The Washington herald., 1907-01-31

10 allow the street railroads or Nashlng-
ton to lay tracks TO connect their various
lines with the plaza in front of the Union
Station This bill is a substitute for the
original measure, which contained a pro
posed charter for a lire running from
Florida avenue down New Jersey avenue
to the station Objection was made TO
that feature of the original measure, and
it was withdrawn, and the bin passed
yesterday resulted.
A peculiar circumstance connected with
this legislation, as stated By Senator Cal
linger. is that the railways did not urge
the bill. but the District Committee ar
ranged the approaches for the different
companies, with the purpose Of best serv-
ing the public and dealing out even adj
vantage TO each and all. Another pccu-
iiar consideration in this connection Is
the fact that by reason Of an amendment
at almost the last moment, the bill pro
vides that a short CrosstOwn line is 10
be laid along X street. from North Capt.
tol street TO Seventh street. providing
connection for the Capital Traction Com
pany between the station and its Seventh
street tracks This amendment had not
been printed, and the residents along n
street. from North Capitol 70 Seventh,
will to-day for the first time have OppOr-
tunity 10 know that they are 20 have
street ca line in front of their homes.
There IS expected 10 be some opposition
GA the part of property owners along
that th0rOughfare when the bill comes
up ia the House
Effort for Northeast Washington.
The bill aroused much discussion,
chiefly on amendments proposed 70 secure
further transit facilities for the north
east section of the city. Senator Burkett
offered an amendment authorizing the
Capital Traction Company 20 lay line
from Florida avenue and seventh street,
along Florida avenue TO Eighth street
northeast. thence south along Eighth
street 20 Pennsylvania avenue southeast,
with q spur from Eighth street along +
street northeast, 90 the Plaza.
There was evidently strong support for
this amendment. but the danger to the
main proposition 20 provide approaches
10 the Union Station in view OF the press
ing need of beginning the work. which
viii take probably over a year 90 accom-
plisn, moved enough Senators 20 vote
with Senator Galliuger against H. Mr..
Burkett, ia presenting hls amendment.
revealed the fact that the District Com
mittee had been sharply divided on the
proposition He said that the matter
had been before the Senate last session.
and had come into the Senate ON the re-
port Of the fun committee. after a thOC-
ough inquiry and consideration by the
subcommittee. Owing 90 controversy in
regard % an amendment to tax the street
railways, The measure had, on Mr.. Gal
fingers motion. been recommittod and
was still held iu the committee, the pend
ing measure and its predecessor being
brought in as substitutes FOR the original
bin OF the last session. lie had a letter
from Dr. Gaiiaudet urging the extreme
need of the proposed line
Urges BiII's Adoption.
Senator Hausbrough corroborated the
statement and urged the adoption Of the
amendment lie said that when the mat
Ter was up before he had presented petit
tions from 5000 people asking that the
new line De authorized. Mr.. G3ninger
said he never saw the petition. and he
would Ike 20 have a chance 10 see who
those 5000 people were. Mr. Hansbrough
gave "a fuu history of the course taken
by the bill, and charged that it had been
smothereG
Senator Daniel had read letter from
Evan IT. Tucker, president Of the North
east Citizens Association declaring that
1890 people in that section were practi-
cally without adequate street railway IA
cilities and a struggle 20 get "a new line
had been going on for fifteen years.
statement by 4 r. Servan, president. and
W. j. Hughes, vice president. of the
North Capitol and lexington Citizens
Association was also read urging the
necessity of a cr0ss-toWn line. This
statement contained a striking iilustra-
ton of the unfortunate condition Of resi-
dents Of the northeast section who had
employment at the navy yard, in South
east Washington. These people, il was
stated. had 10 80 east on existing lines.
then south and east again. paying ;wo
fares and consuming much time in coins
TO and from their work The Florida
avenue and Eighth street line. IL was
urged. would meet their needs. and there
were thousands who would be benefited
by II. The communication concludes with
the following appeal:
AS this extension will meet so great n
public demand as il has been indorsed by
every citizens organization affected bv II.
and as the company is ready to build it,
why should It not be Immediately author
lied: This is the question now before
Congress. We trust law VIII he passed
this session providing for the extension
along Florida avenue and Eighth street as
above described, and thus meet the needs
as well as the wishes of such a large num-
Der Of the residents Of and taxpayers in
the District of Columbia
Trying to Tax Franchises.
Senator Daniel said he would like TO be
informed how 1t would incumber the
pending bin TO tut on the amendment
which: everybody wanted The railroad
company willing to build the line surely
would not oppose il. and he asked if the
rival lire was objecting Mr.. Gauinger
said he knew of no such objection Mr.
Daniel asked if there was any charge on
the District in the bill, and was informed
by Mr.. Gallinger that there was none. lie
then asked if there was any legislation in
the bill for universal transfers.
We have not gone into any strenuous
matters in this bill, replied Senator
Gallihger. THAT is not in the bin
When the vote on the Burkett amend
ment was taken it was lost without any
effort at division or yea and nay vote.
Senator Hansbrough then offered an
amendment TO require every street rail
way company, and all public service cor
porations. including the Chesapeake and
Potomac Telephone Company, the Poto-
mac Electric Power Company. and the
Washington Gaslight Company. to pay
q franchise tax in addition to real estate
taxes, of L per cent on net earnings,
which should be found by deducting from
gross earnings actual running expenses
and fixed charges. with the prOviso that
the board Of assessors might assess the
value of franchises and the companies