The Washington herald., 1907-02-07

borough was in great doubt. but said he
thought it was $4,000 a year In closing
Mr.. Goldsborough promised that there
would no doubt be q reduction OF the
price of gas in Washington.
Railroad Transfers.
This closed the discussion of gas for
the morning. and Mr.. G. T. Dunlop. presi-
dent Of the Capital Traction Company
was started on most interesting ex-
animation as to universal transfers. Mr..
Sims asked him if he opposed such trans
fers. and he said he did. Mr. Sims took
up the existing law for free transfers and
asked why il was not obeyed. Mr.. Dunlop
explained that the law in question was
due to efforts Of Mr.. Rand!e in trying
to get his Anacostia line over into Wash
ington. The plan was to connect with the
Capital Traction at the navy yard gate
An experimental line was laid did not
work. was torn up, and the whole scheme
fell through Mr.. Dunlop said that his
company had always obeyed the law, and
it was not necessary to put a penalty in
law to make it do so. He insisted that
the law does not require the Capital
Traction to give transfers over the Met
ropolitan line. The statement of Com
missioner Macfarland in regard 10 the
matter was, he thought. Inaccurate and
unfortunate. tie was surprised that II
should have been made. IT was done
after "a conference with the District attOr-
ney. and probably based on a report made
at that time. MIR. Dunlop said it was I'M
fair for the Commissioner 10 make such
a statement
"Our company is for fair and square
dealing" declared Mr., Dunlop with en-
phasis. you viii find in that law the
word both I was watching that legjsla-
ton, and I put that word both in there,
and il means something. Ny company is
always ready 10 obey law whether there
is penalty or not If it was a bad law,
we might take the matter TO the courts.
But we viii obey the law otherwise
Mr.. Sims here unfolded a statement as
10 the capitalization Of the Capital TraC-
ton Company. He brought up the pur-
chase Of the Washington and Georgetown
Company by the Rock Creek Company,
the change of name and recapiJaliZ1tion.
Mr.. Dunlop said that was the case, and
that not a dollar of cash passed I'm the
deal. The stock went down 10 T. cents
and was now up TO Ill There was ROW
out i'm bonds Sl.0S000o. Mr.. Sims charged
Z
sale of the powerhoUse site to the gov
eminent for the municipal building had
been paid 10 stockholders as dividends.
and Mr. Dunlop admitted IL had Mr..
Sims pointed out that without debt, and
with betterments being paid for out of
earnings. the company had gone on paying
dividenos TO the amount of Si50Gu00 since
the change and yet was unwilling to
allow free transfers. In effect, the eight
eeE miles Of added track had been capt.
talized az $685. too per mile This MI
Dunlop had to admit He. last week. had
said that it cost $40 COO per mile TO lay
such track. Mr.. Sims wanted TO know
how much water was i'm the $3.50 Cos.
Not q drop, replied Mr. Dunlop.
Would Build More RoHds.
Referring to the a per cent tax paid 10y
the company on gross earnings, Mr.. Sims
said it was the lowest tax on earth Mr.
Dunlop didn't think So and Mr. Sims
said that stock at III ought % indicate
greater value in the plant and stock OF
/ the company, and there should DE a
larger tax The stock. he said. was 50
good it would some day go to 2oo.
I'll make it go to 550" declared Dun
/ lop with some vehemence.
you are selfish about this" said Mr..
Sims. we arc trying % do something
for the public"
I'VE are willing said Mr.. Dunlop, Ito
build more lines out into regions where
roads are needed. and then there viii be
no demand for transfers We have had
"a bill here for four years and cannot get
/ il through. We wanted TO build down
/ New Jersey avenue and along Florida
avenue. and down Eighth street north
/ east to Pennsylvania avenue.
IF you get that line. viii YOU give
/ transfers. asked Sims
NO. we WON'T replied Dunlop. holly
/ They won't need them. then"
/ Mr. Dunlop went on TO say that his
/ company would not oppose any restric-
\ ton that was legal but would resist be-
1 ing made TO haul passengers free
/ Representative Smith, of Michigan
/ asked him if he would take the Detroit
plan of ten tickets for a quarter during
I the rush hours. and six at other hours
/ Mr.. Dunlop said lac would not Mr.. Beid-
/ Ter asked If ne would like the Columbus
/ system. where seven tickets were given
/ for "A quarter, and the receipts OF the
/ company had been steadily growing. Mr.
I Dunlop thought that the fact that the
/ columbus company had "a monopoly III
\ their city made q difference.
Mr.. Sims asked why he allowed trans
/ fers over the Old Dominion and not Ia
/ the Washington Traction Company.
"Oh. that is different" replied Mr. Dun
/ Top. The Old Dominion is at our termin-
us. The other road taps us at thirty
points"
/ Forty interrupted Gen. Harries.
Would You be willing TO have the mat
/ ter of transfers between the roads regu.
/ lated by the Commissioners
! "Oh. the Commissioners" retorted Mr.
/ Dunlop. with an expression Of extreme
/ disgust ON his face. IF we ever come "a
/ that I viii be out What do they know
! The Outburst Of laughter at this pre-.
vented Mr Dunlop from speaking for
/ several minutes
They are supposed to know" re,
marked Mr.. Sims. alphabetically
Yes. and the fellow who thinks hC
/ knows it alI," replied Mr.. Dunlop
/ knows nothing
] With an 0minOus statement as 70 the
! purpose of the Capital Traction Company
to obey the law, but to so into the courts
| if its rights were trenched on, Mr.. Dun.
/ Top closed.
DISAGREES WITH FRISCO.
Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce