Evening star., 1897-01-16


| laws. the present corpora tion, known as
| the Potomac Electric Power Company, was
| thus organized, and to 1t all the rights and
| property Of tn, the previous company We're
"A few months ago transfer of all the
| electric lighting work Except that done
| by the lexington Railway Company for us)
was made to the new station above re-
| ferred to, which station has of the very
latest machinery capacity normal of 25D
horse power, but which can be worked for
reasonable time to about 5000 horse
power" /
The letter goes on to relate number of
details concerning the plant operated by
the Potomac Electric Power Company, and
concludes by relation of the company's
proceedings in the courts of the District
and also the proceedings In Congress af-
fecting the company's interests. Speaking
| of the latter, Mr.. Crosby says:
AS we mad at the time Of our appear
made an honest investment of a good many
thousands of dollars, and as that invest
| ment was already threatened with destruc-
t,on by Juoge Rnghams decision, we
urged. with respect to the particular point
OF public lighting, concerning which we ap-
Feared before the appropriations commit
tee, that language should be used leaving
Of Congress, that the United States Elec-
trio Lighting Company had the sole right to
do this work. 1t was not then, nor did 1t
appear later to the committee, question of
ing was to be dcne."
Interesting Conversation.
The inclosure referred to in Mr.. Crosby's
letter relates to an alleged conversation be-
tween Mr.. Stevens, Mr. F. B. Conger and
Mr.. Goldsmith, and is signed by Charles
P. Williams. The statement follows:
Mr.. Conger came to. our office on the
morning of December 2,s1S96.
Mr.. Conger stated that he had had some
conversation with Mr.. Crosby in regard to
publishing matter regarding the Potomac
I,lght and Power Company in the Times:
. .Eat MI. crosby had told him he would lay
the matter before his associates that he
Mr.. Conger, had called at Mr. Crosby's Of
nee and found him out of the CITY and
that Mr. Lieb had told him to come ind
see MI stevens; Mr. Conger asked Mr.
stevens II MIR. Crosby had spoken to him
about the matter. Mr. Stevens said YES
put ne dld not fully understand the matter:
MT MMr. Cohger then said that last year the
iinas INES m NAG printed about eighteen thousand
ilhes lor the United States Electric Light
ing Company. and that while he was no
longer IN the employ of the Times. he still
iS nelo very intimate relations with the peo-
PIE connected with the Times, and he
S Souia pe glad to bring them to see Mr..
stevens. Mr.. Stevens asked Mr.. Conper
what Mr.. Thomas paid the Times. and he
naIu the rate 1or such matter was one dol
fau tar per llne; but he did NOT know the exact
mace at the Times office, but that the
gentleman whom he would bring to see
MN MN would have full authority to name
and r. ve,s e,c', ana anything he says goes
anu anu II you cannot come Together, nothing
ing ''ne VI ealk-
On the morning of December 3 Mr. Con-
esn ca..eo sh at the bank, and with him
zane me man. whom he introdu ced as Mr.
Goidsmith, manager Of the Times NJ.
GOLDSMITH stated that Mr. conger had toId
q! S.la Oh the conversation he had with Nj
called 70 S"e Gay previous. and he had
Uaiitu , 10 See II the Potomac connanv
would IKE to have the Times use its i
nrehcs to secure favorable legislation etc
ml.h mr stevens ee then said that he was very
Times had printed at tha .ae article which the
d, as 1t was lot of faiseI1oojs and -,;sl
representations from beginning to nn5
~. MI stevens then read the article referred
u, and called attention to each nart 81 81
same, and wherein it was u pa "
stevens stated that he was perfecfiv Iii
ing and glad TO have the Times nv ,nr
vtner thn n paper PRINT their opinions regardins
tne fotomac Light and Power Com1a,S, s as
long as they confined themseI,,as so
uuth' put last winter the Times nutIisnS
na,, s aLtlcles regarding the Potomac con,-
that mliich were damaging and false hut
tnat those interested in the comnan,r -. ~.
100 busy to give such matters atta,te Meie
~ lr9 noM they mad more time, and should
M .ne 1lmes feel called to print faisehaoao
"otio near from them.
Mr. Goldsmith said he desiraa .. -
press upon Mr.. Stevens the fact Ibt IN M
1oaaly ne mad the kindest feeling for tha
4 iotomac company; he believed thev W.
IL III. 'ue rignt and would win In the end
put that 1t was a matter of business n,itt
tnem that years axo to sell ,ha en ~
VI the columns of paper to influence ,ao;s
,auoh ana public sentiment wouId hswa
NC. u.un iihe seillng mans honor, but now If
was charged the sale of advertising snace
ana subscriptions would nor bring ~
eloush money to pay expenses hence the na-
PC must resort TO other means of support.
uiah .nas 1ast M year they had an arrangement
with Mr. A. A. Thomas, president Of The
Cnlted states Electric Lighting Comnanv
10 PRINT whatever matter regarding tbe
electric situation he furnished, and thav
Th Tao printed about ls.o00 lines; that Mr.
ihomas subsidized the paper in that wav
Mr. stevens asked how much 1t would cost
IN 1ne Fotomac company to subsidfze the
lines, lines IN that way; Mr.. Goldsmith said the
Iigd ltgdiar a rate OF reading matter of that
asked Mr Goldsmith II he was to under
stand that the United States Electric I,irht.
ing company paid them $4,000. Mr.. Gold
i'S Nh s.ss.as answer about that sum. Well said
Mr. stevens. how much would 1t cost the
notomac company to subsidize the Times.
Mr Goldsmith said he would like to know
:! tne fotomac company would ask for any
,ustner ,u legislation: FMr. Stevens said he
lnougnt that would depend largely upon
circumstances. Mr.. Cenger said that he
thought that additional legislation would
De necessary. Mr.. Stevens then said, well.
suppose 1t is. what then? Well, said Mr'
eoiasmath, we would require a guarantee
OF loOoo lines How much is that? asked
MI Stevens One dollar per line, said
Mr goldsmith. Mo- said Mr. Stevens I
mean how~much space; how many lines in
column? About go, said Mr.. Goldsmith,
and there are about ninety days of this
session of Congress. Mr.. Stevens: In
round numbers. then, that would be one
article day of about half a column. or
100 lines. Mr.. Goldsmith said he would
suggest that hl.fead of han a column each
day the Potomac eoEnpspy do as the
United States company aid 1ast year, print
syo e0eanh or thrss Or aays souPn ann half every
Mr. stevens-Your proposition is to sell
the columns Of the Th1esto the Potomac
Mr. Goidsmith-It anbunts to that.
"Mr. stessaa1 thtnaswe could print
that
Mr.. Goldsmith-No. indeed; 1t costs us
5000 week, and wea have to sell space
and use our influence in Influencing legis-
lation by defending orr attacking corpora
Nons to get this money!
Mr. xye,1tI Ian