The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-02-06
Congressman at Citizens
Banquet Says Things
About Car Service.
Government Determined
But Fair in Campaign
For Betterment.
Mr.. West Praises ASSO-
Citations as Aides tOthe
Community.

Nearly 200 members of tna North
Washington Citizens Association. with
their Invited guests. sat down 10 a ban
quet at the Riggs House last night. IL
being the second annual dinner Of the
association.
The honor guests OF the evening were
Representative Martin b. Madden of
Illinois, Commissioners Il. B, T. Mae
farland. and H. L. Wst Samuel Com
pers, president Of the American FEEDER
alton OF Labor Postmaster Barnes.
and A. r. Severing, president OF the
North Capitol Citizens Association.
Mr.. Madden briefly discussed public
service corporations.
He said that he had arrived AT the
banquet late by reason OF the poor ser
vice OF the street car lines, having
waited for "a car for twenty-five min
utes AT the corner OF Connecticut ave-
nue. and Columbia road northwest, He
paid his respects 10 Colonel Harries, of
the Washington Railway and Electric
Company management saying that the
corporation was managed in the inter
est OF the stockholders and big divi-
dends with no consideration for the
public. lie said that General Harries
had questioned his earnestness in his
effort 10 give 10 the people Of the Dis
trict better car service and that Con-
gTess was not in earnest in the matter;
lie referred briefly 20 the personal clash
between himself and General Harries at
the hearing or the street ear bill before
the House committee a few days ago.
Congress in Earnest.
Congress g. ia dead earnest" de-
clared Mr.. Madden, and the public ser
vice corporations Will wake up one of
these days. not far distant, and dis
cover that Congress has determined 20
recognize the rights OF a long-suffering
public against the cxtortion and ruth
less trampling of the rights Of the peo-
pie and viii pass a law placing the reg
ulation of such corporations in the
hands OF the Government officials. They
are making greater profits than they
should make. Their service is not what
IL should be and they should be made
10 run their lines for the comfort and
convenience OF the people and not with
an eye single to the piling up of big
profits. ] want 10 see the corporations
treated fairly and squarely. but at the
same time ] wiz insist on the rights
of the public being recognized
Touching the reduction Of gas. he said
he believed that the price should 81
reduced 10 % cents that it could be
made for 80 cents and sold at IS cents
which I'm his opinion was more profit
than there should be- lie paid his re-
speets 20 the Commissioners and the eff
ncient manner in which they conducted
the District government and said ID
wanted 20 see them clothed with full
authority 20 regulate public service cor
pOratiOus. that as long as he was III
Congress he would be found lighting fol
this authority TO be placed in theii
hands.
Plans Summer Inquiry.
II ia the brief space Of life allotted
10 the present Congress. we ind il i'm.
possible 10 pass these laws for the reg
ulation Of public service corporations, 81
said Mr.. Madden, "then ! shall offer a
Joint resolution TO authorize the Bureau
OF Corporation 20 sit IN the vacation
of Congress with full powers 10 make
an investigation into all public service
corporations and prepare data for Con
gress upon which il can act intelligently
I'm legislation for this purpose that will
surely come up az the next Congress.
want 90 see a bill passed with a penalty
for its violation attached that viii force
these corporations to respect the law
Commissioner mcfarland paid the
citizens associations OF the city a high
compliment and hkened them 10 tht
town meetings of colonial days, in which
municipal opinion. civic pride and pub.
lie spirit shaped the destiny and futur,
greatness OF a community. He said tht
form OF District government was in tbs
hands of the citizens. that there was M
boss. no party, no partisan or sub
sidized press. no party boss and tha'
the wishes OF the citizens were para.
mount in the Government.
Commissioner West and Postmaster
Barnes and President Severiug mad,
brief addresses.
William T.. Armstrong, president o.
the association, presided as POSTMASTER
The banquet committee was composed
OF John Imirie, chairman; Gen. Benia
min lie FeVre. {. A. Ford, T. Y. NOOnan
Robert T.. Logan. DR.. Jesse Il. Schaf
hirt, George Topham, f. A. Rum, Ed
ward NJ. Graney. b. A Allen. John ]
Costlnett, ]. c. J. Evans. Or. 5. Hoover
and r. S Hoskins.
uI0T TlIiTT 0TTIIn