The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-10-23
OF COLUMBIA RULED
BY INNER RING, SAYS MAGAZINE

aid echoed the cry. To reporters he
said the session was then so far along
that the Senate would not act even If
the House cid pass the Bills so what
was the use?
Times Makes Fight
The Washington Times sent two mem
bers of its staff to Michigan to tell
Smiths constituents what yeoman work
he had done for a public service cor
pOration: in the Washington Post ap-
peared editorials setting forth what an
excellent Congressman Mr.. Smith was.
and how he deserved well of his people.
Smith used these freely and vigorously.
About ten days before the election last
November. the following letter fell into
the hands Of the editor Of The Wash
ington Times:
Pontiac, Mich. October %. 1905.
Mr.. Ira T. Bennett,
Editor of The Washington Post. Wash
ington, d. G.
Dear Mr.. Bennett:
I inclOse some further reading mat
ter from The Washington Times Messrs.
Weiliyer and albert: I confess / don't
recall Mr.. Albert, and also two dOcu-
ments which are being circulated
throughout the District. Let the good
work go on. Whatever may be the re-
suit. I am trying to keep them busy.
s. w. SMITH.
Owns Paper and Gas.
1.-THE Significance of this corespon-
dence is that John R. Mclean. president
and owner of the Washington Post. is
also the president and absolute con-
troller Of the Washington Gas Light
Company. Mr.. Smith was reelected by
a plurality of more than 1900.
What do the people of Michigan care
q p 81 Int ire
Moreover, what does Speaker Cannon
care?
"On August 5 last. he reappointed
Smith to the Craftsmanship of the Dis
trict Committee. and only he may re-
move him before March 4, 1911. Further
more. George A Pearre, of Maryland.
who in 1902 fathered the first attempt the
Washington Gas Light Company ever
made, under the Mclean regime, TO
water its stock, is back on the commit
tee after an absence of several years.
Why Washington Objects.
Experts have reported that II would
be possible to furnish IS candle-power
gas IN the National Capital for 50 cents
per thousand cubic feet and earn
handsome profit. That is why ordinary
Washingtonians cry out against such
friend Of the local monopoly as Chair
man Smith, of the District Committee
They cry out against this monopoly
trict and Appropriations Committees,
too. because every year, for five years
Immediately following the reduction Of
the price Of gas to 81 per I0C2 cubic
mote section OF one of the many ap-
preparation blllss a provision that for
that one year the minimum candle
power should be 2, and because a law
was then enacted making this minimum
permanent, in spite of the fact that in
other large cities OF this country the
minimum IS Is.
And they cry QUA because not only
are they robbed by being forced to put
Up with inferior gas, but because a com
paratiVely recent inspection revealed the
fact that nearly 1900 OF the meters fur
nished 10 consumers by the Washington
Gasight Company were fast and that
practically none were slow. Sc
on the subject Of the street car com
paDies of the District of Columbia, the
magazine article says:
The Traction Companies
1.-The failure of the sixtieth Congress
TO compel a city wide transfer system
/ was the answer OF these companies 10
the demand Of the people Congress has
permitted then to be juggled to such an
extent that they are now bonded for
more than $4,000 per mile and their
stock has largely paper or speculative
value.
Sims sprang a sensation OF respect
able proportions al the first session OF
the last Congress when he complained
that it was very hard 10 legislate where
the interests Of those traction companies
were concerned, because the secretary
10 the President, William Loeb, jr., and
a member of the Senate District Com
mittee, Mr.. Newlands. were heavy stock
holders.
ut developed that Loeb held $3.50
shares of washington Railway and Elec-
trio stock. He was trying to be elected
president Of the company, and made
no attempt at secrecy.
In a letter replying to Sims speech,
he stated thai the stock belonged TO
others, and that he held it for voting
purposes only.
Newlands Explains
'Newlands explained that he never
voted in committee or In the Senate
when the legislation in hand in any way