Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-29
PROMISE SOME RELIEF
Railways Offer to Use Coke and
Hard Coal.
WOULD OBvlATE NUISANCE
Proposed Extension of the Anti
Smoke Law.
INCLUSION OF LOCOMOTIVES
Statement by Vice President of the
Pennsylvania and Commission
er Mcfarland.

Commissioners Macfarland, West and
Blddle appeared for the second time before
tpe District committee of the Senate today
IN advocacy of the bill applying the smoke
law or the District to railroad locomotives
This bill passed the House some time ago
and the Commissioners are pressing it with
particular viSor at the present session, in
view OF the fact that they want the rail-
roads that will use the new union station
10 substitute electric motors for the smoke
emitting locomotives. BY the enact
ment of this bill the Commissioners will
be able to force the railroads to toe the
mark, or else face continual prosecutions in
the Police Court for violating the smoke
law.
Representatives of all the railroads COM
ing into this city were present, the hearing
being arranged especially in order to per-.
mt the southern railroad representatives to
force the smoke law in the case Of all To-
comotlves, either yard locomotives or mas
senser or freight locomotives, coming into
the city.
Some Relief Promised,
When representatives of the Pennsylvania
and the Baltimore and Ohio were before
me District committee a week ago they
made no definite proposition for doing
away with the smoke nuisance, but as
serted that such project would involve
enormous expense to which they should not
De subjected. Today, however, definite
statements We're made to the a.sect that
they would use hard coal and coke for rheir
yard engines. that they would use similar
fue1 on locomotives coming into the civ
ana That they were experimenting. in con-
nect1on with the geological survey in order
a.,,it lit,l.
no smoke The southern roads through
their representatives based their onnosi
tion 10 the pending legislation upon the fact
that their roads run through sparsely sat
tied country, and are not financiaIJv abia
TO incur the heavy expense that can he
north. ."o
District Commissioner Macfarland an
nounced that although he was very glad to
near the statement of the representa- tives
OF the railroads to the effect thar tbev
Moulo use hard coal and coke, and in other
ways avoid the smoke nuisance he pre-
ierred TO see the pending bill enacted into
raw SO tnat the doing of what was prom.
lseo might be made mandatory He was en-
.ilety VIKING to place confidence in the
gentlemen who made these promises but he
reared that they could not give asSuranoas
tnlt tney would have the power at all times
10 enforce them, and it was customary to
r ratty regulations of this kind in laws
rdther IMAM TO trust to verbal promises
senator Gallinger, chairman of the COM
mlttee, presided. Both he and Senator
burket closely questioned representatives
could not fully comply with the law ava
senator Galiinger, in meeting the obiec
tlonS OF the representatives of the railroads
10 the demands for smokeless engines, said
that the Dill did not provide that the roads
should be given electric power in order TO
10 away with the smoke nuisance They
could adopt other means if they preferred
Inc only OBJECT OF the bin was to secure
nlTn low
part of the railroads. as compliance is on
forced on the part of the business men of
the District.
/ Statement of Mr.. Rea.
Mr.. Samuel Rea, third vice president of
the pennsylvania railroad, read a state
ment which presented the case of all the
railroads entering the city in opposition to
legislation enforcing the smoke law upon
them.
1.-The charter powers of the Washington
Terminal Company" said Mr. Rea, pro
vided by the acts of 1901 and 1903, are to
build and operate such structures with the
approval of the Commissioners of the Dis
trict of Columbia as to plans and locations.
All through both acts it is perfectly clear
that these structures are to be for the use
OF steam railroads.
From the time the terminal improve
ments We're first suggested, the railroads
that would use them when completed have
endeavored to meet the wishes of the Com
mlssloners as we'll as the provisions of the
act of Congress. There have been con-
structed, at approximate cost to them
OF $25,COO,COO, buildings of great architec-
tural beauty, in thorough keeping with the
appearance of the surrounding government
buildings and, in addition, adjacent yards
and tracks that form most important part
OF the terminal improvements and at the
same time one of the most expensive Sta
lions, tracks and accommodations for
Washington, many years in advance of her
actual requirements, have been provided.
Just at time when these improvements
are nearing completion the railroad COM
panies do not believe that additional burden
should be imposed on them, especially after
their laborious efforts to complete the
washington work in the shortest time pos
sible and in strict compliance with all the
requirements of the governmental enact
rights.
Objection to Electrifcation.
ITO the people travelling to and from
Washington the Identification of the ter
minal system would mean many incon-
veniences by causing delays to trains that
would be necessitated in changing from
steam to electric power. 1t would make
impossible the four-hour schedule to New
York to which the Pennsylvania railroad
has been working. 1t would mean great
loss to the public, the District of Column
bia and the RAILROAD companies, occasioned
blythe delay of at least two years in the
opening of the station and improvements.
The railroads feel that the greatly In
creased and unwarranted cost of the
change in the terminal system from steam
to electricity just as arrangements are
completed for steam service is sufficient
cause. for Withdrawing section of the
proposed bill. The electrification of the
steam railroads system of city like
Washington with it's public celebra lions,
necessitating the handling within linn
tied time of such large numbers of pas
sengers and tons Of freight. would require
the railroads to provide a plant to supply
, power for a maximum load, and yet be
compelled to operate this at great loss
in carrying the normal minimum load.
1.-The railroad companies could not afford
to assume the additional expense of efectrf-
fication of the Washington terminal and
would necessarily. but very much against
their own judgment be compelled to make
a terminal charge for cars within the Dis