The Washington herald., 1907-12-16
FRIENDS OF SCHOOL
CHANGE INCREASING
Continued from Page One.

Continued from Page One.
measure provides that the point of juno
ture with the traction lines shall be at
North Capitol and c streets; it is prob
able that in the interest Of the con-
venience Of the majority of the travelling
public this will be changed. to make the
point of juncture Delaware avenue and
c street. as being the point at which the
greater proportion Of the travel in and
out of the city must converge under the
present traction arrangement.
Mr.. Smith is deeply Interested in secur-
ing for the people of this city and its
visitors the desired remedying OF trac-
tion conditions regarding the station. and
he has studied the subject carefully. Eff
forts to secure permanent communication
with the station are sure 20 be hampered
by attempts 70 saddle upon the bill pro-
viding for relief other legislation affect
ing the street railway affairs of the Dis
trict including universal transfers, the
extension of the railway lines 10 outlying
sections not now enjoying such convent
ences, and cheaper fares.
To Avoid Long Fight.
a
long and hard fight in the House. as
there are quite as many members of that
body who desire TO see the railways and
their stockholders treated fairly as there
are members who desire to subserve the
interests of that portion OF the com
munity which is dissatisfied with the
present condition of the street railways
Mr.. Smith wishes 10 secure temporary
arrangements with regard to the Union
Station traffic so that the public will not
have to walk while the wrangle over the
other issues is proceeding in Congress-
He and Senator Gallinger, of New Hamp-
shire. chairman of the Senate District
Committee. are in thorough accord on
this point
Senator Gallinger made a gallant fight
for the Union Station tracks at the last
session of the Fifty-ninth Congress. and
he has not abated one jOt Of his interest
in the question or his efforts 70 bring the
/ desired Improvement to pass. II IS con-
sidered impossible for the bill submitted
| by the Commissioners to pass without a
! fight. If it should pass at all for Il not
only proposes radical changes in the
present routes of some OF the car lines
l ]
run the gantlet of amendments carrying
the other improvements which are de-
sired in some quarters. II is probable.
| therefore, that those who desire the com
pletion OF the Union Station project first
OF all as representing the most immedi-
ate necessity. Will concentrate their ef-
| forts on a bill providing simply for 4
| temporary line 10 the station and let the
! permanent one with or without the
/ riders which may be tackled onto IL.
come later.
May Let District Decide.
: Despite the interest which attaches to
the school and traction questions among
District matters pending before Congress
in either concrete or abstract form. the
prohibition question has not been lost
| sight of. and it has a considerable part
in the undercurrents of activity at the
/ Capitol
Systematic efforts are being made by
/ interested ones 10 obtain accurate in
/ formation regarding the leaning of the
people Of the District, on the one hand.
and Of the members Of Congress on the
/ other, toward this issue Congressman
| Smith has his ear 10 the ground, as have
| others. II is his opinion that should the
/ issue become a concrete one, through the
! introduction Of a bill restricting the
| liquor traffic in Washington, the people
| OF the District should voice their senti-
ments on the subject. Tentative consid-
| Grafton is being given, with the purpose
Of being prepared for any emergencies
/ which may arise in this connection. 70
the question of a poll Of popular senti-
ment in this city
/ Should II come 70 a fest az tho y,ovs -
would have to be decided first Of all who
was TO vote. Three propositions have
! been considered: Unrestricted suffrage
/ for all males twenty-one years old or
over: suffrage based on property quail
! ficatiOn. and suffrage based on an educa-
! tiOnal test. No definite decision. how
] ever. has been reached on this point. as
there is as yet no immediate danger of
/ the need Of a decision.
Cannon Districts Friend.
There is as yet no sign of an attempt
! in the immediate future to force local
/ option or prohibition on the District. and
it is believed that should such an attempt
be made without giving the people of
/ this city a voice in the matter. not the
! least effectual opposition to be encounter
ed by the hackers Of such move would
4 come from speaker cannon, who is as
/ we'll disposed toward the District and as
warm an advocate of the square deaT'
in legislating for the people of Washing
! ton as could be found.
/ Indeed. from the present outlook il may
be said that if the prohibition question
! should come TO an issue the people of
| Washington and its environs will have
! a larger voice in the decision than those
of Georgia, Alabama, or other prohibition
! sections which desire to enforce upon
I their brother communities the course of
/ life which they have selected for them