The Washington herald., 1908-04-24
NAVY YARD BILL UP
Government May Own Line
to Big Local Plant.
SIMS HEADS FOR VICTORY
TenneSseean Gets House to Con-
slider His Bill Providing that
United States Build own Tracks.
Fitzgerald Roasts the District
Committee and Republicans.

The House will vote to-day on bill
providing that the United States acquire
tbs property necessary for the construe-
ton Of a switch 10 the Washington Navy
Yard, which will supplant the tracks now
operated TO that institution by the Phila-
delphia, Baltimore and Washington Rail
road Company.
Once more Representative Thetus Will
retts Sims. the guardian of the District,
seems 70 have started out upon victori-
Gus campaign against other members OF
the House District Committee.
II is Mr.. Sims bill upon which the
House viii vote to-day, and, unless sent-
ment changes over night-many of the
leaders seem TO favor Mr.. Sims bill-it
will be passed without much trouble, This
in spite Of the fact that Chairman Smith
called up yesterday for passage. under
suspension Of the rules. another bill af-
fecting the navy yard tracks, upon which
favorable report has been made by the
District Committee.
2lr. Smiths bin provides merely that
the railroad company be given two more
years in which 10 remove its tracks to-
the navy yard-or rather that it be re-
quired to keep It's tracks there for two
years longer
Says Railroad Designed II.
During debate on the two bills. Repre-
sentative Fitzgerald took occasion to de-
liver some hot shot at the District COM
mittee and at the Republican method Of
enacting claws. Mr.. Fitzgerald charged
bluntly that the Smith bill was drawn
''designedly In favor Of the railroad COM
pany. although the pretext is made that
it is designed to keep the men at the
navy yard working"
Mr.. Fitzgerald reiterated his statement
that the bin was designed 10 favor the
railroad company and not the interests
Of the people, and said that the ease with
which such measures could be brought up
and passed showed just how hypocritical
The Republican Congress is.
Mr. Sims pointed out that the Smith
bill provided nothing except an extension
of time for the removal of the tracks, and
offered as a substitute his BILL which not
only provides for such extension of time,
but also for the construction Of tracks
TO a government yard by the government.
No One Objects.
Under the procedure unanimous con-
sent was required TO have Mr.. Sims bill
substituted for that Of Mr. Smith Al
though several members looked as If they
were objeetionably disposed. no one put
in the word. so the Smith bill was rele-
gated thereby 10 a choice place in the
boneyard, and the Tennesseean's meas
ure is the one which will be voted upon
to-day.
In addition 70 Mr.. Smith. Representative
Dawson, Of Iowa, a member of the Com
mittee on Naval Affairs, opposed the Sims
bin on the ground that there may be OBJ
lection to some of its provisions in the
Senate. Il is necessary, he said, that
bnI extending the time limit for the re-
moval Of the tracks be passed at once,
as an Injunction now in force-whereby
the railroad company may not remove
its tracks-expires on April IS
Representative Murphy. a member Of
the District Committee. defended the Sims
bill. while Mr.. Olcott was against it.
After the forty minutes debate had been
used and before the question was put,
Floor Leader Payne moved for a recess,
which was ordered.
The vote on the Sims bill, therefore, viii
be in order Immediately after 1880 to-day.
What Bill Provides.
The bill provides that the Attorney Gen
eral be directed TO acquire. through legal
proceedings. a strip of land thirty-three
feet wide along the water front Of the
Anacostia River. from the main line of the
Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington
Railroad to the United States navy yard.
The Secretary Of the Navy IS authorized
10 construct through the railroad COM
pany, at a cost not to exceed S90,000, a
single track siding from the railroad 70
the yard, work TO begin two months after
the title 20 the strip OF land IS acquired.
The siding must be completed within If
teen months after il is begun.
The railroad company IS authorized 10
maintain its siding TO the navy yard for
two years more. but at the expiration OF
that time IL must be removed