The Washington herald., 1913-01-26
WATER VS.. rail-;
NO CASUALTIES
Traffic Banqueters Enjoy a
Good-humored Tilt Between
Campbell and Williams.
SENATORS FAVOR WATER
J. T. Moffett Also Offers Diversion by
Appearing in Multiple
Roles.

The interests of local water and rail
transportation met on neutral ground
last night at the annual banquet of the
Washington Traffic Club held at the
Raleigh, and with the exception OF a
good natured passage-at-arms on the
question OF water transportation, be-
tween Senator John Sharp Williams of
Mississippi. and Representative Philip
l.. Campbell OF Kansas. pursued for sew
eral hours way OF great amnesty and
peace. Senator Williams appeared as the
champion of water transportation.
There We're seventy-five at the banquet
table and among the speakers. beside
Senator Williams and Representative
Campbell of Kansas, were Representative
Clark of Florida, Representative Gambler
of Mississippi, Commissioner Cuno II.
Rudolph. Charles A. Lutz, of the Inter
state Commerce Commission, and Odell
s. Smith. of the Norfolk and Washington
Steamboat Company. George p. James.
Of the Atlantic Coast Line Railway. was
toastmaster.
Morctt Plays Varied Role.
The banquet was essentially a function
of the transportation facilities OF Wash
ington. and everything from the speeches
TO the favors on the tables suggested
these interests In response to a call
AloHi lLlc l. dp-
peared as a composite conductor. brake
man, and porter. with a lantern and red
flag, and operated a miniature electric
train that ran around the guests table,
to bring the speakers to their feet. Dur
ing the dinner William Clabaugh, George
O'Connor, and Arthur Pierce sang.
In response TO train order, No. 4.
Representative Campbell took the floor
and defended the railroads. He pictured
@f.aNNE
and telling OF the improvement wrought
by the railroads said ''he never found
it in his heart 10 cuss them
Representative Campbell said that the
Rivers and Harbors bill that is now
pending in the House would hs passed
in the next few days He told OF the
trip taken by several members OF the
House and Senate down the Mississippi
River to determine the advisability OF a
large appropriation for river improve
ment, and said that at the end none OF
the party would have voted one dollar for
that purpose. He said that freight traf-
fic on the river amounted to nothing. and
that all the shippers asked was speed,
not considering cheapness.
Williams Opposes Views.
Senator Williams took the opposite
view. He sharply criticised the wording
OF the long and short haul law. He
said the law was not just. and that when
justice was reached the roads would find
there would he no quarrel between them
and Congress.
The speaker stated that by statistics
the American railroads kill annually
fifty times the number OF people killed
by the roads of Great Britain. He said
that the blame lay principally in the
speed craze Of American travellers. and
advocated an Improvement fund" for
railroads to be used for better roadbeds.
In conclusion. Senator Williams said that
all that is needed to get water transpor-
tatiOn is to stri,. out the words under
similar circumstances in the present
law.
Representative Gambler OF Mississippi
defended the railroads, saying that it is
generally said in the farming Commu-
mites that the crops are lying waiting
!or cars that the railroads cannot get
and that if this car shortage is due 10
overzealous regulation of railroads. the
Investigations looking toward further
regulation should be conducted carefully
and wisely.
Among those at the festive board were:
omcers-George T. James. Atlantic
Coast Line. president; w. w. Bowie,
Pennsylvania Railroad. vice president:
W. S. Pcckham. WashinEton-Sunset
Route, secretary-tTeasurer
Members-H. l.. Bishop. w. w. Bowie,
George NJ. Bond, II. F. Cary. William
l.. Clarke. S. +. Corbin. A. S. Dovine.
c. W. Fletcher. n NJ. Fisher. George p.
James, r. S. Knapp. DR.. ]. J. Kaveney.
J. T. Moffett. J. f.. McKeeNcr. Guy Z.
Nauldin. A. G. Machler. F l. Marshall.
B. NJ. Newbold. c. Phelps. r II. Snead.
Odell 5 Smith. II. NJ. Sands, c. F.
Shanklin. l.. H. Skinner. W. Y. Sullwel.
+. S. Wynn, J. G.. Williams, F N
Westerman, J. c. Williams, G. J. Weld
man, ]. \. Riordan. Nathan WE'LL, S. L.
Heacock. A. J. PostOn. +. IL. Poston.
]. S. Poston, c. o. Parks, W. B. Peck
ham. w. L. white, r. J. Whitehead. Z.
B. Bowling, r. J. Mersheimer.
Executive "Ommittee-H. r. Howser,
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company:
J. r. Moffctt. Washington Railway and
Electric Company; W. c. johnson,
United States Express Company: odell
s. Smith, Norfolk and Washington
Steamboat Company.
Guests-Hon. John Sharp Williams,
Hon. Charleton NJ Clark. Hon. w w
Wick. Hon. Cuno Fl. Rudolph. Col. T. ].
l.. Brown, Hon. Frank Clark, Hon. f.
5. Gambler. w. w. KeblInger, z. G.
Handy, II. X. Hickey. Arthur Pierce,
H. Zettler, w. F. Harrison. Hon. Phil
X. Campbell. c. W. Rhodes, william
-lah