Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-06
THE COLUMBIAN WINS
Gets Decision In Debate With
University Of Virginia.
SPIRITED GO MT EST
GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP OF
RAILWAYS THE SUBJECT.
vanquished Orators the Guests at a
Banquet at Riggs House
Last Night.
SPIRITED e co NTEST

Columbian University yesterday won Its
second victory in a debate with the Univer-
sity of Virginia. The meeting was public
and was held at the Lafayette Opera House.
The subject of debate affirmed THAT own
ership. operation and control by the fed
eral government of the steam railroads of
the country would be for the best interest
of the people," Virginia took the affilma-
tive side of the argument, being repre-
sented by John 1. Whey, Virginia; John w.
Wayiand, Virginia, and Roger B. Wood,
Maryland. Their Columbian opponents
were Milton M. bearing, Missouri; Bynum
E. Hinton, Arkansas, and Harold j. Pack,
Pennsylvania.
The speakers were introduced to the au
dence by Oliver c. Carpenter of Columbian
University. and the judges were Frank w.
Hackett, formerly assistant secretary of the
navy; Jesse B. Wilson. president Lincoln
National bank. and Rev, Wallace Radcliffe,
pastor of the New York Avenue Presbyte-
rian Church The guests of honor We're The
members of the interstate commerce COM
mission, who were deeply interested IN the
methods advanced by the young men to
settle the difficulties that have existed be-
tween the railroads and the public regard
ing freight rates and similar questions that
have been the bane of the commission for
to shed a great deal of light on the dues-
ton that has so long troubled the inter-
state commerce commissioners was ad-
vanced by the speakers for the Affirmative.
who told the audience how simple 1t would
be fer Congress to fix, rates for the rail-
roads that should be followed by those cor
pOrations
Compliments the Ladies.
The theater was we'll filled, Columbian
81, hot ma
in the majority. and many ladies being in
the audience. To the latter graceful COM
pliment was paid by Mr.. Wood of Virginia.
the third advocate on the affirmative side,
who depressed from his topic for moment
to say that he had expected to confront an
array of orators, but that he had had no
idea that he would appear before such a
charming array of beautiful women. He
then said that the highest compliment he
could pay the ladies; was, TO say that they
were as fair as the beautiful daughters of
old Virginia. He made a very entertaining
address and argued against his opponent,
Mr.. Hinton, who had said that If the gov
eminent controlled the railroads the pub
tic would be forever, trying to cheat the
roads; that Thomas Jefferson trusted the
people. and he did not think it unsafe to
follow the example Of such distinguished
leader. raent,y
The First Speakers.
Mr. Whey of Virginia. who confined his
speech to an effort to show. that the gov
eminent would make the operating of the
railroads a financial success. He quoted
statistics In abundance to prove his point.
Mr.. bearing was the first speaker for the
negative and told the audience how the
railroads ofsthe United Sta tes were operat-
ed on a mucfY better system than those of
England. where private ownership OBJ
tained.f or thoseTof Germany, where the
government was the proprietor. Higher
wages he said, were paid in this country
and the rates were lower than for like &C
commodationsf1n either of the countries he
had drawn upon for comparisons. "A con-
dition of this Sort, he argued needed no
change, for there could scarcely be room
for improvement.
Mr. Wayland of Virginia. the next speak
er, said that a call for a change In owner
ship had been made because of the reck-
less disregard of human life shown by the
railroads, of their Indifference to the public
comfort and the public rights, and to their
unjust determinations in favor or certain
sections and against others.
1.-THE time has come for a change. he
said land the country demands 1t. At this
moment instead of the government owning
the railroads the railroads own the govern
ment, and show 1t in their every act"
The Closing Addresses.
This line of argument was met by Mr..
Hinton, who combated it by saying that
the civil service law could not be trusted
to the task of operating the railroads. for
the civil service is as yet a good deal of an
experiment and did not command the full
confidence of the people.
Mr.. Pack. the last speaker for the mega
tive. talked extemporaneously, contradict
ing the arguments of his opponents and pro-
ducing figures to show that his colleagues
contentious had been founded on fact. He
also made brief summary of the points
made by his side. =.
few moments were then occupied by
Mr.. Wood In rebuttal.
The finding of the judges, based on the
merits Of the debate. was in favor Of Co
lumbar. A reception was last night ten
dered to the team from Virginia at the
Riggs House by their opponents, at which
were present many ladies and students.
The Virginians left for Charlottesville after
the reception.