Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-21
BOTH SIDES HEARD
Statement by Marshall Hall
Steamboat Company.
CANCELLED CON TRACT
RESPONSE TO CHARGES BY MT
VERNON REGENTS.
Officials Aggrieved That Cnus of Ter
minating Relations Was Put
Upon Them.

The public statement made yesterday
that the regents of the Mt Vernon Ladies'
Association proposed to cancel the contract
with the Mt. Vernon and Marshall Hall
Steamboat Company for the carrying or
passengers by water between this city and
Mt Vernon came as a great surprise TO
every one, particularly to those Interested
in steamboat matters. The publication
contained the first intimatiOn that there
was any trouble between the regents ana
the Mt. Vernon boat management. The
reason assigned by the ladies. as was
stated in The Star yesterday. is that. be-
ing in sympathy with the public, which
has been called upon by the Mt. Vernon
Boat Company to pay advanced rates 10
the home of Washington for the past year,
they made strenuous efforts before renew
ing a contract with the company to have
it lower the rates to Mt. Vernon. Having
failed in their efforts to reduce the fare
unless the association would consent 10
impossible conditions, the relations be-
tween the association and the BOAT com,
pany will be closed the LIST of June and
the association in a position to make
contract with another boat company
A Star reporter called on Supt. Dodge.
In charge at Mt. Vernon. yesterday after
noon to obtain additional information re-
garding the controversy, but both Mr..
Dodge and his assistant, Mr.. Young. stated
that they had no knowledge of the matter
other than what had already appeared IN
the papers. The whole controversy, II was
stated had come up suddenly, and what
steps the regents proposed to take IN OF
der to secure steamer neither could say.
The lady regents had concluded the busi-
ness of their annual session at Mt. YER
non and had adjourned without taking any
further definite steps in the matter so TAR
as was known.
Admit No Controversy.
An official of the Mount Vernon and
Marshall Hall Steamboat Company, when
asked last night regarding the attitude of
his company with relation to the statement
issued by the regents, stated that his COM
pany had endeavored to please the ladies,
and to that end acceded to a reduction IN
the rate of fare between this city ana
Mount Vernon to 80 cents, but that the
comDany could not enter upon that poilcy
without a lease covering period OF years;
that the company had no controversy with
the ladies, and felt aggrieved that the onuS
of a failure to consummate conIact Hau
been placed upon the company. Fhe mount
Vernon and Marshall Hall Steamboat Com
pauy Yesterday sent a letter to the regents,
setting forth their position in the matter
The letter, which is dated the 2oth OF
MAY is addressed to the lady regents OF
the Mount Vernon Ladies AsSociat ioh anu
says:
I'VE observe in print. under date of May
90 1860 the inclosed clipping OF a state
ment which purports to have been MAGE "
your body. From the language OF the
statement it seems that It was the ihten--
ton of your body to make it appear 10 the
nublic that the steamboat company OF
which. / have the honor to be secretary had
refused. to meet you ia your eAdeaEorS, 70
reduce the rates to Mount vernon AS
el,c6 l. not the case it seem only fair ina
a. detailed Statement should be made OF the
The Prior Rate. 10
prior to April 80. 1904, the rate TO Mount
Vernon over the steamboat line was 80
cents. one-third of which was turned oyer
to the regents from time to time Begin
ming some time in 1904 the rate was IN
creased to 81. for the reason that the mum
her of passengers carried to Mount vernon
over the steamboat line had fallen on 10
such an extent, probably by reason OF ran
road competition, that the company oou t
no Ionger afford to run the boat Tor lhne
months in the year at the then exlsuhg
rate and consequently, the regents aSreeu
to an advance in the rate from 20 cents 10
81 one-fourth of which was pdiu oEei "
The Mount Vernon association, -.
III ~ thjs COM. ection it may be said that
daring the old regime, when Captains Biahe
and Mckibben were operating tne $50, -,
boat company, the number Oh p>ts-
cs rried TO Mount Vernon over the steam
To,t line was from two to three Times
greater than at the present time the en-
croachments of the railroad company theil
only commencing to manifest.
you will recall that only rev Gays ago
the officers of this company were invited
to attend on you at Mount Vernon. Upon
their doing So they were shown fes0iu-
tion of the Mount Vernon Ladies Associa-
ton to the effect that in future no con-
tract would he made with any steamDod'
company providing for higher fare than
a. cents. including gate admission
Business Run Without Profit.