Evening star., 1908-01-27
the committee. as willing to accept an
amendment on this point.

Should Have safeguarded the Bill.
But said Mr.. James, somewhat
shortly. ''you should have safeguarded
this bill yourself. 1t should not be neces-
sary for us to offer such amendments as
this on the floor"
Representative McGavin of Illinois.
member of the District committee. an
swered q remark by Mr.. James on the
subject OF universal transfers. with the
statement that at the last public hearing
before the committee he had asked fifteen
or twenty residents Of various sections
whether they demanded universal trans
fers or reduced fares. and that they had
replied without exception that they did
not and that they merely wanted In
creased facilities
But Mr. Murphy OF Wisconsin, another
member OF the committee. took excep-
tion to this statement, commenting for
the benefit of the House that all of these
gentlemen who had been questioned by
Mr.. McGavin had something else to urge
and did not want to hurt the chances OF
their proposition by a too ardent or too
general Endorsement Of universal trans
fers or reduced fares.
Bitter Roast by Hepburn.
A bitter roast of the two local street
railway companies by Mr.. Hepburn was
next on the program. Uncle Pete has q
reputation az a debater. and today, as
always, he used a sledge hammer. He
stated it as a fact that since he had been
In Congress all legislation had favored
the railway companies, and that the only
way in which 1t was possible to compel
the railway companies to do what they
should do in taking care OF the public
was by coercion.
There is no great call and no great
need for these temporary tracks" he said.
What the people want is better faciii-
ties"
Mr.. Hepburn announced positively that
he would oppose with all his might any
such makeshift legislation as that which
was under consideration In the House to-
day. He did not favor universal transfers
or reduced fare. What he wanted to see
brought about was better service. more
cars. proper schedules and increased "a
ciiities In every direction.
Although not mentioning him by
name, Mr.. Hepburn said some very un-
kind things about former Representa-
tive Babcock of Wisconsin, for n num-
District committee. Mr.. Hepburn inti-
mated that when any proposition came
before Congress in which the railways
were interested. in which they had a
anxious to see 60 through without any
unnecessary delay or hindrance, Mr.
Babcock, as chairman Of the House Dis
trict committee, saw to 1t that the
tracks were creased. But when any.
thing came up in which the people OF
the District were interested and which,
as logically the street railways opposed
Mr.. Babcock did everything in his
power to put obstacles in the way.
Opportunity was found for unexpected
points of order and the like, and the bill,
or whatever 1t was obnoxious to the local
street railway interests, died by the way
side.
Mr.. Murphy Of Wisconsin. who. by the
II r., Ok AHsp - an
a member OF the District committee. fol-
lowed Mr.. Hepburn. and it was noted
that he did not take up the cudgels for
the late lamented Bah" Instead he
launched into an eloquent arraignnent OF
the local traction companies and Of the
trackage plain in the permanent bill
under consideration by the committee.
Mr.. Murphy insisted that II that plan
was carried out and the local street rail-
ways we're permitted to lay their tracks
about the edge Of the Union station plaza,
| as is contemplated that in times when
| crowds visited Washington and the plaza
was thr0nged, the station would become q
great marble tomb for those killed by the
railways In operating their hundreds Of
cars about this space.
Bill Goes Over.
At quarter Of three the storm subsided
and Representative Fowler Of New Jersey
was recognized for a talk on banking and
currency matters. The temporary bill
goes over automa tically until next Dis
trict day, but 1t seems doubtful that the
District committee will urge it again az
separate measure, the House having
shown its temper on the subject very
plainly. 1t Is more likely that the Dis
tFict committee members will get to-
gether and endeavor to frame the perma-
nent bill as soon as possible, SO as to
have 1t ready for consideration next Dis
trict day two weeks hence.