Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-19
cROSSTOWN RAILROAD
Hearing by House District
Committee.
CHANGE OF ROUTE
10 USE N STREET FROM 18TH TO
NEW JERSEY AVENUE.
Three-Cent Fare Hearing to Be Had
Next Tuesday Morning-Favorable
to Incorporation Bill.

The House committee on the District Of
Columbia at its regular meeting today de-
voted almost the entire time to consider
alton of the crosstown railroad bill. AS a
result of an informal vote taken during the
course of the meeting by which change
in the route of the proposed road was prac-
tically decided, it is predicted that the COM
mittee will favorably report the bill to the
House. The prospective change in route
favors making the tracks of the proposed
road follow M street to 18th street, up 18th
street to N, down N street to New Jersey
avenue, and thence according to the plans
already prepared and discussed. The MEM
bers Of the committee-fourteen of the sew
enteen being present-believed that this new
route is much more desirable than the old
During the discussion 1t was pointed out
that N street from 10Th street to New
Jersey avenue is of the same width as M
street, and that the property on both sides
of the former thoroughfare is not SO much
improved and consequently not SO valuable
as that along the NJ street route. Further
more, one of the principal opponents Of the
latter route has been Mrs. Somers, princi-
pal of the Mount Vernon Seminary, who
claimed that the NJ street route, If adopted
would result in the practical ruin of her
property, as with double tracks on 11th
street and double tracks M street it
would be impossible for a vehicle of any
kind to approach her place on any side.
Ex-senator James x. Jones and other M
street residents were also earnest in their
opposition to the old route. Another OBJ
lection brought forward at the last hear
ing urged that there should not for many
reasons, principal among them being due
regard for the safety of life and limb, be
another lire of tracks around Thomas Cir
Gle. The committee today. after consider
ing all the various propositions urged, in
Guiding that of single track on M street
,,,,~ IL ,lx II -tv frnrV
street to New Jersey avenue, decided that
the N street route was more desirable than
any of them.
Proposed Amendments.
Mr.. Sims of Tennessee, member of the
committee gave notice that at the proper
time he would offer an amendment to strike
out the provision in the present crosstown
bill permitting the District Commissioners
to designate certain other streets If the
streets now named should prove impracti-
cable for the laying of duct lines Mr.. Sims
thinks that the Commissioners should not
have such power, which practically gave
them the right to go outside the laws OF
Congress.
Representative Carr, also member of the
committee, gave notice that he would offer
an amendment to give the Commissioners
fuller authority to regulate street railroad
schedules, the kinds of cars used, matters
of sanitation of cars and everything per-
tanning to the general subject of safety on
surface lines in the District of Columbia
Representative Pou gave notice that he
would offer an amendment in event of the
bill being reported requiring the Great
Falls and Old Dominion road to provide YES
tibules for the protection of motormen on
all OF its cars.
Representative Cowherd gave notice again
that he would offer an amendment provid-
ing for the sale Of eight tickets for quar-
ter on all street railroads in the District of
Columbia.
The committee after listening to Mr. Cow
herds argument decided to grant q thirty
minute hearing beginning at 10 O'Clock next
Tuesday morning on the subject OF the
three-cent fare, and those favoring or OPP
posed to the proposition will be given a
brief hearing.
The committee gave some consideration
to the amendment previously offered. max
ing 1t obligatory upon the Great Falls and
Old Dominion road to indemnify property
holders for damage through laying Of
tracks, etc.
Representative Wiley, member of the
committee. was not at the meeting today,
but has given previous notice that he
will offer amendment providing for
universal system of transfers In the Dis
trict of Columbia.
After the hearing on the Scent fare next
Tuesday the committee will continue its
discussion Of the crosstown railway bill.
Favorable to Incorporation Bill.
Inc committee authorized favorable re-
port on the substitute for the Morrell bill,
dealing with the incorporation of concerns
in the District of Columbia. The bill as
reported requires the payment of a fee of
40 cents per each 81 600 of capital stock
of the concern to be Incorporated. 1t also
requires that the proper officer of the con-
Germ must demonstrate to the satisfaction
of the recorder of deeds that 10 per cent
of such capital stock has been paid in be-
fore articles of incorporation may be issued.
The present law merely requires that 10
per cent Of the capital stock shall have
been paid in when the company begins
business, and in consequence the recorder
of deeds is not able to learn anything with
regard to the stability and solidity of the
concerns securing articles of Incorporation.
The further provision makes the smallest
fee of incorporation $25.
That portion of the bill approved by the
District Commissioners, which provided for
payment by all District organized corpora
tons of an annual tax of one-twentieth of
/ per cent on all capital stock paid in, and
ne-fortieth Of 1 per cent on all capital
stock issued, was stricken from the bill As
the measure now stands reported 1t is be-
lieved to be a good substitute for the pres
ent incorporation law, which has proven de-