The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-02

The bill passed Wednesday by the Sen
ate providing routes of approach to the
Union Station for the various street rail-
roads of Washington is to be contested
stubbonly in the House. The bill is OBJ
noXious TO large number Of citizens
who live along North Capitol and X
streets. The people on X street espe-
cialiy, do not want the bin to become
law. because it viii place a street car line
in front OF their houses: besides they have
net been consulted nor have they had
chance 10 give their approval. even If they
had 40 objection and desired TO consent to
the use OF the street for the ab0vc-men-
toned purpose.
The subcommittee Of the House District
Committee having charge of legislation in
regard to street railways. streets and
avenues held meeting yesterday 20 dis
euss the measure. This subcommittee
consists Of ar Babcock chairman Of the
full committee. as chairman of the subcom-
mittee. and Messrs. Samuel W Smith of
Michigan, Greene of Massachusetts, AL
len OF Maine Sims OF Tennessee. Wiley
of Alabama. and Meyer of Louisiana.
The meeting was an executive one and
the proceedings were not made public,
but enough is known to say that strong
opposition was made manifest to the
proposition to start "a cross-town line in
the manner proposed
The subcommittee had the advice Of
several Senators who are familiar with
the matter and are opposed 10 the prof.
ect- These Senators We're taken I'M
awares 10y the passage of the bill.
The Massachusetts Avenue Route.
The amendment running a line Of tracks
along X street had not been brought up
when the bin was considered in the Sen
ate committee. and it was supposed that
The cars Of the Capital Traction Company
would run TO the west from the loon at
the Plaza on Massachusetts avenue.
where the tracks of the Columbia street
Railway could be used The bin as re-
ported, when printed. did not show the
modification that was attached to il when
read in the Senate Wednesday. In the
rapid reading of the many routes. Sena-
tors did not notice the proposition to au-
thorize "a eross-town line. The discovery
later that over half a mile Of new road
was chartered in the bill did not meet with
q very cheerful reception among certain
members of the committee Furthermore.
notice had been given that the bin would
be called up to-day. and Senators who
would DE opposed TO the X street line
were not expecting TO have il taken ND
Wednesday.
The routes as they were reported from
TIE Senate committee were acceptable 10
tae House committee, to whom had been
furnished a map showing the plan finally
devised TO satisfy all the demands of the
situation with reference TO street car ac-
cess 20 the Union Station.
The House committees subcommittee.
yesterday voted 10 recommend to the full
committee the restoration Of the plan as
at first decided on by the Senate commit
tee This, if accepted by the fun commit
Tee, viii probably pass the House and de
pend on fight in conference for its ulti-
mate fate.
one OF the principal objections made to
the proposed crOss-tOwn line comes from,
property owners, who say that X street.
beng wider thorOughfare, should be /
Kept free from railway tracks and hand !
somely improved for great public drive. /
Ihis ground of objection found emphatic /
support with the subcommittee yesterday: /
and taken in connection with the protests |
committee had great weight in the ad- (
verse vote on the amendment
Comes UD Next Week.
The matter win not reach the fun com
mittee until next week. Thursday. The
meeting at that time will probably be /
occupied with many ether matters. and
the railway bill may not be acted on then. /
The bills that viii be passed on next
week VIII be brought up Monday. Feb /
ruary II, which VIII probably be the Dis /
trict Day Of this session. The committee /
has the question Of universal street rail- 4
way transfers. reduction Of the price Of i
gas, and school reorganization 10 consider 4
in the interval, and the condition of local /
legislation viii be so congested that the 1
chance ior failure Of action on several /
matters viii be imminent
1t was agreed by the members OF the 4
subcommittee yesterday that the main
proposition for providing for the work Of 1
laying tracks 10 the Union Station should /
be acted on this session, and there is no /
10 see the bin defeated.