Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-19
As To SCHEDULES
FOR THE RAIL WAYS
Discussion by Members of the
Board of Trade.
VIEWS ON THE PENDING BILL
Report From the Committee on Manu-
features.
VIEWS ON THE PENDING BILL
COMPLAINT OF NON-ATTENDANC]
Method to Be Adopted in Carrying on
Campaign for Commercial De-
velopment Of City.


committee railroads favoring the bill
pending in Congress which authorizes the
Commissioners of the District of Columbia
to frame schedules for the street railroads,
and provides penalties for the failure of the
roads to run cars to such schedules.
The discussion was very animated one,
although at no time did those who took
part In 1t fail TO proceed with good temper.
General Harries, vice president of the
Washington Railway and Electric Com
pany. was not present, but sent letter, In
which he stated that his road had not been
called upon by the committee on railroads
to make statement to the bill, and
said that he was prevented from attending
the meeting by a pressing engagement. He
requested that action on the report of/the
committee be deferred until the railroad
companies should have an opportunity to
make statement to the committee on
railroads.
The meeting last evening was called to
order by General John Nj. Wilson. president
of the board, Mr.. VIM. NJ. Shuster, assist
ant secretary acting as secretary of the
meeting in the absence of General Harries
Committee on Manufactures.
The first business of the meeting was
report from the committee on manufac-
lures, which was made by Mr.. Robert N.
Harper. The latter stated that he had no
instruction from his committee to present
to the board. About ten members of the
committee, he said, had worked daily and
almost nightly since the last meeting of the
board to accomplish some result. He had
called two special meetings of the commit
tee and had departed from the yearly plan
of sending out postal card notices, having
written personal letters to each of the hfty-
five members of the committee, but was
unable at either of the special meetings 10
secure the presence of quorum.
oil II
ring to such lack of interest on the part OF
members of the committee. He SAID that
the committee had guaranteed in the neigh
borhood of $1,000 per annum for three years
to nav the salary of a special secretary to
look after the commercial interests OF the
board. There was good deal OF dlHerence
OF opinion as to the method to be adopted
in carrying on the campaign for the COM
mercial development of the city, but he 1elt
encouraged that the differences would be
adjusted. Finally the speaker said the mat
ter was in the hands of the board, and he
desired the board to give him instructions
as to what to do.
Mr.. E. G. Davis moved to extend the time
OF the committee In which to make It's re-
port.
Gen Wilson asked whether Mr.. Davis
wished to put a limit on the extension or to
extend 1t aid fnitum.
'.Ad fnitum,' Mr.. Davis responded amid
laughter.
Question of Schedules.
on railroads, reported favorable action by
the committee on the proposed amendment
to Senate bill AZ. which contemplates giving
the District Commissioners definite juris-
diction over the question of schedules and
other features of conducting the railroads
OF the city. The report also favors extern
sions of the Capital Traction Company TO
the union station.
The entire interest of the bill was at once
centered upon the proposition to give the
Commissioners jurisdiction over the sched-
ules of the roads. Mr.. Thomas =. Morgan
spoke at length against the proposition, and
said that having recently travelled from
New York TO New Orleans, he had had
occasion to note the manner in which street
railroads are run In dozen OF the larger
southern cities. and everywhere he went he
met delays of the kind complained of here.
He declared that the railroad systems of
the District are well operated in compari-
son with those of other cities. Mr.. Morgan
remarked that 1t might be true that in
Paris the cars are not crowded, but the
platforms of the railroad stations there, he
declared. take care of the crowds because
no one is permitted to get on the cars I'M
less there Is a seat for him. The rule re-
suits in an immense amount of discomfort
and delay TO the people of Paris. He had
seen a hundred people waiting for IN
Paris because they could not be provided
with seats, whereas here they are permitted
to stand. and in that way reach their home
earlier. 1t was added that conditions in
this country are very favorable. Mr.. Nor
gan expressed the hope that a report the
matter would go over until the railroad
companies were heard by the committee.
No Reason for Delay.
DR.. Tindall, in reply, stated that while he
did not wish to take advantage of Gen.
Harries' absence, he failed to see any rea-
son for delay. Three times, according to
DR.. Tindall. presentation of Gen. Harries
views on the subject had been given. For
he
moning the general
Mr.. Chas. A. Douglas made long ad-
dress against the adoption of the report. He
said such an important recommendation
should not be made without calling the
railroads before the committee. Such he
regarded as one of the most important mat
tiers the board had undertaken. The street
railroads, he said, were unable to pay divi-
dends on their common stock, and the sub
urban lines did not pay. For these reasons
he thought the board ought to go very
slowly. He seconded the motion made by
Mr.. Morgan for a delay.
Mr.. Geo. Truesdell reviewed at length
the history of street railroads in this city
and also favored postponement of action.
lie said the matter was important as $685.
100000 worth of securities would be nf-
fected by the action of the board. These
securities largely held in New York,
but in recent years they have to consid-
cradle extent been transferred to WASH
ington holders.
THE agitation of matters of this kind in
the District of Columbia by citizens and in
Congress" Mr.. Truesdell stated, has
brought about feeling of distrust on the
part of these holders In New York and they
have parted with their stock Half of the
entire stock involved is now held in the
District of Columbia. OF that amount very
considerable is held by banks and other
financial institutions, collateral for
loans. Favorable action by the board and
by Congress on this recommendation would
produce a dangerous shrinkage of these Sc
curities."
Unjust to Make Such Report.
So far as he knew. Mr. Truesden went on
to say, member of the railroad com,
mittee was a practical railroad man. AS a
stockholder In one of these roads, he said,
he thought It most unjust for the COM
mittee to make such a report. For eighteen
years he had held stock In the old Ecking-
ton and Soldiers Home road and had never
received a cent of dividends from IL. These
roads, reaching out into the suburbs had
been of immense aid in increasing real es-
tate values as well the population. Be-
fore they were constructed the value of real
estate outside the city limits was 81, 600. 900.
rrh he Ont In Cpc