The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-10-23
SAM SMITH TELLS
h 0 " He DID Mt
!. A|DCORPORAT|ONs
IN REPLY TO WASHINGTON
TIMES. SAYS HE HELPED COST
RVS. MoNEY-plpN'T HOLD UP
GAS BILL.

PONTIAC, Mich. Oct. 23.-Samuel
William Smith. Republican congress
man and chairman Of the house com
mittee on the District OF Columbia
who has been made the subject of at
tack by Frank Munsey's Washington
Times and Munsey's Magazine. on the
ground of his alleged pro-corporation
leanings. has given out a reply that
lacks any ring of righteous indigna
ton" He calmly and coolly attempts
to refute the charges and springs Q
letter from Speaker Cannon which ev
identity was sent him by way Of com
fort and encouragement.
The Washington Times, which has
already issued one Sam Smith edi
ton" and is preparing second
charges, In effect. that:
He refused to call up In con-
gress a bill carrying a reduction
in the gas rate in Washington,
which would have passed the
house had II not been for him.
He 10 too friendly to the cleo
trio railway company.
The gas and electric railway mat
tiers were the only public service mat
tiers affecting the district which came
before the last session of congress-.
He Helped Pass Bill.
AS to the electric railway matter
Rep. Smith explains that when con.
gress last convened, the new $4,000,
900 union station was being completed
and that the question Of ACQUIRING leg
islation requiring electric railways to
build their lines to the new station
was OF paramount importance to the
district. The people considered that
the hackmen were charging them toe
much and wanted q reasonable rate OF
transportation. Mr.. Smith shows that
although such step would cost the
electric railway companies $4,000
they did not demur; but they did seri
ously object to building what was
known az the "Crosstown line" ex
tending from one portion OF the city
to the east side, where 1t would bene
fit 100000 people at cost to the rail-
ways OF $1,40O,000. When the bill was
finally passed, says Mr.. Smith, he was
warmly congratulated by many II
Washington for his service TO the
people. He now asks why the Wash
ington Times deems him too watchfu
of the electric railways interestsr
A. to the Gas Investigation"
Regarding the gas bill, Mr.. Smith
says that on two occasions-he went u
the general manager Of the Washing
ton Times and stated freely his posi-
ton. admitting that he did not know
what was fair price for gas
and possibly Il could be sold In
Washington for less than 81 and thai
the candle power might be reduced
The Times manager had commended
his stand at the time, he asserted
Later on, a Mr.. Bemis, OF Cleveland
O., and Mr.. Humphreys. OF Morris
town, N. Y, acting respectively Tor q
gas company and the Times were
brought before the committee and held
an Investigation" lasting only four
hours. But the committee reported
the 90-cent gas bill, still retaining the
% candle power, ut a time when the
committee was struggling with the
Democratic filibuster.
"rhe Washington Times" adds Mr.
Smith, "is mistaken when 1t says that
the committee gave me my instruc
tons. 1t was not necessary. Since
have been chairman OF the committee
the business on the calendar has
always been disposed OF as rapidly as
possible, and had II not been for the
filibuster, the remaining eight or nine
bills on the committees docket, includ
ing the gas bill. would have been
acted upon by the house"
Cannon's Letter.
Speaker Cannon In his letter under
date OF Oct Is. says:
The Democratic hlibuster dur.
ing the last two months Of the
session, In which 25 days were
consumed in useless roll calls
upon the demand OF one-flfth OF
the members present, made II I'm
possible for many matters merit
ing consideration to be acted on
by the house. Appropriations for
the public service, aggregatfng,
including permanent appropria-
lions, over thousand million
dollars, had to be made, and they
were made In spite OF the actions
OF the minority. The legislation
authorizing the extension OF the
tracks OF the street railways to
the union station was absolutely
necessary to the convenience OF
the people OF the District OF Co
lumbia, but still more necessary
To the great public who visit
Washington for business or pleas
ure and who have right TO be
properly accommodated. This
legislation was enacted upon
terms equitable to the public, con-
gress retaining full power TO reg
ulate fares and to repeal or amend
the act at any time.
Speaker Cannon adds that the at
tacks OF a newspaper in Washington
against Smith need not disturb him
that his record as legislator Is suct
that unjust newspaper attacks will
give strength rather than weakness II
Smiths campaign.
Last Sunday Excursion Of the Season
Sunday October 25th, the White
star Line Steamer "Owana" will max.
the last Sunday excursion trim from