Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-02-02

Washington's hopes for railroad
legislation to relieve its difficult trans
portation situation
Railroad Bill were dashed nfty
years ago by the
OeAeatcu. Senates refusal to
pass the Sherman bill. The Star of
January rs. 1869. says:
We'll, New Jersey and Maryland
and the eight railroad presidents and
the great railroad 'monopolies Of the
country have triumphed. Vital Dis
trict interests were at stake and every
man in the community felt the pang
of a personal loss in the announcement
that the monopoly interests had sue
ceeded in strangling the Sherman bill
in the Senate, for this session, at least.
But the odds were too heavy for
us. The District of Columbia, with
out political influence or money infiu-
ence. had little chance in the contest
with the great monopolies. The Dis
trict. by long experience, has learned
the lesson which tells us that those
who expect nothing shall not be dis
expect that Washington single-handed
should succeed in a struggle like this.
II is perhaps not very remarkable that
senators from the states likely to be
affected by the action of Congress
should he seusitiyely alive to the I'M
constitutionaiity of bill breaking
down state MONOPOLY interests But 1t
is a little strange that republican SEN
ators from southern states should take
such decided ground in behalf OF state
rights.
During this contest the Maryland
senator's ana the Maryland railroad
men have given very positive .assur-
ances OF great things to be done by the
lines now chartered quite obyiating
the necessity for more railroad char
ters for Washington. Let us sea now
what these assurances amount to.
Let us see If this Baltimore and Po-
tofilac road supplies us with a COM
peting read to the present road. Let
US see if the desired connections are
made in Baltimore by which baggage
and freight can be passed through
thar city without break. Let us see
If the metropolitan road Is built with
in the time specified by it's charter or
if an extension of the charter will be
asked from the Maryland legislature
to keep 1t alive. Washington is in
pretty bad way, it seems to US, with
pie-erust promises of this sort to rely
upon, Dut we must walt IN patience.
and see what we shall see
Z
After the decision of Congress not
to permit the use of the Capitol for
the inaugural ball, and
Inauguration an expression by Gen.
Grant of personal
DoAl ldu. wish that the ball. be
omitted, there was some doubt as to
whether that time-hopored custom
would mark the induction of the new
President into office. But according
to The Star of January &c, 1859, a de-
eision was reached to proceed with
the usual program.
We'll, there is to be an inaugura-
ton ball or "A reception after all. as
everybody will be glad to hear. The
disappointment was universal on the
announceme being made that the
ball was to be abandoned. The Gus
tom of holding an Inauguration ball
is one that has been maintained with
out break through a long line of in
augurations, and it has come to be
looked forward to as great feature
of attraction on that day, bringing
visitors from all parts of the country.
To forego it now would be serious
reflection upon the public spirit of the
city.
"a spontaneous expression Of opin-