Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-28
UNION STATION BILL
To Permit Street Railways to
Extend Their Tracks.
RULE HAS BEEN PROMISED
But Chairman Babcock May Decide He
Doesn't Want It.
~
IF THE MEASURE FAILS
May Be Delay of Extension Of Two
Years for Station Will Be
Finished Next Fall.
RULE HAS BEEN PROMISED
THE MEASURE
FAILS

The rule for the consideration by the
House Of the bill to permit the local street
railways to extend their tracks to the new
union station will probably be brought in
Immediately after consideration Of the ship
subsidy bill is concluded. Probably" is a
good word to use in this connection, for,
although Chairman Babcock Of the House
District committee has asked for the rule
and 1t has been promised to him, he may
change his mind between now and Saturday
and decide that he doesn't want it.
1t is no sure thing even If the rule per-
hitting amendments is invoked, that the
House will pass a street railway measure
Of such a nature that the Senate will
take the trouble to consider it. AS stated
In The Star yesterday, the Senate demon
strated its belief in the immediate necessity
Of a street railway extension act by pass
ing bill unencumbered with any matter
OF foreign nature. In the House District
committee, however, this bill was loaded
down with riders, one of them the broad
tire bill and the other the extension Of
the smoke law to cover steam locome-
tives.
House Committed to Those Measures.
The complexity of the situation is ag-
gravated by the fact that the House stands
committed to these two measures. The
smoke law passed by practically a unani-
nous vote and the broad-tire bill by big
majority. Both Of these measures have
the Endorsement of the House District
committee. So, under the rule permitting
amendment, If the House eliminates these
riders from the bill 1t will be put in the
unenviable position of reversing its action
of only short time ago with respect to
both measures. Yet II these riders re-
main on the BILL it is admitted that the
street railway extension has no chance of
passing the Senate.
On the other hand, under the rule per-
hitting amendment. 1t is conceded that
there is a chance Of the three-cent fare
amendment or the universal transfer
amendment being attached to the bill. The
street railway reformers in the lower
branch Of Congress are quite numerous
these days, and they are organized in q
rather efficient way. good many of the
itol place the blame for the present tangle
on the House District committee.
They say that had the committee reported
a straight railway extension act all
this difficulty would have been a-oided and
a law would have been enacted this week
so that the local traction companies might
Immediately begin work.
Station Will Be Ready Next Fall.
One member of Congress. who is familiar
with the situation, told a Star reporter to-
day that il the street railway extension bill
failed to pass both houses at this session
the extension contemplated could not pos
sibly be completed until the fall of 1909, or
even later. 1t is expected that the union
station will be ready and open for business
some time in the fall OF the present year.
and this would make the extension delayed
two years after the new station went into
use.
The House and Senate leaders, while not
any more intensely interested in the street
railway extension act than they are in any
other matters of LEGAL Importance, admit
that something should be DONE and are
trying to figure out just what 1t should be.
They think they may hit upon solution Of
the problem between now and Saturday.