The Washington herald., 1908-04-10
HOLD CARLIN WRONG
Mr. mcfarland Denies Vir-
ginian'S Views.
SPEAKS OF MEASUREMENTS
Row over subEtati0n In south
Washington Preeipitated by Rep
resentatixe from Alexandria Be-
fore House District Committee.
Commissioner Makes Statement.

Commissioner Nacfarland yesterday, in
a statement. denied that the Commission
ers were 20 blame for The long delay In
the erection Of a railroad station in South
Washington-a station which. under the
original Union Station act. should have
been in readiness by February, 1905.
Earlier IN the day Representative Car
lin, OF Virginia. appeared before the
House District Committee in defense OF
his own resolution requesting the Com
missloners to inform Congress why this
station-whieh was to grace the vicinity
Of the Washington end Of the Long
Bridge-has not as yet been built
Mr. Carlin. after the resolution had
been reported unfavorably from a sub
committee on steam railways. gave out an
interview, IN which he intimated that the
Commissioners have not been playing
Johnny n-the-spot on the station ques-
ton
MacfarIand Counters.
Commissioner Macfarland, always an
assiduous follower of the press reports
Of the days thousand and one doings.
saw the interview, and countered with q
statement of his own '"Fhe Commission
ers," said Mr.. Macfarland, acted in
plenty Of time. approving a site at the
north end OF tile railway bridge. on pub
lie land, the value Of which, estimated AZ
s., 800, or an equivalent rental. the Com
mlssioners recommended should be paid
by the railroads fer the use Of the land
which was not useful for any other pur-
pose than an embankment by the track
when this was done last year, the
Commissioners believed that no action
by Congress was necessary TO permit
the railroads 20 use the land and the
railroad company began the foundations
OF the Substation on its own right OF way.
which was TO be used for part Of the
building Subsequently the railroad com
pany was advised by its counsel THAI it
ought 20 have action by Congress, and
the company accordingly asked for II.
The matter does not rest with the
Commissioners. but 1t does rest with
Congress. Objection was made 10 every
other site selected. except one, which had
already been purchased by the railroad
for a freight yard, between Sixth and
Seventh streets.
Too Much Misrepresentation.
There has been too much misrepre-
sentation about this matter, as for
example that there had been a delay OF
FIVE years instead Of i've weeks. and
that the proposed site was worth $4,000,
instead OF $3.50. and that no compensa-
ton was TO be asked Of the railroad COM
pauy. instead OF the fact that the COM
missi0neTs had recommended that IL pay
for the use Of the land
The interview given out by Mr. Carlln
was quite lengthy but interesting lie,
together with Senator Martin. OF Virginia,
has investigated the situation carefully
Mr. Carlin said in part.
The act Of 1903 determined that the
city Of Washington should have two rail
road stations. but despite the fact that
FIVE years have elapsed since the pas
sage OF this act. Washington has only
one stati0n-that not completed-and no
immediate prospect Of the other.
Have the Power.
"The Commissioners have the power to
Immediately secure this additional sta
tion for the people Of Washington and the
people OF the South who come 10 Wash
ingt0n simply by changing their opinion
as TO the Fourteenth street location and
directing the railroad authorities to con-
struct the station on their own property
near the Seventh street car line"