Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-14
FIGHT ON TELEPOST
Bill Is Amended Before Ap-
proved in the House.
WANT NO STOCK J0BBlNG
Right to Repeal or Amend Charter
Is Reserved.
DISTRICT MEASURES PASSED
One Member Opposes Extending
Streets Into Territory Not
Built Up.
DISTRICT MEASURES PASSED

The bill to enable the Telepost Com
pany to construct a plant and do bust
ness in the District of Columbia pro-
yoked a discussion of considerable bit
terness on the floor of the House this
afternoon.
The principal object of the passage
of this bill" declared Representative
Mann, lis to enable the company 10
sell its stock. If 1t has a good thing
1t will have no difficulty in obtaining
all the capital it wants. But the Ieie-
post Company is apparently seeking u
sell it's stock through magazine adver-
tisement to people who don't know
ANYTHING about the company's pros
pect property or patents.
eff the massage of this act is for the
n,,rpose of advertising the company, IL
will bring sorrow to many a nome Wnel ):
money has been spent or VIII De spen.
To purchase it's stock. Congress snouiu
nrotect itself, if 1T passes this bill, by
reserving to itself the power " iepeai
this act.
A few moments later. following some
remarks by Chairman Smith of the DIS.
trict committee, eulOgizing the teiepos'
and the service INTENDED 10 slVe' MI
Mann said sarcastically:
Mr.. Mann Is Sarcastic.
"some gentlemen seem to have a fund
of information favorable to this company.
Where does it come from? want 10
know whether this is bona fide cor
poration and whether it intends to do
telegraph business or to do it's stockhold-
ers The report from the House District
committee on this bill contains informa-
ton favorable to the TelepOst Company.
It might better contain information of
value to Congress-
Remarkable interest was displayed
in the bill, and Chairman Smith was
piled with questions. Several mem
bers, including Mr.. Carlin OF virginia;
offered amendments which they SAD
were intended to prevent the pas sstae,s
manipulation proposition or anything
along that line. ,
of this nature intended TO perez the
bill would be welcomed by the Telepost
Company if that concern really intended
to do a legitimate business. but that
they would prevent the company from
carrying out its designs II those Geslsns
were not strictly legitimate. Several
members commented on what they term
ed the fact that Chairman Smith seemed
to have no information at THIS disposal
that was not highly laudatory in gen,
eral way of the Telepost Company, and
that he had no figures and very Few
details on hand with which to reply to
the many questions concerning the COM
pany and its operation which were hurled
at him.
Other Measures Passed.
cooperating the Masonic Temple Associa-
ton of the District was passed without
division or discussion This bill adds an
other section to the act. which provides:
lat the annual election of the board OF
managers and at all other stockholders
meetings of the Masonic Temple Associa-
ton each body owning capital stock of
the corporation shall be entitled to one
vote for each share held by it,
The bill introduced by Representative
Alcott OF New York defining and prohib-
iting pandering in the District was pass
ed This measure is intended to cover a
phase of criminal legislation not suffi-
GENTLY covered at present in the laws OF
the District. 1t has the strong indOrse-
ment of the Commissioners.
Tax on Gross Receipts.
The House then resolved itself into
committee of the whole and acted IA
vorably upon the bill introduced by Chair
man Smith of the District committee re-
curing all companies doing telegraph
business in the District and national
banks, trust companies. gas companies.
electric light and telephone companies to
pay a tax on their gross receipts. For
national banks and all other incorporated
banks the rate fixed is per cent; for the
gas companies, ) per cent. and for cleo
trio lighting, telegraph and telephone
companies, per cent. In addition the
real estate owned by such corporations lis
to be taxed as usual. 1t is specifically
provided that street railroad companies
shall continue to pay the per cent tax
and other taxes now provided by existing
law
The House also acted favorably on the
bill introduced by Mr.. Smith authorizing
the widening OF LIST street northeast along
the eastern boundaries of squares SIS.
$40 and ST. to a width of sixty feet.
After adopting the Mann amendment,
reserving to Congress the right to amend
or repeal the act. and other amendments
designed to perfect the bill and insure the
legitimacy of the activities of the tele-