Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-14
Mr.. CAMMACK TALKS
He Explains His Holdings of Capital
Traction Stock.
His VIEWS ABOUT CURRENT GOSSIP
Busy Scenes at the Building Com
mittee's Headquarters.
AWARDING CONTRACTS

The sessions of the committee in charge
of the reconstruction of the Capital Trac-
tion railroad have proved a center of at
traction for those who represent dealers in
various classes of material which will be
used i'll the work. The meeting today,
however. drew perhaps the largest assem-
biase since the committee was organized.
The committee began its sessions early in
the day and continued them for some
hours, each representative being admitted
and given a hearing by the committee.
Will this was going those who were
waiting their turns assembled in the large
room which is occupied by General Man
ager CARL, and which is used as d sort of
an ante-room for those who have business
with the committee. Concerns who have
motor cars TO sell. ard also those who wish
to supply the cable along which the electric
current is to be conducted in the conduit,
were given an audience today, ana .he COM
mittee listened to the advantages which the
different devices presented or are supposed
to present When the hearings have been
completed the committee will endeavor
digest what has been said, and the result
will be announced in the form of awards
of contracts.
The cables which were in the conduits
of the avenue and 1ith street lines. and
which have been purchased by the Column
bIa Railway Company of this city. have
been removed from the CODdultS, with The
exception of the Navy Yard cable. and havc
been removed to the power house of fhe
Columbia line The conduit is gradually
being denuded of its cable fixtures. prepar-
Gtory to the work of making ready for he
introduction of electric wires
Talk With Nr. Cnmmnck.
Mr.. John Cammack. who is The second
largest individual holder of Metropolitan
railroad stock, in conversation with Star
reporter this morning discussed rather
freely the street railroad situation. ,spe-
cially the relations of the Metropolitan and
CAPITAL Traction Companies. and referred
TO the current gossip relative to Il more in
innate connection between the two cor
porations- In regard to the latter phase OF
the subject he said that there was abso-
lUtCiy ground for the rumorS. Why"
he said. such a thing is not contemplated
and viii not he done
What reason have you for saying that
there Will be consolidation OF the two
companies" asked the listener.
Because, was the reply, lit would not
be in the interests of the Metropolitan Rail-
road Company We are doing we'll now.
and l believe the stockholders are salts
fed
Gould not inducements be offered great
enough to persuade the Metropolitan stock
holders 10 consent to such a scheme?" he
was asked.
Mr. Carnmack said that he could not an
swer that question, as he did not know
what was referred to. He had not heard
a proposition of this kind even discussed.
and therefore. of course, he could not know
of possible details of such Il hypothetical
scheme.
He then spoke of the stories circulated
tfat he was large owner of Capital
Traction stock. and said that he fiid not
believe he held more than one hundred
3hares of that stock. He added that his
original holding was due to the fact that he
held some bonds of the old Washington
and Georgetown Railroad Company. and
when that concern was merged into the
TTacfiOn hP bOQiG ted
into stock Recently. he sail. he had
bought about twenty shares of Capital
Traction. and this fact had. in his opinion,
given foundation for the report that he
was buying largely of Traction stock.
Mr.. Cammack said it had been asserted
frequently in the past that the Metropoli-
tan and the Columbia Railroad Compa MES
were practically run under tne same man
agement- He said that was a mistake as
those familiar with the affairs of the two
companies knew. but yet he added that
he a large stockholder in the Column
tia railroad. and so Is Mr.. Weaver. presi-
dent OF the Metropolitan. and is his aun:
ara other members of his family. Il and
others az above stated, are stockholders
in both companies. and Yet the marage-
nient Is distinct and both companies arr. in
prosperous condition
Mr.. Cammack added that it seemed to
him that this illustrated the possibility
which some people seem to think now i'm
possible of men being interested financially
IN TWO comp&nies without IL being neces-
sary that there should be q consolidation
He thought that this was an answer TO
the argument for the consolidation of the
Metropolitan and Capital Traction COM
Panies based on the fact that the same
men were stockholders in both companies
As tn Mr.. Phillips.
Mr. Cammack was asked in regard to
the present and future relations of Mr.
SGmue. l. Phillips with the Capital Trac-
tion road, and he said that his present
relations with tina. corporation were en-
ure4E dere fable to the management of
the metropolitan railroad. He referred in
thiS connection TO the action of the board
of directors of the Metropolitan read at
the regular monthly meeting which was
held yesterday afternoon. He said that
Mr. Philips, the consulting counsel of the
company. rendered his resignation as an
oflci'ti- The reason stated by Mr.. Phillips
Tor this action was the criticism arising
from his having accepted a position or tb,.
building committee of the Capital Trac-
ton Company Mr.. Cammack said that the
directors fefused TO accept this resigna-
tion and commended Mr.. Phillips for his
action in taking the place on the Traction
Companys building committee Mr. Cam
mack added that he was very glad to have
Mr.. Phillips give his valuable services TO
the Traction Company and ne believed
that he would superintend the work of re-
constructing that road in efficient a man
ner as he had performed similar duty for
the Metropolitan road
When Mr. Cammack was asked what his
opinion was of the rumors in regard 10
MI Phillips being made president of the
Capital Traction Company in the near
IutCre. he said that he did not believe
MI Phillips contemplated anything of the
sort. es he had resigned such a position
on the metropolitan road, and he did not
believe he cared to undertake to perform
the duties of such position
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