Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-06
RAILROADS WON'T GIVE
At Pythian Headquarters the Steam Cor
porations Are Criticised.
The Effect of Personal Talk Is to
Be Tested-Othcr Matters
of Interest.

There was an atmosphere of cheer around
Pythlan headquarters today. in strong con-
trast to the dismal. drizzling weather. Sec
rotary Percy G.. Smith, Solicitors Donnelly
and McClintock and several members of
the executive committee were at work at
an hour to indicate that they meant to
hook the worm. Although there no
committee meeting scheduled for last night.
yet Secretary Medford. Vice Chairman Heis-
ley and others were at headquarters till
late. Although all the gentlemen named
were industrious in the performance Of their
duties. yet they spared enough time to dis
cuss the situation with The Star man and
to tell him what they thought of the rail-
roads that lead to Washington.
Very many of the observations which
the committeeman made about the roads
were couched in parliamentary words, and
yet 1t is possible that at least one repre-
sentative of the roads would not have felt
fattered because of things which were said.
The committee Is provoked at the action of
the roads 1t is claimed by the committee
that the success OF the encampment and
convention hinges mainly upon the rates,
and that the bigger the success. the more
the roads will make Thus far the lines
have failed to announce rates and it is not
known positively whether they have con-
sidered the question. The opinion OF the
committee is that each road is holding back
through fear that another road may gain
some advantage.
Money From Steam Railroads.
1t is also stated that the roads have re-
fused TO make any contribution TO the fund.
The following is a copy of a letter which
was received yesterday by Mr. Goodhart
the chairman of the executive committee.
from Mr.. Robert A. Parke. passenger agent
of the southeastern division of the Penn
sylvania railroad:
referring to recent correspondence bear
ing on the subject of subscriptions to the
fund for the entertainment of visiting
knights or Pythias on she occasion of the
encampnIent in August next / beg to ad-
wise you that on account of the general de-
preston, which has had a very marked
effect on the earnings of transportation
lines, our company has not felt justified in
entertaining favorably the application on
the part of your committee for subscrip-
ton. l assure the executive committee that
our company stands ready and willing to
aid in any other way to make the encamp-
ment in this city a grand success. 1t is
thought that the disposition on the part of
the transI ortatiOn lines centering in Wash
ington to favor low rates and of having the
same properly advertised would, to a GER
tain extent. overcome the disappointment
natural on the part of the committee in not
receiving a subscription to the fund"
The committee is dissatisfied with this.
The street railroad companies, the river
steamship lines, the hotels and boarding
houses, and the merchants have been put
and to have the railroads hold back in this
fashion tends. IL is believed. to retard pro-
gress and jeopardiZe the encampment. The
committee think that II the matter is prop
ery placed before the heads of the rail-
reads, they will see that a contribution
is in furtherance of their own interests.
Try a Pc, sonal Visit.
1t is probable that a committee will go
over to Philadelphia tomorrow or next day
for an interview with General Passenger
Agent Wood OF the Pennsylvania road. and
perhaps other authorities of that corpora
ton. Chairman Heisley of the transporta-
ton committee is In favor of immediate ac-
ton in this matter. 1t is said to be UMPIRE
cedented for the railroads TO fail to help
along celebration of this kind. when they
are to be the chief beneficiaries of it,
The citizens of Washington are subscrib-
thinks that 1t is unfair # the railroads do
rot come into the fold. Chairman Heisley
will so over to Philadelphia just as soon as
he can get three or four members of the
transportation committee together
Gen. John E. Smith. the secretary Of the
committee. possibly has some information
on this railroad complication. but he could
not BE- found when the reporter called at his
| Office in the Warder building. II he has
| nothing satisfactory to report, he win also
be one of the committee to jump the train
| for an interview with the heads of the rail-
| roads that are kicking over the traces
Fiscal Advocates McClintock and Donnei-
| ly reported this morning that several good
size subscriptions were realized and that
there was an increasing confidence on the
part of the people in the greatness of the
affair and the reliability of the pledges
which have been made by the Grand Lodge.
Knights of Pythias.
Camp Notes.
Tonight is the time set for the first of the
two performances of the "Mikado'' to be
given at the Academy of Music by the
Ideal Opera Company for the benefit of the
e. campment. The advance sale is crafty
ing, but the sale of tickets tonight it is
thought, will be very heavy.
The committee on camp and camp grounds
are working with vim. Blue prints of the
proposed camp have been made, and the
cuts will soon be in the hands of the lodges
and divisions of the order in the United
States.
Among the requests for hotel quarters to-
day were those from Capt. j. Fl. Hoffman of
the second regiment CT Indiana and G. ].
Neubert of western grand lodge.
The committee on press is to hold a meet
ing tonight at the headquarters of the ex-
ecutfve committee. Several items of conse-
quence are expected to come up for con-
sideration, and the cause requires that
there be gOOdly attendance OF the men,
bers of this important and necessary COM
mittee.