Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-09-24
Object of $30,o00,00o Con-
Germ Not Shown by Charter.
REAL PROMOTERS UNNAMED
Officers Listed in Incorporation
Papers Are All Virginia Men.
NO REFERENCE TO DISTRICT
Official Document Contains Nothing
to Indicate Company Is to En-
gage in Business Here.

Papers on file in the Office of the cor
poration commission at Richmond. Va,
for the Incorporation of the thirty-milion-
dollar corporation known as the Mary
land-Virginia Railway Company do not
show that the purpose Of the concern is to
finance the Washington Railway and
Electric Company and its allied proper
ties. as it is now announced, or that it is
connected with any local interests, ac-
cording to teiegraphed advices received
here.
The primary object of the company. it
is set forth in the articles of incorpora
ton. is to build a thirty-mile road to
traverse the counties of Alexandria. Fair
fax and Prince Williams, Virginia. and
the officers and directors named are all
residents OF Alexandria, Va.
The names of William B. Hibbs. Clarence
F. Norment and other Washingtonians.
who are understood to be the real pro-
moterS of the company. are not men,
toned. Neither is there anything in the
charter to indicate that the company is to
engage in business in the District of Co
lUmbia.
Planning of Merger Denied.
Following publicity given the reported
plans of the corporation. whose object
is alleged to be the consolidating OF the
Districts public service corporations, de-
malls We're made by the Washington capi-
talists back of the movement that any
such merger was contemplated. Surprise
was expressed by the officials that the
public should have become alarmed over
the matter. as it was stated that no Sc
crecy had attached to the organization of
q tir,n an M h9
been made to conceal its object.
The statement was made by Clarence +.
King. president of the Washington Rail-
way and Electric Company, that the cor
poration had been formed with the prime
object of financing the railway company
and its allied properties in the future.
Developments today indicate that at
least one member of the board of di-
rectors of the Washington Railway and
Electric Company knew nothing of the
proposed financing scheme until he read
about it in the newspapers.
Maximum Capital Increased.
According to the papers on file in the
Virginia corporation commission Office,
the Malyland-Virginia Railway Company
was granted a charter November %, 1871,
a minimum capital of 100000 and a maxi
mum capital of s1.UoU0o. On February
2S. this year, however an amendment
was allowed permitting an increase in the
maximum capital to S5O,OOO,O0O. Explana
tionS for this change were not given,
though it appears from a statement filed
since that sJ.JUmO of the stock already
has been subscribed
The company is authorized to build
thirty-mile road from a point at or
near the village of Nauck. in Alex
andria county, to the town of Manas-
sas. in Prince William county. 1t is to
traverse the counties of Alexandria. Fair
fax and Prince William Permission is
granted to use any kind of motive power
while the usual privileges incident to rail
road charters are conferred.
The incorporatorS named are all of
Alexandria, and are as follows: Alex
ander Suter, president and director; Sam
uel l.. Monroe, vice president and di-
rector: G. Washington Lewis, secretary
and director; II. Noel Garner, treasurer
and director, and G. L. Boothe Richard
3. Washington and J. Randall Cation, di-
rectors.
The company was granted a charter
with dummy incorporators with the eN
ception of Mr.. Booth. who prepared the
articles of Incorporation.
The present temporary organization has
Norman Gray Of Camden; n. j., president
of d trust company there, as president,
F. II. Treat, president of the Washing
ton-Nirgfnia Company, as vice president:
w. w. Spaid. partner of w. B. Eiibbs. as
treasurer. and Mr.. Booth as secretary.
When interviewed today, w. r. Hibbs,
who is understood to be the principal
promoter of the corporation, stated
that the present organization has eN
isJcl siLce the charter was granted.
but that he understood dummy inc,r-
porators had been used.
Company Undecided as to Plans.
Asked if the company was about ready
to build the thirty mile road authorized,
Mr. Hibhs replied that it had not decided
what properties it might acquire.
"But is not the company specifically
authorized to build road from Nauck in
Alexandria county, to Manassas, in Prince
William county?" Mr.. Hibbs was asked.
THAT does not mean that we have to
build it right away" he replied.
Secretary Gardner l.. Booth when seen
at his office in Alexandria today refused
to throw any light on the plans of the
company except to admit that, with the
exception of himself the officers and di-
rectorS named in the articles of incor-
poration were not permanent officials.
Mr.. Booth said that any information
concerning the plans of the corpora ton
would have to come from President Gray
or other officials. He would not discuss
the provision in the charter for the build
ing of thirty-mile road in Virginia.
According to Col. George Truesdell, a
director of the Washington Railway and
Electric Company, he had not heard of
the $50, 100000 corporation until he read
the newspaper accounts of its formation.
Did YOU know the company had been
organized, as explained by President
King, to provide for the future develop
ment of the Washington Railway and
Electric Company and its subsidiary in
terests?" Col. Truesdell was asked.
II did not know such a company was in
existence" was the reply.
The office of the corporation counsel of
the District of Columbia 1t is understood
has sent to Richmond, Va, for a copy OF
the articles of incorporation of the COM
pany, with view to Investigating the
powers as set forth by it's charter.
1t is pointed out that all the local pub
lie service corporations transact their
business under special franchises granted
by Congress.
Franchise Transfer Questioned.
Whether franchises SO obtained can
be transferred by the companies to
other corporations is a question which
has been raised
on. official of the office has expressed
the opinion that authority granted to ID
corporation to build small railroad in
another state cannot be stretched into
authority to amalgamate or combine a
part Of the public service corporations
engaged in business in the District of
Columbia.
Legislation which would prevent a
local coroporation from disposing OF
| it's interests to holding company or a
foreign corporation may be urged by
the corporation cUunseIs office.