The Washington times., 1911-02-15
URGE PUBL|CS[RV|CE
CORPOBAT|ONPROBE
Chamber of Commerce to
Ask Congress for Power
to Regulate.
Continued from First Page)

Eument was greeted with hearty ap
plause.
Mr.. Macfariand paid a high tribute Il
Mr.. Darrs report, and said that th'
only question to solve lay in determin
ing the best method of regulation no
only of the telephone company, but o.
the other public service corporations al
we'll, and urged that the Chamber d(
now what it should have done two
years ago, namely, actively support th'
bill providing for public service com
mission powers for the District Com
missioners. To this the Chamber agreed
Defends Public Service. Corporations.
William Z. Shannon objected strenu'
ously to any stand by the Chamber
looking to regulation of public service
corporations. He had prepared his re-
marks. and read them from manuscript
because, he said, the matter was SC
serious that he wished to weigh his
words carefully.
You should lay this matter on the
table" he said, land turn it down sc
cold that men will hereafter hesitate
10 introduce such bosh for your serious
consideration.
II do not want this body TO have the
name of public service baiters unless Il
has mighty good grounds, which 1t has
TT is conceded by students and writ,
ers on such subjects that the city oi
Washington has the equal, II not tnt
best, public service corporations VII. wiz
few exceptions, of any OF our larss
cities. and yet, without rhyme or rea'
son, some people will damn these com
panies merely because they are corpo
rations.' - c,.;,o,
were the oEly others taking part IN Int IN,
public service debate. Mr. Masruoel
said that zone company is bad enough
but wait until you have two. lie
thought that rates were tar; MT
stiles asked Mr.. Darr whether he nae
any figures comparing rates and serv'
ice In New York and Philadelphia WITH
those in Washington. Mr. Darr dlo no'
have the figures.
Capt. Oyster Explodes Verbal Bomb
A bomb was exploded on the floor OF
the Chamber when Capt. James +. Oys'
ter, president of the organization, left
the chair and declared that ''one weak
kneed member of the committee on ac'
court of his business affiliations had al
the last moment changed his position
on the report upon power versus hand
presses for Government engraving, and
had brought in a majority report in IA
vor of the retention OF hand presses
whereas earlier in the day a majority
of the committee had reported to him
as president, in favor of keeping the
Chambers hands out of the contro'
Nersy.
Captain Oyster also read a letter from
the Secretary of the Treasury asSur.
ing the Chamber that the plate printers
would be benefited rather than injured
by the installation OF power presses a
the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.
p. J. HaltiSan, who brought in a ma.
Jority report in favor of the hand press
raised 4 point of order against the
presidents remarks, which was over
ruled by Mr.. Macfarland, who occupied
the chair. Julius I. Peyser also hotly
ttons
Minority Report Brought In.
Charles W. Clagett brought In a mi
nority report recommending that tn,
Chamber do not interfere in the Govern
ment's business. This, he said, had beef
the committees only report agreed upor
earlier in the day.
Motions to lay each of the reports OF
the table were carried by rising votes
after spirited debate participated il
by P. ]. Ryan, Jackson Ralston, F. l.
Siddons. George H. Judd, d. ]. Kauf
man, William L. Shannon and P. ]
Haltigan.
d. s. Porter, vice chairman of thu
special committee on salaries of tn,
Government clerks, in the absence of A
Lisner, chairman, read the committee,
report carrying resolution favoring al
increase of 33 1-3 per cent in salaries
The report and resolution was adopted
without discussion
An appropriation of s., 900 was made Il
the fund for the proposed George Wash
ington Memorial convention hall. upol
motion of Granville NJ. Hunt, chairman
OF the conventions committee, after h,
mad made an impassioned plea for tn,
Chambers enthusiastic interest in thu
movement. D. J. Kaufman also renewed
his personal pledge of $1,000.
Sunday Mail Distribution.
A resolution introduced by JOSEPH
Strasburger, president of the Retail
Merchants Association. favoring a dis
continuance of Sunday distribution o
mail at carriers windows at the mail
and branch pOstoffices of the city wa
unanimously carried.
The Chamber went on record as Cd
posing the proposed legislation denyin,
right Of appeal to the Supreme Cour
of the United States for District cases
The resolution of A. Leftwich Sinclair
chairman of the committee on law an,
legislation, providing for a committee O
i've TO oppose the passage of the bill
before the House Committee on Judi
ciary was adopted.
Mr.. Ma~arland made a five-minut
talk on The work of the Associated
Charities, and urged every member o
the Chamber to read the annual repor
Of the Associated Charities and Citizens
Relief Association. He commendec
highly the work of the organization.
The Chamber adopted a report of
subcommittee of the committee on mu
niCipal legislation favoring no discrimi
nation in annual and sick leave as be
tween per diem and regular employees o
the District government, and authorize,
to investigate whether the Distric
could not pay twice month, instead o
monthly.
For Reclaiming Anacostia Flats.
Albert Schulteis reported that the Ser
ate had passed an appropriation G
500, 600 for the Anacostia flats reclama
tion project and expressed the opinio
that the item would be in the bill whe
It was finally agreed upon by bot
applause.
The treasurers report which in the al
sence of Mr.. Lisner was read by Thoma
Grant, secretary, showed a balance G
cash on hand of $5,749.
Upon motion of A. Leftwich Sinclai
the Chamber authorized the appointmer
of a committee of ten TO help Baltimor
get the Democratic National Conventio
NJ