Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-23
ENTRANCE To THE CITY
Union Station Bill Again Up
in the Senate.
JOINT USE OF DEPOT
DEBATE OF THE PATTERSON
AMENDMENT.
Mr. Tillman Engages in Passage Of
Words With Messrs. Hoar
and Foraker.
JOINT USE OF DEPOT

Senator Mcmillan today called up Senate
bill 4s25. to provide for union station in
the District. Immediately upon the conclu-
sion of the routine business of the Senate.
Mr.. Teller of Colorado arose to say he ap-
proved the amendment offered by his col
league providing that other railroads be
allowed to come into the proposed union
station upon the payment of proper tolls
for such use of the station and it's APP
proaches. Mr.. Teller asked that the SEN
ator (Mr. McMillan) in charge of the bill
explain to the Senate why the committee
objected to Senator Pattersons amendment.
Mr.. McMillan's Statement.
when these bills were passed year and
4 half ago." said Mr.. Mcmillan, they were
discussed very freely, and the effort then
was TO take care of all the existing roads
in the District. We allowed the three
southern roads and the Pennsylvania sys-
TEN to go into the depot the Mall. We
also passed a bill allowing the Baltimore
and Ohio to build a new station near it's
present station on New Jersey avenue and
c streets. This legislation has been passed
and is entirely satisfactory to the rail-
roads
Likely to Defeat the Project.
That legislation is entirely satisfactory
to the companies. They have not asked
that any legislation be enacted and do not
want any. They want to do what we pro-
yided for one and one-half years ago.
Your committee believing it would be
great advantage to have one instead OF
two stations and to get the railroads out
of tn mall, had bill prepared and sub
mitted TO the railroad company to see what
II wanted and then 1t was submitted to the
District Commissioners.
1T was then carefully gone over by your
committee. If we amend this bill to allow
other railroads to come in and use the pro-
posed union station I am frank to say L
think this project is lost. If we expect these
companies to build this station and provide
that all railroads may come into it l do not
think they will do 1t. We have asked them
to do something which thought would
be great benefit to the District of Column
bia- They have agreed to it, but they did
not do 1t at once. We worked with them
three or four months to get them to agree
to 1t. II they spend $4,000. 900 here some
new companies may then get up prospec-
tus showing that they have a right to come
here and use the union station. The day
may come when the government will have
to own all these railroads. Railroads are
getting into the hands of a very few cor
porations- The whole trend is toward con-
solidation, and this plan is to get one sta
ton that will take mall the railroads here
now"
Mr.. Teller opposes the Bill.
That Is rather a frank statement" re-
marked Senator Teller, that the railroad
company will insist upon a monopoly.
am not willing to vote for the BILL / think
the bill is an improper one. 1 think the
public might be better served in some re-
spects by this new scheme than by the old
one, but l am not willing when we are told
that this is to be close corporation and
that there will be no power either in the
government of the United States or in the
courts 10 provide for the use of this union
station and of these tracks crossing our
streets for which the government and the
District pay large amount of money I'M
less these railroad companies see fit to al
low that to be done.
I had no intention of discussing this
matter, but 1t was suggested here yester-
day that the Baltimore and Potomac Com
pany owns the land in the mall outright
Ihey never until recently asserted any
title or suggested that they had any title
to that land. have heard this matter dis
cussed more or less for twenty-five years
l recall discussions shortly after the sta
ucn was built there. and at that time ev-
erybody admitted that the company was
there by sufferance, and that Congress
Could move them whenever 1t saw tit
There was strong feeling at that time to
nave them go back Of the mall and secure a
site for themselves, as railroads usually
have to do.
1T cannot be assumed that we have
ltal- There probably will be some other
railroads built here, and IL so they should
nave the same advantages now granted to
these people There can be no fairer way
10 determine the terms which they
shall be allowed to use the union station
than to allow the Supreme Court Of this
District to determine that question. II
this amendment Is not sufficiently guarded
Tor the protection Of the railroads there
should be some provision in 1t looking to
their entire protection. 1t Is quite within
our power to repeal that act of a year and
a half ago so far as that is concerned"
Powers of Congress.
Senator Foraker inquired whether any
thing had been done by the railroads that
placed Congress in position that 1t could
not repeal its final legislation.
Mr.. Teller replied that he did not know
that they had done anything
Senator Gallinger said that the railroads
had not proceeded under that act because
the committee on the District of Columbia
mad requested them to withhold action
pending legislation for new union station
} Mr.. Teller then proceeded to say that
half ago the two railroads were not con-
solidated. Since then they have come to-
gether.
Senator Foraker called attention to Sec
tlon II of the act of February II, 1901 pro-
viding for the elimination of grade cross
ings to show that Congress reserved the
right to amend, alter or repeal the act
That would be all right" added Mr.
Foraker, that could be legitimately exer-
cised. although the railroads had actually
proceeded to make the improvements con-
templated-- We are not powerless to deal
with this matter
Mr.. Teller proceeded to say that there
was no question that Congress had ample
power to deal with the matter at hand He
explained that he would like to discuss the
matter further. but the condition of his
throat was such to make talking diffl-
cult, and he would have to close He said
he hoped the Senate would not allow this
bill TO pass without having the interests of
the public duly protected
Il do not think the railroads" he said
have the United States by the throat by
any means. l doubt very much whether
any person connected with these railroad
companies as an official would be so unwise
rs 10 press this proposition, If the matter
was presented to him properly"
Mr.. Hoar's Comment.
Senator Hoar suggested that the amend
ment Of Mr. Patterson Of Colorado had no
practical Importance, for the reason that
Congress will at all times have a right to
authorize any new railroad company to
come into the District of Columbia, and In
so doing would have right to determine
how their cars should enter the CITY and