Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-11


the Chicago rate of 5 cents straight they
would have been 81. $50, 1885, BY our low
rates we leave in the pockets of t..e citi-
zens, according to these figures $261, 800. 81
Our taxes, based upon receipts of 1906,
were SIS, GEO. Whoever denies that our road
is not generous does not know what gen.
crosby is
Inquiry by Commissioner West.
Mr.. West asked the speaker if the net
revenues and yearly dividends would be
materially affected if the 20 per cent tax
on gross receipts was made, as provided
in the Madden bill.
Yes" the railway president answered
emphatically. I'VE can't stand it. We
would be unable to spend another cent for
improvements, which the citizens yell
ing g, for ~
lop," Commissioner West inquired, that
your road built an extension of three miles
built large car barn. several years ago
without borrowing cent and using only,
the revenues of the company"
No, sir. We borrowed the money! he
answered.
'All of it?' Mr. West wanted to know.
We'll, not all of it, Mr.. Dunlop said.
I'VE used part of our earnings for such
improvements
What part of the cost did you borrow
Mr.. West inquired.
Il don't propose to give the exact fig
diSS; NIL buiIOp replied. L uOn lIillh
1 have to furnish you the private figures
of my company. If you have the power to
put me under oath and compel me, I'll tell
you L Will say though, l am. going to give
these figures and some other figures you
will want to know before a committee of
Congress in a few days
w. NICK. Clayton's Idea.
Il think President Dunlop is wrong when
he says there is demand or wish for
universal transfers. w. Nick. Clayton de-
clared. Universal transfers is the uni
versal sentiment of the citizens of Wash
ington. 1t is only just that We are given
these benefits. 1t would mean no loss to
the company
Mr.. s. Sowerbutts of ia Monroe street,
AnacOstia, offered as remedy for the
transfer question the selling of ten tickets
for % cents or else the establishment Of g.
cent fares and the doing away with trans
fers altogether.
I'VE are told" he said, that the two
companies are carrying passengers under
the present arrangements at about three
and one-naf cents, and if the three-cent
fares were adopted and transfers abolished
think the average public and the company
would profit by it,
The Commissioners asked Mr.. Dunlop
what he thought of such proposition. and
he said it had never been considered seri-
ousy
Il think. though. he added, that to do
away with transfers entirely and give
would suffer, and don't think it would be
as profitable to the public as it would be
to the railroad companies"
Three-Cent Fares.
Three-cent fares in the District, instead
of universal transfers, were also advocated
by j. w. Nye Of Langdon, D. c. These
companies contend they are carrying US at
rate as low as 81 cents at present." he
said land are giving us transfers on their
own lines well. Then why do they not
do away with transfers and reduce the car
fare to three cents? l think the whole
question would be quickly and satisfactorily
settled in that manner and no one would
be the loser.
Mr.. Nye then took occasion to tell of the
car service to Langdon and vicinity
THE cars are inadequate and are run on
poor schedules" he declared, land l think
something should be done to compel better
service for the suburbs. If the three-cent
fare is not considered reasonable then l
would like to the Madden bill enacted,
if it will assure better service
w. F. GUIDE, secretary of the Business
Mems Association, and president of the Pet
worth Citizens Association, was the next
speaker. He stated that he believed the
Madden bill would inf1ict a hardship upon
the railroad companies and would mean
financial loss to them. II would not like to
see an injustice done the companies" he
remarked, but I would like to some
thing DONE and done quickly, which would
better the service of the two companies"
Service Should Be Bettered.
D. w. Oyster, also of the Petworth Citi-
zens' Association, took occasion to criticise
one of the companies, and suggested that
something be done to better the service. He
stated that he approved the Madden BILL
and if it could be shown that it's provisions
would not act as too much of a hardship
on the railroads he would like to see it
enacted.
The hearing was concluded with remarks
by Gen. George Harries of the Washington
Electric Railway Company. He said the
Madden bill was unreasonable In every pro-
vision. Universal transfers would cause
great complications, he said. and the five
minute schedule would add to the cost Of
operating the road about 81 600 a day, and
would add 1866 annually to the cost of
operation, for which there would be no pro-
portionate increase in revenue from addi-
tional patronage. This would be eX-
ceptional hardship, he said.
"Thc paying OF 20 per cent on our gross
earnings as tax in lieu of personal tax,
he said, would be impossible, and should
not be considered.
Matter of Franchises.
When asked by Commissioner Macfarland
If he could state just what he thought the
two railways here owed for their franchises,
Gen. Harres replied that under prevalent
conditions and the uncertainties of legisla-
ton he did not think the roads owed any
thing for the franchises.
Don't add to the burdens of a corpora
ton. - he said. Just because II bears the
name of a corporation Conditions are such
now, owing to legislation and proposed
legislation that it is impossible to induce a
New York capitalist to invest a dollar
here"
Others who spoke were w. H. Tucker of
the Northeast Washington Citizens x4sso-
ciation w. Mosby ~ lliams of the East
Washington Citizens Association. and d.
D. Carl Of the Capital Traction Company.