The Washington herald., 1907-02-01

the hearing yesterday before the House
District Committee between Representa-
tive Madden. of Chicago. and Gen. Har-
ries, general manager of the Washington
Traction Company Madden resented the
charge which he said had been made by
Harries that he was being used for stock
iobbing purposes.
Gen. Harries has presumed TO question
my motives" declared the Illinois Repre-
sentative. He has written my friends
that he cannot believe am sincere in my
fight for better facilities for the people of
Washington. lie has written them that ]
am being used for stock-jobbing pur-
poses"
The alteration occurred when Chairman
Babcock asked Mr. Madden about the
terms Of his bin providing for universal
transfers. The bill contains a clause re
curing the street car companies and
other public-seTvtce corporations 10 pay
10 per cent Of their gross earnings as
taxes.
Would you reqUire?" asked Mr. Bah
cock. that a tax like that should be i'm
posed on all roads alike? Remember that
lAilN 30 bAf rAAfEA III Nil4i fftiLlN mere TIA
barely meets expenses, while there is an
other that is able TO count 80 per cent OF
its receipts as profit"
To this Mr.. Madden said that taxation
must constiutionaHy be equal. and that
Il could not be lightened on the weaker
corporation without letting the rich ones
go free III you buy piece Of real estate
that costs you $4,000 but produces no
revenue. that does not excuse you from
taxes. Then you must remember that
these companies are affiliated. It is all
one thing I lose money on a great part
Of the goods ] sell. but ] make good
profit on a few other things. and / sell
the many things cheap in order that 1
may sell the few things at a high profit.
That is the way it works"
When Mr. Madden proceeded To say
that the street car service in Washington
was vile, Mr. Babcock interrupted To say
that he was astonished 10 hear a man
from Chicago say that. when the service
there was so famously bad Because the
service is bad in Chicago replied Mr..
Madden. lis no reason why I should not
speak of conditions here"
And ] want 10 say" be added with
much emphasis, that on the line up
town 20 Mount Pleasant people are piled
on top OF each other like so many hogs.
And when you speak 20 Gen. Hauies
about this he laughs
There Was IA Letter.
Gen. Harries. who was sitting at the
other end Of the table, was quick 10 rise
and evidently eager to get into the pro-
ceedings. he tried several times TO get "a
sentence started, but Mr.. Madden went on
in a fine. cool manner with what he had
10 say
Now. if / may be allowed 10 laugh al
Alr Madden-' broke in Gen. Harries,
but he could not finish
Before you begin" insisted Mr. Mad
den, L want 10 say that Gen. Harries
has presumed 20 question my motives
He has written letters TO friends Of nine
saying that De dld not believe / was sin
cere i'm my fight for better facilities for
the people Of Washington. He has writ
ten to them that I was not sincere in
this street railway bilI and that I was
being used for stock jobbery purposes
Gen. Harries was an this time trying
TO get word in edgewise, but he could
not get under Roadway against MI Mad
den's steady stream Of charges.
II want 90 say to YOU said Mr.. Mad
den. looking straight at Mr.. Harries, that
you nor any man living can use me as
YOU said in yOur letter"
Il have written no such letter. eX-
claimed Gen HaTTies. Amy letter / may
have written can be shown 10 the COM
mittee."
Il have the letter in my possession, "
retorted Mr. Madden. and I viii show
it to the members Of the committee"
Put il in the Record suggested Rep
resentative Sims
"Oh. no. / don't want 20 do that; but
am ready 10 show it," replied Mr.. Mad
den.
Gen. Hdrries then went on to say that
the Connecticut avenue lines were run on
a two-minute schedule In the rush hours
and n three and I'VE minutes at other
times Mr.. Madden said he had had to
wait twenty minutes for cars.
If YOU can prove that" challenged
Gen. Harries, Il will give $500 20 any
Chicago charity YOU may name"
When 1 want contributions for Chi
cago charitiessI viii make them myself,
answered Mr.. Madden
Mr.. Madden spoke of the 3-cent fares in