Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-19

interest on ''watered" stock. He ventured
the assertion thN EFT g the Capital Trac-
and Electric company's lines could be du-
plicated by an expenditure Of S5.000,O00.
At this point Gen. Harries interrupted to
ask II the gathering was one of sane men.
He declares the statement made by Mr..
Smith was utterly absurd and could not
be borne out. Gen. Harries safd TIE COM
panies controlled by the Washington Rail-
way and Electric Company operate 140
MI 81 Smith reitera aag. that his statement
was correct. He argu6d further In favor OF
q universal transfer system. The Old Do
minion companY would give transfers. he
asserted s = and and onseeaen',tly' the people
Free Transfers Wanted.
eff the Capital Traction Company should
build it's proposed line, would that satisfy
your association Representative Sims
asked.
Mr.. Smith replied that 1t would II trans
fers were granted. The residents OF Capt.
tol Hill are opposed to the construction or
any line unless transfers are granted TO an
other lines at intersecting points Tor the
continuous ride in any one direction.
Isn't the present rate of car rare IN tne
District satisfactory" Mr. Smitn Was
asked by Representative Davis OF Ninhe-
sofa.
Perfectly so.'' replied Mr.. Smith.
.Then what does 1t matter how much the
companies pay for the construction OF tneir
roads Ii they give satisfactory ratef mI.
Davis continued.
Mr.. Smith. in reply, said he had cited the
cost Of construction to show that IL was ia
the power Of the companies operating III
the District to grant free transfers at every
point Of intersection. =.
Representative Morrell than asked II
the Capital Traction Company snouiu
agree to give transfers, would the resi-
IL Il.
Smith, favor its proposed extensions.
II do not know that we would FAVOR
it." replied Mr.. Smith. we ieei very
grateful to the Great Falls and Ola DO
minion Company for its promised reheI'
We tried in vain for many years TO per-
suade the existing companies to give US
a north and south line on Capltol HILL
and they refused to do so. NOW the com,
pany comes into the HELD anu Says ~ '" III
build the line"
Mr.. Morrell asked If the residents would
prefer the Old Dominion line and run the
risk of it's not giving or not being able
to give transfers to the other lines, or
let the Capital Traction Company pulIo
the road, the latter company being re-
Quired by law to grant certain transfers.
Mr.. Smith said in conclusion that the
people of Capitol Hill would not desire
either road unless teh transfer facliltles
were satisfactorily arranged in advance
of the construction.
Milford Spohn for the New Road.
Mr. Ridout next introduced Mr.. Milford
Spohn chairman of the legislative COM
mittee of the Central Labor Union, which
he stated was a representative body OF
the trades organizations Of the city,
composed of ninety-two locals. with an
aggregate membership of 10000
Mr.. Spohn declared the new road to be
an absolute necessity. The working men
favor it, he said. because they are tired
Of the domination of the two existing
companies. The speaker asserted that
the Capital Traction and Washington
Electric Companies. profess to own all
ants, and always refer to the presump-
ton of any outside companies proposing
to use "our StresfS."
Mr.. Spohn said he believed in healthy
competition, and he thought If the indie
pendent company were allowed to enter the
so independent in the future. Despite the
statements of President Dunlop, Mr.. Spohn
expressed the belief that the Capital Trac-
ton Company's cross town bill was offered
in bad faith.
Aren't the two companies now operating
in the District independent companieS?
asked Representative Sims.
"Ostensibly they are replied Mr.. Spohn.
But they work together just the same.
Mr.. Dunlop has told you today that his
company did not like to invade the terri
tory of the other company. Mr. Dunlop
says he will take certain streets, and Gen.
Harries says he will take certain streets,
and there you are"
Well" continued Mr.. Sims, "are you
sure you would get any better competition
with three companies than with two?"
Mr.. Spohn thought the competition would
b. keener.
At this point an adjournment was taken
until Thursday morning at 1O:3 o'clock.