held up IN
the air So far as traffic was concerned. !
he said, there was no necessity for a
union station. but from an architectural