Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-09-11
EXCITED STOCKHOLDERS
The Affairs Of the Peoples Transportation
Company Discussed.
A Long and stormy Meeting Held I.sss
Evening In Grand Army Hall
Various Statements.


an organization composed of colored people
OF this city. Norfolk, Richmond and other
pieces. which was Incorporated i'm this city
on the 9Th Of last May for the purpose OF
running a steamboat between this city and
Norfolk. The capital stock was placed at
5000. the shares being SO each. John w.
Patterson was elected president. together
with the usual number of directors The
latter part Of May the stockholders were
told that the purchase of the steamer Lady
Of the Lake had been decided upon, and
later il was understood that the boat had
been purchased. The latter part of May
the boat began running under the manage
ment of the company. For a time, SO a. Is
said. everything went along smoothly
enough. but after a while the stockholders.
or some Of them. became dissatisfied with
the management OF the affairs OF the COM
PAM and charges were at length made
that President Patterson was running the
company In his own way, and that his way
was not to the best interests OF the organi-
zation. Finally an investigating committee
was appointed to investigate the AFFAIRS OF
the company and repor- TO the stock hold
ers. At meeting Of the stockholders held
at Grand Army Hall on the ID instant the
committee reported that il was not in q
condition to make its report, and it was
given another week in which TO do SO.
Last evening between 100 and 80 of the
stockholders and their friends met at the
same place to hear the report Of tine CON-
mittee. The meeting was called TO order By
President Patterson shortly after o'clock
and Tor more than five hours a scene Of
confusion and disorder reigned. which has
seldom been equaled in this city. At tirres
the disorder was so great that the janitor
OF the hall Threatened 20 turn out the gas
and clear the room. The president found
himself utterly unable 10 preserve order
and quiet was only now and then secured
ny the apparent exhaustion OF the partici-
pants. AL manner OF charges were made
against the presidents conduct Of the sf-
fairs OF the company. and by certain Stock
holders against each other. Challenges 20
light were hung down. and only wiser
cOunsels prevented some of them from he
ing accepted, and the contests being SET
tied right then and there. The meeting
was opened by the Rev. George W. Lee in
voking the divine blessing, and then the re-
port Of the investigating committee Was
read
What the Report stated.
As explained by the committee. their re-
port was far from complete. and the CON-
mittee complained that its incompleteness
was due alone 10 the manner in which the
books Of the company had been kept ana
because OF the way the committee had been
obstructed by the president and officers OF
the company in their efforts TO get at the
real state of affairs. The committee re-
ported that the bill of sale for the boax
showed that the price was s42.5a. whereas
the president had assured stockholders thai
but $4,000 was the price. II was also
shown that the receipts Of the company. a.
shown by the books. amounted TO only
S.v64-s2. which amount the committee con-
tended did Lot truthfully represent the mat
ter The books showed that si2.9ea ~ had
peen received from the stockholders, $1,000
OF which was represented by the amoant
paid In by President Patterson The $40 ooNr
II was claimed by the opposition was hor.
Lowell money and that the boat was held
responsible for the sum. The comu,itfee
also reported that President Patterson haS
represented 20 the stockholders that SIS on
had been paid on the boat. leaving but
5000 yet to be met Yet explafnea fhs
committee. there remained a rnortVars ~,
the vessel of 10000
The moment the reading of the rer.ort
was nnlshed the confusion and disorder
Commenced. and. with very brief fntervaix
IL continued until about / ~ this rno-ntns
Mheh peace for the time was restored nv
tne adoption OF a resolution AUTHORIZING a n
auNisors committee TO revise the constitu-
ton and bylaws OF the Organization sa
that the president should hereafter conduc,
the anairs of the company under the err
VISION and advice Of the committee
Personal IaterchanEcs.
one OF the most exciting incidents of the
meeting was when Lawyer T. L. Jones
cried out that there was a cons.iracv az,
TO wreck the company in the interests az
certain unnamed white people Of this city.
The accusation was Indignantly denied bv
Mr. Hewlett who declared that he shotla
noia Mr.. Jones personally Responsible for
winch consideration Mr. Jones remars.a
mat he was exceedingly grateful to his
friend. and would be glad 10 give him an
the satisfaction he desired
Inc Rev. Mr.. Lee also Indignantly de-
Eled the accusation OF MIR. Jones and re-
marked that there were certain fuoui7is.
the stockholders would lik. the r,reSldeD, -,
answer IL he could. What the stockhol,s.rs
wanted 70 kIow, explained Mr. Lee was
now the price Of the boat was now SO go
instead of $4,000. as first stated? How. N
nSvo nae been paid on the boat there
stu remained a mortgage of $4,000 On tte
How the sls,oo had dwindled down 20 sia-
900? Where had the s2O.Oo0 paid I'm by the
stockholders gone to-
Mr.. Lees inquiries were greeted with
cheers and cries OF approval and President
Patterson endeavored TO explain but the
meeting was not inclined to listen 90 him
and II was only with the greatest difficulty
that he at length succeeded In stating that
the Increase of $500 In the bill of sale was
due to the fact that the owner had fftted
the boat out TO that amount. He also claim
ed that while $4,000 had really been paid
On the boat $500 of that amount WAS
represented in notes. which would not be
receipted for until they were paid aud that
nth all the notes had been paid the mort
gage would remain standing. He denied
that the committees report was q corset
or fair one. and contended that fun and fair
Investigation Of the books Of the comDs,ny
would show that every dollar had been ac-
counted for.
The presidents explanation did not sat
isfy the meeting. and the wrangling was
resumed with renewed force. So matters
ran until the opponents and adhcrsn.s Of
the president had about exhausted thc.n-
selves. and an adjournment was fin ny
taken long after I o'clock this morning.
The opponents Of the president explained
that the matter would not be permitted 10
rest. but that the courts would be invoked
HydroErnphic Map OF Coren.
The photographic office has issued a com
plete map OF Corea and the surrounding
waters and country. including TIE yellow
sea and the Gulf Of PechilH II was com
piled from the latest surveys and may
be depended upon as strictly reliable.
Modern Armament for the Alliance.
Arrangements have been made TO eqcit
ST. IA