The Washington herald., 1908-01-26

Several members of the House District
Committee, yesterday made an inspec-
ton trip over the routes of the proposed
extensions of the street railways. to secure
communication with the Union Station
as embraced in the Gallinger bill which
was passed by tie Senate on Monday
last
The members Of the committee eX-
anined the proposed routes in detail,
and, while they did not come to any
decision in the matter they found d
number of instances in which they
thought an Improvement could be made
in the bill. The Congressman who made
the trip were Chairman Smith, and Rep
resentauves Foster, Moore Murphy, and
Sims, and they We're accompanied by
Engineer Commissioner Morrow and the
clerk 10 the committee. Mr.. Miller
Chairman Smith has made a number
Of trips over the routes of the proposed
changes. and the other members of the
committee have also inspected the routes
Expect Fight Tomorrow.
The bin providing for the construction
of d temporary line to the station from
Delaware avenue and g street down Della
ware avenue To the station. a counter
part of the provision in the Galllnger bill
for the temporary line, which was favor
ably reported to the House last week
viii come up for passage tomorrow, but
II is a f0regone conclusion that if it
passes, it will be only after a hard fight
One or more amendments proposing uni
veTsal transfers will probably he offered
and they viii not be so easily disposed Of
in the House as was Senator Hans
brough's amendment in the Senate. Eff
forts may also be made to saddle upon
the bin other legislation which is de
sired by some Of the more radical mem
bers.
Despite the fact that the people Of
Washington, through their representa-
tives, who appeared at the hearings on
the subject recently, declared that uni
versal transfers are not generally de-
manded in this city, and that improved
car service and extension Of the lines into
outlying sections are far more necessary,
there is still large element in the House
which IS determined that If the trackage
bill in any form is 10 pass, il must carry
a provision for universal transfers. The
p
any such amendment and if such a pro-
vision is tackled on 10 the bill the tracks
will probably not be laid. at least for
long time.
Little Chance for Harmony.
Moreover. it IS the impression even
among the more liberal members on the
House side, including some prominent
members Of the District Committee. that
the Senate viii not be brought around to
the proposition 10 provide for temporary
tracks without at the same time making
provision for the permanent system If
the House should pass the temporary
track bill tomorrow an attempt would be
made TO have the bill passed in the SEN
ate, and in the event that this fails as it
almost certainly would conference
would be had.
Even the most sanguine friends Of the
measure are doubtful that an agreement
could be reached on the temporary meas
ure, and there is an equally adverse atti-
tude toward the permanent track bill, in
the form in which it passed the Senate, on
the House side The opinion among those
who are best informed on the whole ques-
ton leans toward the belief that long
fight is in prospect, with continuance Of
the present condition regarding the sta
ton as the result
Chairman Smith hopes to report on
Thursday a bill 10 provide for permanent
tracks, but that it viii be in some respects
radically different from the Gallinger bill
is expected.
Plans Utilities Commission.
NE Smith also Is hopeful that the sub
committee on ways and means of the
District Committee will this week report
TO the committee a bill TO provide for
public utilities commission for the Dis
trict. IN line with the plan which he dis
cussed on Friday.
He believes. as do other members Of the
committee, that this is the most feasible
method OF dealing with the various ques-
tions affecting the relations between the
District and its public service corpora
tons which are now pending, and he
would have the proposed commission
modelled upon the lines of similar bodies
now employed In New York, Chicago,
Detroit, and other cities
The members would be men IF high
standing, and experts upon the questions
with which they would have to deal.
They would gather the facts regarding
the public service corporations. upon
which Congress could base any action
that may be taken upon the question of
lowering the prices of the various serv-
ices which those corporations perform.
The gas companies, the electric lighting
and power concerns, telephone companies.
and street railway companies would all be
included In the investigation which would
be made by such a commission. Upon
their report In large measure would de-
pend the action Of Congress regarding the
proposed increase of the capital stock Of
the gas company, as we'll as the deteTmi-
nation OF whether the prices now charged
by the public-service corporal ations are ex-
orbitant
Peoples Confidence Needed.
Mr.. Smith and some of his colleagues
believe that the people would have conf
dence in the figures developed by an in
yesugatiOn made by such men, and that
any action based upon their report would
be reasonably fair 10 all parties con-
cerned- He also believes that once meas
ures had been taken to regulate the Op-
eratiOns and prices OF the corporations in
accordance with such a report il could be
expected that the decisions so made would
rest undisturbed by public Clamor for a
sufficient period 10 insure a measure of
tranquility 10 the companies and their
stockholders.