The Washington herald., 1908-05-15

Probably for the last time at this ses-
sion Of Congress, the conferees Of the two
Houses on the Union Station traekage
question viii meet this afternoon at ?
O'clock in the Senate District Committee
room. This decision was reached late
yesterday afternoon.
Whether an agreement win be reached
at the meeting is as doubtful as it has
been at any time since the conferences
began, several months ago. Hope is ex-
pressed on both sides that an agreement
viii be reached. but the whole question
revOlves about the attitude which the
House confereas will take after the meet
ing begins.
II is not believed that a unanimous
agreement is possible. as it is understood
that Representative Thetus w. Sims, of
Tennessee. the Democratic member Of
the House eonferees committee, win not
yield his opinion on the subject of uni
versal transfers, even to avert the neces-
sity of delaying the construction Of the
track extensions for another year.
Colleagues May Desert Him.
There is a bare possibility that Messrs.
Smith. of Michigan. and Campbell of
Kansas. the other House conferees. may
stand out against their minority colleague
and vote 10 end the deadlock. The Senate
eonferees stand ready to give up all the
other questions of difference between
the two Houses. in consideration Of the
elimination of the universal transfers
proposition. Messrs. Smith and Campbell.
il is understood. are willing TO accept this
compromise, but they are inclined to fear
Mr.. Sims course in case they should go
back to the House with divided report.
If they do not succeed in overcoming
this trepidation, the only course left open
70 the conferees will be TO again agree
10 disagree, as they have once done, and
10 report this decision 10 their respective
Houses. This. In all probability. would
mean that Inauguration day, next March,
viii see a long line OF angry visitors
tramping up from the station 10 the cars,
as the people Of Washington and their
friends have done ever since the station
was put into commission.
Senator's willing tn Compromise.
Every conferee save Mr.. Sims seems TO
agree that TO enforce the universal trans
fer proposition would be subversive of
justice, as well as Of the Constitution
There is not the slightest chance that the
three Senators on the conference COM
mittee, Massrs. GaHinger. Long. and
Martin, viii yield 10 Mr. Sims on the
transfer question.
They viii give in on the question OF
routes, the question of how the tracks
shall be placed on the Union Station
plaza, and on the proposition for a cross
town line. so much desired by the resi-
dents Of the northeast
They are also willing. ii is understood.
to yield to the House on the proposition
that the local street railroads shall be
placed In the control of the Interstate
Commerce Commission or some other
body capable Of exercising just and
equitable supervision But having yield
ed, or standing ready TO yield. all these
considerations, they are determined to
stand up for the contention, which was
upheld in the Senate by an overwhelm-
ing vote. that the companies shall not be
required TO exchange transfers
Would Destroy Competition.
It is contended that this proposition is
not only unconstitutional. but that II
would be subversive of the principle Of
competition. and would, in effect. compel
a virtual combination Of the two cornpet-
Ing roads by legislative enactment Other
objections. such as the relative equality
Of the property and earning capacity OF
the two roads, are also urged against the
granting Of Mr.. Sims pet hobby.
Seven legislative days remain of the
FRS session of the Sixtieth Congress.
Six months must elapse before Congress
again conveRes. There viii then be three
months before the date of the Inaugural
tion OF the next President of the United
States. The proposed track extensions to
the station cannot be made in less than
seven months from the date of the au-
thoriZatOn, now held up by the dead
lock in the conference.
II this deadlock is not broken to-dav.
not only VIII travellers TO and from Wash
ington, for many months to come walk
three blocks from or to the station. but
the throngs that will flock here during
inauguration week viii walk also Tie
responsibility, It would seem. will in that
event rest upon one or ali of the House
conferees. unless universal transfers are
a more desirable privilege than they are
in Washington generally believed IN bc