The Washington herald., 1908-04-05
DISAGREE ON TRACKS
COnfereeS Decide They Can
not Get Together.
BILL GOES BACK TO HOUSE
Universal Transfsrs and Supervision
by Commissioners Found to Be In-
surmountabie Obstacles - Outlook
for Communication with station
Is Darker Now Than Ever.

Further indefinite delay in providing
communication with the Union Station
was assured yesterday. when the Senate
and House conferees. in the words Of
Representative Smith, chairman OF the
House District Committee and one Of
THE House conferees. agreed TO disa-
gree"
After a fifth meeting, which consumed
about two hours in useless efforts to
reach basis of understanding, the de-
icision was reached to report the trackage
bill back to both Houses with the state
ment that the conference had developed
no prospect Of agreement.
While no official statement was made
beyond the decision reached at the meet
ing It is understood that the attitude
Of Mr. Smith. who has been unwilling TO
make material concessions without fur
ther instructions from the House, and that
of Representative Sims, who was un-
willing to abate Oae jot his determination
10 keep the universal transfers amend
ment in the bin, were responsible for the
determination to take the bin back TO the
two Houses.
tWO POINTS III Dluerences
Two principal points Of disagreement
exist between the conferees. These are
the universal transfers amendment and
that which gives the Commissioners of
the District OF Columbia absolute control
over the railway companies so far as
their schedules and the physical condition
of their ears are concerned. There are
nate 10 these two. The House conferees
would not withdraw from their insistence
upon the adoption OF these amendments
and the Senators on the conference COM
mittee would not yield In their opposi-
ton to both propositions. An agreement
might have been reached on a modified
form Of the supervision clause. but both
sides were indisposed to change their re-
spective attitudes toward the universal
transfers idea, which is Judge Sims
especial hobby.
The report Of disagreement Will be laid
before both Houses tomorrow, by Sen
ator Gallinger, in the Senate. and by Mr.
Smith. in the House. Senators take the
view that as the House amended the
Senate bill. the first move toward a fur
ther conference must come from the
House through either recession In
part from its position upon the objection
able amendments or a further indorse-
ment OF the position Of its conferees upon
these measures.
WIZ Seek Further Conferences.
The Senate win then ask for another
conference. and the work OF the last few
weeks, IN which the conferees have met
five times, VIII have TO be gone over
again. It Is understood that the prospect
for any communication between the sta
tion and the other portions Of the city
and District depends upon the action
which may be. taken by the House.
II, as is confidently expected. the
House insists upon its amendments in
their present form. the conferees might
as well be discharged and the bin rele-
gated TO the junk heap Of useless pa
pers. The Senate, 1t is expected. will
prove adamanune in its opposition 10 the
universal transfers provision inserted by
the House, even should some compromise
be effected as regards the supervision Of
the railway lines by the Commissioners.
smith Remains Optimistic.
Both sides admit that the present out
look for track connections with the sta
ton is about as dark as it could be. Mr..
Smith, however, with his characteristic
optimism, said yesterday that he ex-
pected that some means OF reaching an
agreement would be found. and that the
bin would be ready for the President in
a few weeks