The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-08
This Charge Made
Against Mt. Vernon
Ladies Association.
CLAIMS FEES
ARE EXCESSIVE
MT Vernon Antifee Association
Petitions General Assembly TO
Repeal Charter-Asserts Rail-
way and Steamboat Com
panies' Rates Keep
Thousands Away.

IL l>ONdCT, OF washington.
u e. secretary OF the Mount Vernon
Anti-Fee Association of WASHINGTON
ana Alexandria county. Will appear
before meeting Of the Public prop
ertS Committee of the House OF Dele
gates this morning at $3.50 o'clock for
the purpose of urging that IT recon-
mend the adoption of resolution re-
pealinS the charter OF the Mount YER
non Ladies Association. which is in
charge Of the famous home of George
washington on the Potomac River,
that the property be taxed and placed
within the power of the State Corpo-
ration Commission.
"The Mount Vernon Ladies' Assocla-
ton" Mr.. Lowder said us not, as Is
generally believed u patriotic orEani-
cation, but Is commercial institution.
and one of the most profitable money!
making enterprises in the country. be.
cause 1t has the least expense. II
exempt from tuXation In Virginia. It
IL traficking on the bones of WASH
ington anu the sentiment OF the Amer
lean people"
Is a Monopoly.
MI Lowdersaid last night. when seen
SSSA Ct .iui pHy that he, with
The counsel OF the Anti-kee Associa
ton, will also protest against. the fec y
system in vogue at Mount Vernon. the
sale OF alleged fake relics, the exhibit
ton OF articles which he also cIaims
not to be genuine. and against what
ne termed street car and steamboat
monopoly. : Is
He said that at present, due TO mn act
OF the Virginia Legislature, the Ladies,
association Is under no expense what
soeVer, except what 1t incurs in the op-
Grafton of dairy farm and stock farm.
from both of which products are sold
ana DIG revenue derived, anG from the
sale OF all manner of souvenirs
Mr Lowder said that the association
OF which he is president, is composed
Almost entirely of laborinS men, who
formed the organization with the oh
Ject IN View OF having the admission
lee 10 A1t Vernon abolished. He ex-
piainea that 1t is almost imp ossible
Tor the children OF the poorer classes
to visit the home OF the Father OF HIS
country on account of the expense in
volveI.
we not only intend &c carry the
hsht into the Virginia legislature"
said Mr., Lowder. FOR we nave already
succeeded in having a solution pre
sented IN the lower house of Congress
which will likely lead TO a Federal in
vestigation into certain conditions
which we contend exist at Mt Vernon. !
The Interstate Commerce Commission
has already taken some action in the
matter, and Will sit in Washington on
March II Tor the purpose OF u public
hearing
The Cary Resolution.
The resolution which was introduced
In The House OF Representatives. and
which was offered by Congressman
Cary. OF Wisconsin. is rs follows
hereas, Mount Vernon. the former
home and the burial place OF George
Washington. is visited annually by
many thousands OF persons and has
long been place of national Interests:
and - f
Whereas. 1t should be- the spirit ana
aim of this government TO encourage
and foster our citizens 10 visit this
historical spot: and
whereas, Mount Vernon is but four
teen and c-half miles below the CITY
OF Washington. District OF Columbia.
and tho Mount Vernon ard Marshall
HAL Steamboat Company has an al&o-
lutte monopoly on the traffic between
Vernon, ana
whereas, said steamboat company
mas been and Is eXtorting exorbitaM
rates In that passengers for Mount
Vernon are charged rs cents for the 4.
round trip from Washington (includ-
HlS duihlSSion 10 ttif.nt ScrlIOn}, wnile
other passengers are carried on rho
same trip or the same steamer; Mac
alester to Marshall HALL about ono
and one half miles farther down ths
river, for % cents a round trip (see
letter from Acting Secretary OF War
House Document No. CAL, Sixtieth Con-
gress. first session., and
Whereas, the only other convenient
way to reach Mount Vernon from the
city Of Washington Is By tn, Washing
ton-Virginia Railway. which company
also charges eXorbltant rates. The
round trip fare being IS cents, not In
Guiding admission to Mount Vernon,
and 751's2
Whereas, many persons. and partic-
ulariy school chilren, are deprived OF
visiting Mount Vernon because OF these
unreasonable and discriminating rates;
therefore, be 1t
Resolved, That the Committee ON
Rivers and Iiarbors Is hereby author- 81
Sd and empowered to make careful
and thorough investigation OF these
evils and hold hearings for that pus-
pose and report Its tirsdings ard recon. 81
mendattons to the House OF tleprc-
sentatives" 20
This resolution was introduced last
month ana was referred TO the Con.- 8
mittee on Rules. ..
Frederick X Whippler. counsGl for
the Antifee Association Mr.. Lowdsr 4
said. will arrive in Richmond this 4
morning to assist him In presenting tho AK
matter before tho Property COMMITTEES,