Evening star., 1908-01-28
FOR UNION STATION
HOUSE DISTRICT COMMITTEE
WORKING ON TRACKAGE BILL.
May Contain Other Matter, Such as
Crosstown Line and Uni
versal Transfers.

Having been spanked in an ornate and
comprehensive manner yesterday, the
House District committee spent most Of
today applying soothing lotions To the
slippered portion of its anatomy and
promising TO do better next time. Uncle
Pete Hepburn of Iowa. Charlie Lands
of Indiana and other strong armed disci-
plinarians of the volunteer spanking
squad are disposed to be firm. but for
giving They think the committee has
had : lesson that will lineer long in its
recollection and serve to prevent a re-
currence of the naushtiness that made
the punishment necessary.
Some goom-shrouded information Sc
cured al the room of the House District
committee this morning served 10 ae-
quaint a Star reporter with the fact that
the temporary trackage bill is sick-quite
sick-and is not expected TO recover sufti-
ciently to again make its appearance in
the House. But it will not be missed,
for by next District day. two weeks hence,
the committee expects to have the per-
manent trackage bill in shape TO present.
May Contain Other Matter.
OF course there's no telling what this
measure will contain in addition to provi-
sions authorizing the Capital Traction
Company and the Washington Railway
and Electric Company to put down per
manent construction to the new Union
station, with an overhead trolley shuttle
system for makeshift purposes, pending
completion of the underground tube.
There is considera BILE sentiment in the
committee for d crosstown and north
and. south line. one to be built by the
Capital Traction Company and the other
by the Washington Railway and Electric
Company. 1t is understood that the
Capital Traction Company is ready if not
willing. 10 start work OH the Florida
avenue crosstown. bu: that the Wash
inston Railway and Electric Company
pleads financial ina bility and will rot add
anything - its present mileage unless
forced to do so by compelling legislation
There is no sentiment 10 speak OF in
the House for three-cent fares Ii is
generally realized by those members who
have acquired the habit Of thinking intel
isentlr that the traction systems of
Washington are not yet ready for a three
cent fare and that the imposition OF this
regulation. by enactment of the national
legislature. would, in all proba blitA. work
= great hardship and be likely 10 put at
least one Of the companies into the hands
Of receiver
\ number Of members Of the District
committee We're impressed, during the re-
cent hearings on tho Madden universal
transfer bill. with the fact that Wash
inSton is one Of Two cities 10 be comp etc
~ equipped with the underground electric
system. The most expensive known 10 cleo
tr!cal engineers The other city is New
GOli,.
Difference in Chicago.
Referring 10 the statement made before
the committee by Representative Madden
of Illinois. author and advocate of the
universal trans er proposition. that in Chi
cago passenger could ride forty miles
for tive-cent fare. Gen. Harries, vice
president of the Washington Railway and
Electric Company. said that the fourteen
mile ride possible over the lines of his
company for a fare of four and one-siXth
cents was more than equal to the Chica-
go maximum referred to. Asked to eX-
plain this. he replied that the construction
over which a passenger rode fourteen
miles in this city was more than three
times as costly as the construction over
which the Chicago passenger rode his
forty miles
So. many House members consider that
the three-cent fares applied to the trac-
tion systems of the National capital
would be absolutely coniScatorS. and
wouldn't hold water in court five little
minutes
But the universal transfer proposition
has many friends. as has the crosstown
plan. and either or both of these may ap-
pear as riders or the permanent tracka ge
bill.
Consideration will he given all these
things at the next regular meeting of the
House District committee Thursday of
this week.