Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-16
S 7 R EET RAIL ROAD S
Views Of Director stellwagen Of the Cap.
ital Traction Co.
what He Snys of Current Gossfp
seiectfon of Motor Cars Being Com
sidered by Building Committee.

The building committee of the CapitaI
traction Company continues it's daily ses-
sions at the offices of the company in the
Union station in Georgetown. Yesterday
and today the committee was occupe,1 In
considering the merits of the various motor
cars, specimens OF which were submitted
by representatives of the several manu-
featuring concerns. Jointly with this sub
Ject the committee took up that of Cable
wires to be used in the transmission of the
current in the conduit. Owing to the i'm
portance Of these two matters the COM
mittee Is going into them in detail and
Is endeavorins to reach a conclusion as
promptly as possible.
Views of Mr.. Stellyvaxeu.
Inc discussion of the various phases of
the street railroad situation continues and
while the stockholders Of the CAPITAL Trae-
ton and the metropolitan railroads are is;
might naturally be expected. intereslHd,
still there is evident desire on the part or
TIE outside public to keep posted as to al,
the late developments. For this reas son the
views OF Mr.. John Cammack, as published
in Thursdays Star, were the subject of
considerable comment
"A Star reporter happened to meet Mr.
Edward j. Stellwagen, a director of the
Capital Traction Company, who when
spoken to about this interview with Mr..
Cammack remarked that he regretted to
ma In the latter part of the article referred
10 the repetition OF the rumor that Mr..
Phillips was to be made president of the
Traction Company.
II cannot understand" continued Mr..
Stellwasen. why such misstatements
should continue to be made and published
In regard to the relations existing between
Mr.. Phillips and the Capital Traction Com
pahy, when the exact facts If not already
known. are SO easily obtainable.
AS every one is well aware who has
taken the trouble to learn the truth ab6uf
this matter. the management of the Cap
1tal traction Company has nothing to con-
ceai IN regard to the motives which led to
securing the services of Mr.. Phillips When
| the company was confronted with The
emergency caused by the destruction of its
central power station 1t was found that q
large amount Of costly work had to be con-
tracted for and completed with the greatest
possible dispatch. 1t was realized that 1t
was a time when all mere personal differ
eEces should be set aside. IL any existed
paramount.
Why Mr. Phillips Was Invited.
THE board of directors. realizing that
Mr.. Phillips, who is a smart, capable gen.
tleman, az well as large stakeholder of
the company, possessed from his recent ex-
perience In installif g the electric system for
Tic MetTopoHtau ROAD general as well as
technical information which would be of
great service to the Traction Company in
equipping its lines. decided to invite Mr..
Phillips to atterd one Of it's meetings. Mr..
Phillips very kindly consented, and in the
discussion at this meeting the suggestion
was made that 1t would be most desirable
to secure Mr.. Phillips cooperation. and
hence the construction committee, of which
he Is a valued member.
The board has acted in this matter in the
way which seemed for the best interests of
the company, and there is every reason to
believe that the course taken was a vice
one.
There is no intention, however, of max
ing MIR. Phillips the president of the road
and the repeated publication of this sug-
gcstion I personally know Is as distastcrul
to that gentleman as 1t Is without founoa-
ton In fact.
About Consolidation Gossip.
Now, as to the current gossip about the
consolidation of the two roads. The man
agement of the Capital Traction Company
know nothing of such a scheme, and 1 be-
lieve that the dill ectory of the Metropolitan
read is equally unaware that such a propo-
sition is being entertained. OF course do
not pretend to say what will be done in the
future and perhaps the distant future. 1t
is quite possible that outsiders may at any
time gain controlling interest in the two
roads and consolidate them. The CONSOLE
dation Of such interests seems to be the
order of the day. and of course it is not at
all impossible that such thing may be
done here. / say. however, positively that
the present management has no such idea
and that the relations Of Mr.. Phillips with
the Capital Traction Company do not war
rant such a conclusion"