Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-12-18
Committee Appointed to
Confer With Corporation
Attorney.
ALDERMEN T O A CT.
Will Meet This Afternoon at Four
O'clock to Consider Resolution
Adopted Last Night.

DEVELOPMENTS came fast and furi-
Gus yesterday afternoon and this
morning in connection with the rails
ing of rates by the Washington Utili-
ties Company, the great merger which
recently absorbed the Washington
Virginia Railway Company.
AS soon as the Gazette was on the
street telling of the outrageous at
tempt of the railway officials to gouge
from the pockets of the people Of
Alexandria, additional tribute in order
to pay dividends on the millions of wa
tered stock which the company has
issued, the question became the talk
of the town and everywhere the act
of the merger and it's agents was de-
nounced in unmeasured terms.
Not single voice was raised in
defense of the company and it was
the unanimous opinion of the people
of Alexandria that the time was ripe
for fight to the finish with the rail
way company. For years the Alexan-
dria public has been burdened by "an
old man of the sea" in the shape of
the electric railway company which
has collected excessive fares in order
to pay interest on bonds which have
been issued far in excess Of the value
of the road. The revelations before
the Interstate Commerce Commission,
in the Bitter case, showed that the
road was bonded far beyond its cost,
to say nothing of the millions Of dol
lars of stock which now have fair
market value Oh account Of the
large earnings of the company. 1t is
stated that practically all of the COM
mon stock of the road was issued with
out the company receiving any money
for the same
The matter was brought up in Com
mon Council last night and the action
of the railway company was denounc-
ed by members of the lower board
who had recently voted to give it
20 year franchise for the use # Royal
street. The members of Coul Gil vast
ed very little time in debate but pro-
ceeded to get down to business and
the following resolution introduced
by Councilman Howard W. Smith, was
passed by unanimous vote:
"Resolved, that committee be ap-
pointed to confer with the Corporation
Attorney in reference to the recent in
crease in rates established by the
Washington-Virginia Railway Com
pany, and be it further resolved that
said committee and the Corporation
Attorney be and they are hereby au-
thorized and directed to take such
proceedings as they may deem neces-
sary either by appeal to the State
Corporation Commission or the Inter
state Commerce Commission to COM
pei the said railway to restore its
former rates, and to bring about
readjustment of the rates between
this city and Washington"
President Brumback appointed on
the committee the following: Howard
W. Smith, Capt. Albert Bryan and A.
D. Brockett.
President Marbury was an interest
ed spectator at the proceedings OF
Common Council and after adjourn
ment announced that special meet
ing of the Board Of Aldermen would
be called to take similar action. This
morning the members of the Board
asked to attend this special meeting
this afternoon at a o'clock.
Preceding the action of Council
Corporation Attorney Fisher had al
ready proceeded to investigate the
matter. He got into communication
by long distance phone with the mem
bers of the State Corporation Com
mission in Richmond and with officials
of the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion in Washington and found out
that the increases had been authorized
by both commissions as there had
been no protest made against new
rates. The railway company had been
very careful not to let any knowledge
of the changes get out and so they
had easy sailing before both commits.
sions.
If an appeal to the Interstate Com.
merce Commission is made the hear.