The Washington herald., 1908-05-21
Brsak the DeadIOek and Pas the RIn.

To-day the House Of Representa- tiYes
will consider the Union Station trackage
bin, and as generous time has been set
apart for debate, 1t is to be taken for
granted that Washington viii be rallied
at and held up to eontumely and scorn-
for home consumption. Of course-by a
eoterie of statesmen who can ind moth
ing worthy of approval locally at the
National Capital Now. ordinarily. such
attacks do no great amount of harm,
save TO the feelings Of an unoffending.
taxpaying community which from long
experience has come 10 bear its burden
with becoming grace and philosophy.
But the bin which viii occasion this on
slaught to-day is OF unusual Importance
Of vital public interest IN fact-and this
newspaper earnestly hopes that In the
heat Of debate, the points at issue will
not be lost sight of. The legislation
which. on its merits. should command the
unanimous support Of the House, pro-
vides for these things:
Fhst-Strsst railway approach 10 the new Union
Passenger Station By a system Of trackage worked
ous by the best engineering talent. acceptable 70
an interests and approved by the District Commis-
sioners. The present condition Is both local and
national disgrace.
Second Extension Of street railway lines 10 the
northeast giving street car facilities section Of
tie city urgently demanding such extension.
Third-FcdeTal control Of the street car compa-
supervision Of the public utilities that has been
strongly advocated for years.
These are the provisions. IN brief. OF the
pending measure under agreement reached
in conference.
But its opponents. led by Mr.. Sims.
declare that it shall not pass; that the
public, local and general, shall continue
to walk to and from the station; that
the citizens Of the northeast section of
the city shall be denied needed street car
facilities, and that there shall be no Fed
eraI control or supervision Of the utilities
unless the universal transfer system, a
thing Of doubtful legality. and admitted
impossibility at this time, be made a
part OF the legislation.
\ more untenable. unreasonable posi-
ton IT is difficult to conceive. Surely
the House viii not sustain Mr. Sims and
his associates. thus prolonging existing
conditions! To do so would be 70 penal
ize and punish the people-not the
street railway companies, for the latter
viii continue TO thrive. and be saved the
expenditure of millions, while people
walk 10 and from the station and a
growing section of the city is deo.ed its
rights.
Mr. Sims points to the beIated action
Of the Central Labor Union, by no means
unanimous, and of another labor body to
show that there is demand for the uni
versal transfer. lie can also point. if
he WILL 10 the fact that at the hearings
before the District committees the labor
interests urged primarily the very things
which the conference agreement has Sc
cured-tracks to the station. extension to
the northeast supervision and control,
with guarantee OF good service.
If there is a public demand for the uni
versal transfer, certainly it has not been
made manifest. The agitation has been
confined to Congress. But even if there
were a demand for it, would it justify. as
is now proposed, the desdlocking Of a
measure so obviously for the public good q?
The laboring classes themselves. upon
whom existing conditions impose the most
serious hardships. would be the last to
assent to such an outcome
The House owes 1t TO this community
and the public at large to pass the bill,
and pass it at once. Then the authorities
should see to it that the track-laying to
the Union Station be started within
twenty-four hours