Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-24
TAX Bill sent
BACK 70 COMMITTEE
Continued from FRS. PAGE,

nation Of this report had satisfied him that
all the information thar could be obtain
ed on this subject hxa been secured from
the officers of the companies themselves
pany and the telephone company had no
opportunity to gfvo any Information.
Senator Patterson agaiu stated that the
SlsDoeQo0 q bonded indebtednsss repre-
In these railway companies and that the
$31 coo 900 was all "veivet.' and represent
ed the value OF the franchises. He said that
only recently has the value OF these fran
ehises been understood.
Two-thirds OF the real value OF these cor
poratfons. he said had cost nothing at all.
He declared that che possession OF these
franchises by private companies was the
cause OF 30 per cent OF municipal corrup-
ton. The managers of such corporations In
ali the large cities had corrupted city coun-
ellis and voters.
Does the senator from Colorado apply
that to the District Of Columbia p asked
Senator Gallinger.
+ The nature OF the municipal government
here makes II an exception replied Mr.
Patterson.
Senator Gallinger asserted that in the
cities that had been referred to the over
head trolley system had been used. and 1t
cost only one-hah as much as the con-
struction required In this city. He said
that one corporation has expended 100000
in experimenting on storage batteries.
These companies had been operated by
cable, and at the dictation of the committee
of the District of Columbia they had sub
stituted underground trolleys While D.
cent fare is charged in other cities, here SIX
tickets are given for 20 cents
Amount Saved to the People.
'rWill the senator from Colorado tell the
Senate how much is paid to the people of
the District by the sale of six tickets Tor
% cents instead OF charging a 5-cent fare?'
asked Mr.. Gallinger.
IL am not a lightning calculator re-
torted Mr.. Patterson.
Mr. Gallinger replied that the saving
amounted to $685. 600 year.
Mr. Patterson asserted that according to
a report made by the Departmens q Gom =,
passenger on municipal railway IN GREAT
Britain is 1 lilo cents
Mr.. Gallinger wanted to know why. II
that was the case. the street railways OF
Denver did not sell six tickets Tor 70 cents
instead Of a 5-cent fare
..The reason is" replied Senator Patter-.
son. "these utility corporations have cor
rupted every avenue to the paiioe poX ~, ~
franchises. They have expended large
sums of money in the purchase OF CITY
councils"
NO reason why these public utilities should
not pay as much taxes as the lhol'ioua'
property owner. -. 49,. ~
Senator GaQinger replied tnat they az
ready pay twice as much, and asked the
senator from North Dakota what he could
say about that .o.a
Mr.. Hansbrough replied that the state,
ment was so far from correct That ne couIo
not comment on H.
Municipal Ownership Advocated.
Senator Patterson of Colorado made long
speeeh in behalf of municipal ownership OF
public utility corporations.
Senator Blackburn declored that Senator
patterson's speech had nothing to do with
the question at issue, which was motion
to recommit the bill. He also contended
that the majority of the members OF the
committee knew nothing of the subJect m
volyed and that the bill should go back 1or
further consideration.
senator Pettus of Alabama said ne hoped
Congress would not change Its policy IN
dealing with the public corporations
Senator Martin of Virginia was In favor
of having hearings on the bill and ne said
that only two or three members OF the SUD
committee knew anything about the sup,
iect. The bill had not even been read ana
not over thirty minutes consideration had
been given TO 1t in committee.
After some further discussion. the Senate
without division, ordered the bill to be re-
committed to the committee on the District
of Columbia.