Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-19

Mr.. Truesdell explained that he referred
to stockholders who had not sold their
holdings.
Alleged Disregard Of Statutes.
Mr. Server, continuing, said the bill IA
vored by the committee Is to prevent the
continued disregard Of the statutes by the
railroads. The committee had desired to
make a recommendation as moderate as
possible. But there are many people who
think that either the corporations should
obey the law or the law should be repealed.
He believed the corporations capable OF
taking care Of themselves.
ION five occasions" Mr.. Server added, Il
have gone to see the chairman of the COM
mittee that had this bill in charge, and
every time found Gen. Harries there, and
I was not able to see the chairman because
Gen. Harries monopolized all his time"
In addition to more than twenty cities ex-
ercising such power over the railroads, the
speaker said, the same thing Is done by the
railroad commission of Virginia.
Mr.. w. Mosby Williams made the state
ment that the state commission within
eight or ten months had exercised such
power over the Mt. Vernon railroad, not
only requiring more cars, but changing
the motors and track, requiring the rail-
road company to spend $500, GOO.
added, "the commission was holding a SEES
sion considering having the Falls Church
road do the same thing
Boast Of tho Board.
Mr.. Frederick L. Siddons said that since
the foundation Of the Board of Trade 1t
had been its constant boast that when
any question comes up 1t Is considered ex-
clusively in the interest of the public at
large. He regretted to see that this old
time principle was overlooked in the dis
cussion in progress.
I'VE are told Mr.. siddons said, that
death knell Of the District of Columbia.
To merely state this proposition is to de-
clare it absurd. The railroad commit
tee simply proposes to have the Board Of
measure. clothing the Commissioners with
authority to enforce provisions Of law that
have been defied and violated in the Dis
trict Of Columbia for sixteen or seventeen
sought to make you think that street
railroad corporation Is the same as man
ufacturing corporation. The great value Of
street railroad property Is the fact that
city streets. When they apply for charters
they say give us this exclusive privilege
and we will accommodate the travelling
public, will run sufficient cars and give a
sufficient service for this great gift you
are going to hand over to us at our re-
quest. There is a distinct difference be-
tween that form Of corporation and every
other form Of corporation you can think
Of
Col. Truesdell says because too much
has been paid for the stock of these rail-
roads we should hesitate TO make them give
us ADEQUATE service Fe tells us practi-
get efficient service when a street railway
corporation in its own good time and judg-
ment thinks enough is being paid to its
stockholders and bondholders to satisfy
them
Difference in the Wording.
A colloquy occurred between the advo-
Gates of both sides Of the question over the
difference in the wording of the proposed
amendment and existing law. Those favor
ing the railroads took the ground that the
proposed amendment took away from the
railroads the initiative In framing sched-
ules, but advocates Of the amendment de-
clared that there is no difference in effect
between having the Commissioners approve
and having them prescribe schedule. They
declared 1t would be done after hearing
when the railroads could express their
views, and the power would be exercised
justly and wisely.
Mr.. Douglass again took the floor and de-
clared that 1t was vain to say the proposed
legislation is not radical. No law has been
passed by Congress that gives the Commits
siOnerS more than a veto power over the
schedules of the railroads. The proposed
law gives them power to fix the schedules,
which would result in turning over the
railroad property to the management of the
Commissioners. He said the members of
the committee are not experienced suffi-
GENTLY to deal with a question of this kind
The speaker added that the Commissioners
would not have time to make the schedules
and would turn the work over to 81 500
clerk and that 81, 500 clerk would manage
property valued at $50.GO0,00O.
After the very full discussion Mr.. Server
moved to amend the motion of Mr.. Morgan
SO that 1t would be placed on the table and
the report of the committee adopted. The
motion was voted down, So to Al.
Decided to Defer Action.
The question was then upon the motion
to defer action on the report which was
adopted by vote of SO to 43.
In commenting on the action taken Mr.
w. ]. Newton said that insurance COM
panies and other corporation had been
brought under the supervision of the Dis
tsict. and now he wanted to see the rail-
road companies that had made a contract
with the District do certain things in ex-
change for certain rights forced to fulfill
that contract. If they had made bad bar
gain he didn't think they ought to squeal.
1t was not altogether a matter whether
the original stockholders made money out
of their stock. 1t was question whether
they did not make money by means of the
railroads they had built through the i'm
provement of the property owned by them.
Names of Those Present.
The board then adjourned and buffet
luncheon was served.
Members of the board present were: w.
II. Parsons, James T. Petty, Charles E.
Kern, Woodwork Clum, Thomas w. Smith,
Conrad H. Syme, ]. H. Ralston, E. G.
Davis, Judge c. s. Bundy, DR.. r. A. Bates,
J. c. Weldon, Commissioner West, John
L. Weaver, John w. F. Smith, W. H.
Klopfer, Albert NJ. Read. A. 8. Caywood
E. c. Graham, E. c. Thomas, ]. B. Winner,
E. s. Parker, A. T. Ramsay, Col. George
TruesdeIl W. H. Spignul, DR.. William Tin
dali, Robert N. Harper, Gen. John NJ.
Wilson, James B. Tolman, DR.. George B.
WEIGH. ]. Miller Kenyon, E. ]. McQuade
j. l. Saks Edward T. Bates. Edwin K.
Staley, William Ramsay, F. l.. Siddons,
A. r. Server, Dr. W. S. Lotion. W. A.
Craig, Victor ]. Becker. H. L. Rust. J. A.
whitfield. A. Britton. l. H. Saunders,
Odell s. Smith, William H. Saun-
ders, William v. Cox, c. A. Douglass,
Henry p. Blair, Frank l.. Attwell, w.
P. Van Wickle, Boyd Taylor, Philip T.
Larner, ]. c. Davidson, Geo. ]. yesterday,
Chaplin Brown, c. H. Weaver, Robt. w.
Cox. w. Mosby Williams. w. F. Hans.
Edward Kern. Frank G. Butts. John Joy
Edison, B. H. Brockway. A. r. McChesney,
s. s. Shedd w. H. Singleton. John s.
Swormstedt, F. s.. Hight, Captain Jas. F.
0,,l T0h hold r