Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-31

To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
1 regret to again feel obliged to ask for
space in your paper so that 1 may straight
en- out some of the allegations" made by
those alluded to in the gossip, in the arti-
Gle in the issue of the 26th instant, erti-
tied Railroad Rivalries,'' 1 get in it
a double dose; first as private person,
second as a person identified with the
Metropolitan Railroad Company, who is
meddling with the affairs of the Traction
Company.
My official relation to the Metropolitan
Company had nothing whatever to do with
my efforts for the reduction of the SAL
aries of the Traction Company, nor did
l attempt to get into print until other
parties introduced to the public notice
what always considered the private mat
ters Of the company. AS has been stated
heretofore in The Star, am stakeholder
in the Capital Traction Company. / have
a personal interest in 1t, and also i'm my
wife's one-third interest in the late Gill
bert Vandcrwerken's holdings. SO no one
can deny 1 had right to hold an opin-
Ion as to salaries and other matters and
to address the directors I'm the manner
did. I had also a perfect right to get
Up that petition and solicit signatures to
it. and the Metropolitan Company had
nothing whatever to do with the matter.
The directors claimed that the petit
ton had no influence on the traction
board nor had the Truett-Gaegler report in
causing the reduction of salaries which
die take place. If that is so 1t seems we
were on the right track at least, and are
gratiied TO know that majority of their
directors thought the subject worthy of
consideration, and that they also con-
sidered the salaries too high.
Mr.. Truetts report to the salaries of
a CORPORATION of the same class as the
Capital Traction Con pany was not mis-
leading, as the salaries Of that company
the MISUNDERSTANDING the pay of all
salaries, both monthly, yearly and the pay
of directors, is less than $4,000. In that
connection the suggestion of an auditing
committee similar to sthat of the Capt.
tai Traction Company would be welcomed
and assisted by the Metropolitan Company
AS to the evidences of hostilities." the
public may not know that when the Cap
1tal Traction Comrany's power house was
destroyed and before the fire was extin-
guished the Metropolitan Company tender
ed to the Traction Company in the most
magnaninous spirit all the aid it possibly
could. throwing open its doors and invit-
ing the Traction Company to help itself
to anything belonging to it that was need
ed, excepting what it was itself using.
IT II mas also loaned the Traction Company
tenn and all information it possessed, even
suggesting that its management could
avail itself of the experience gained in
the Metropolitan's successful achievement
of underground electric system!
This spirit fas In no wise diminished
that l know of.
AS 10 ieS1slatlcn-the Metropolitan will
not even throw pebble in the way of
the Traction Company. while keeping to
Its legitimate sphere of action but when
1t asks Congress for legislation which
brings 1t In unwarranted competition with
the Metropolitan's own proper privileges.
OF course 1t will fight such bill ali 1t
can.
Concerning the loop at 14th street and
Howard avenue I cannot think that any
authorized agent Of the Metropolitan Com
pany would say that the Traction Com
pany would not build the loop, but the
fact is patent that connection will in
the future be made from the north end
OF the 9th street line and the north end
OF the Columbia road branch of the Met
ropolitan system. The people are calling
for 1t. and the Metropolitan Company
must contend for it's right to make that
connection. They only asked to be allow
ed at the proper time 10 go around there.
Considering the Capital Traction Com
pany's loop south of the avenue and west
q 18th street. that Is something in which
the Metropolitan Company is not at ali
Interested. The Traction Company must
meet the forces Of the Columbia road on
that field. o.'
I have not the honor of being the father
in-Iaw OF the Rev. Mr.. Truett. He married
daughter of the late Gilbert Wander
werken. who was a large stakeholder in
the w. and G. r. r.
January 20, 1885, A. B. GRIINwEII