The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-14

DO You mean TO say that these cross
ing policemen are not worth great zeal
to the company in the accidents they
svert2" asked Representative Sims
Not so year." replied Gen. Harries
Not 80 eents-nay, they are not even
worth the value Of Mr. Harpers opinion
and that's worth less than 80 cents.
Matter of Schedules.
When IL came 10 the question Of con-
troll OF schedules, Gen. Harries went on
to explain why it was that the District
Commissioners could not fix the sched-
ules for the street cars. In that ease
they would have TO be expert street-caf
men. lie pointed out that the bill as
( framed gave the Commissioners power
10 say where the transfer stations should
be: TO fiX the color and the height OF the
cars. ana SO on. He said this migh1 De
all right Il the Commissioners were per
manent, but there was no guarantee that
as soon as the Commissioners had these
things fixed 10 their satisfaction they
would not be changed, and a new set of
Commissioners might want cars OF an
| other color, or of another height, and
transfer stations at entirely different
points.
Chairman Babcock: But we might
have a board like the school board
/ tGen. Harries threw up both hands above
! his head)-a board composed Of two men
/ appointed by the street car company and
/ three disinterested citizens"
, All white?'' asked Gen. Harries; and
there was laugh.
Gen. Harries went On If we've got TO
go up against a municipal-oWnership
proposition, well and good. If Congress
| decides 10 adopt the Chicago plan, We u
sell out gladly, and make the price fair
one; but We can't be asked to consider
municipal control without municipal own
/ ership.
At this point r. Cushing Daniels arose
and, after telling his side Of the story OF
! the reorganization, charged that much OF
/ the Washington Railway and Electric
COmpany's stock was water, and alleged
/ that he could prove It, lie said that he
knew OF one man who had received Sl90,-
/ coo of this WateTed stock, for which he
/ had given no consideration.
/ Name him, name him. cried several
/ members OF the committee.
/ II don't want TO embarrass my friend, '
said Mr.. Daniels. and so shall not name
him.,
A Grave Charge TO Make.
Il protest" said Gen. Harries This
is a grave charge to make In open COM
! 4
unchallenged. II this gentleman has the
facts he malntains-which i declare to
be false--let him bring his witness
Yes" cried several members OF the
committee, we have 20 defend your
statements on the floor Of the House, and
We have a right 10 the fullest informa-
| ton"
But Mt Daniels muttered that he would
not embarrass his friend and declined 10
mention names. whereup0n several Repre-
sentatiyes declared that they would take
no notice Of his statements.
/ ANY one OF average intelligence VIII
know who l mean. said Mr. Daniels
ANY one Of average courage would tell
what he knoWs-if ne knows IT, said Rep
resentative Sims.
We'll / deny the statement totally.
and I want that put in the record OF this
hearing" said Gen HaTries.
( Gen. Harries proposed. Ironically, an
amendment TO the bin in discussion, an
amendment which be thought might meet
the views Of those having in mind the
Interference OF the District Commission
ers He proposed that ali Of the rights,
privileges, and property az the stock
holders should be transferred 10 the
Commissioners; that IN consideration OF
such transfer the Federal government
should guarantee the payment of the
principal and interest Of the bonds, and
that the Commissioners should be re-
lieved Of all other duties so that they
might devote their whole attention to the
running Of the street ears.
There the matter rested, but IL was the
general opinion that the friends or the
universal transfer system had not made
out very strong case. and Eat Gen
Harries had presented his side Of the
controversy with unusual adroitness and
skill.
Hearing on Gas.
The gas question occupied the greater
part Of the session Of the committee
j. ". oyster, president OF the Petwortf
/ Citizens Association. came prepared viii
a speech. which be was not Above.
to finish. He said he was sure from in
vestigatiOu that the Washington Gas
tight Company could furnish gas for 4
cents per 1000 feet and be quoted from
foreign consular reports as 90 what va:
being done abroad. He said that a regu
lation was needed for better inspection
OF the gas furnished. He claimed tina
the inspection was carried on always
In the daytime, and that il should b,
regulated so that the inspection OF ga
should be carried ON during the eveuin.
hours, wnon people were burning gas
He spoke Of the vast capitalization
of the company; of the issue Of S2.600.0o
of certificates of Indebtedness, and h
claimed that all this was simply a dis
2 tributiOn OF enormous profits taken from
the people of the District which tn
e company was ashamed 10 distribute in
regular way
President Z. H. Tucker, Of the North
5 east Washington Citizens Association
e made speech in which he declared tina
e gas had never been reduced without public
70 agitation on the subject, and he said tina
! 80 Per cent OF the citizens Of the Distric
were begging Congress 10 come to thei
r relief He knew that gas could proftabl,
be furnished FOR 20 cents, but he declare,
that 1t was the business of Congress 4
ind out Tie facts about the making o
- gas and its cost. and TO act upon thos
facts, irrespective of public agitation
= Switching O the street car question, MI
e Tucker said that he did not care at all fc
the Interchangeable transfer. but he di,
" want the Capital Traction Compan-
forced to extend its north and south line
E through Northeast Washington.
Want More Cars.
l-uulS r oHoeiudhtI, president OF IN
g BrigntWood Citizens Association. spOk
p upon the gas question, and also urged tina
y the Washington Railway and Electri
$ Company be compelled to run throug
ears 10 Brightwood on it's Ninth stree
Z line instead of dumping its passengers. a
it does now, at Seventh street and Florid
avenue.
lie declared that cars were run {
b Brightwood only every hair hour, and il
reply to him Gen. HaTries read the SEIZED
.ule. which showed that ears were sup
+ posed to run from every two and one-hal