Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-05
FIGHT TRAFFIC RULES LEGAL CONTEST ON
Citizens Federation Approves Demurrer to Suit Against Big
Them After Debate. Utilities Company.
BY MARGIN OF FIVE VOTES REPLY TO DISTRICTS PLEA
Parliamentary Tactics Employed Paper to Be Filed Tomorrow In
Postpone Action. Local Court
BUSINESS REPORTS IMPOSING ARRAY OF COUNSEL
Workhouse Favor
ably Reported by MilionDollar Corporation
REPLY TO DISTRICTS PLEA
Paper to Be Filed Tomorrow in
Local Court.
IMPOSING ARRAY OF COUNSEL
Effort to Prevent the Absorption of
Washington Utilities by Fifty
Million-Dollar Corporation.

With an opposing array of counsel rep
resentlng the defendants, what promises
to be one of the most interesting legal
battles ever fought in the District of Co.
lumbia courts will be commenced in
earnest tomorrow with the filing in the
Supreme Court of demurrer to the suit
instituted several weeks ago by the Dis
trict Commissioners to prevent the ab-
sorption of any local public utilities by
the fifty-million- dollar Washington Utili-
ties Company.
Speculation as to what form of an
swer would be made to the Commissions
ers' suit was set at rest last night when
Gardiner l.. Boothe. an official of the
Washington Utilities Company and one
of it's attorneys, announced that de-
murrer will be filed tomorrow.
In the Commissioners suit the Wash
ington Utilities Company and the Wash
ington- Virginia Railway Company. the
latter concern since having been ABSORBED
by the former together with promoters
of the corporate and about 2,uOO stock
holders of the Washington Railway and
Electric Company and others. are named
as defendants.
Attorneys in the Case.
Mr. Boothc announced that the follow
Ing attorneys will represent the defend
ants: j. j. Darlington. for the Washing
ton Railway and Electric Company: a. s.
Worthinston. for ". b. Hibbs, Washing
ton stock broker and one of the promot-
ers of the CORPORATION: Charles F. Holm
of New York. for G. =. King. president
of the Washington Railway and Electric
Company. and Norman Grey of Camden
n. j.. John F. Barbour of Fairfax. Va.
and Gardiner L. Boothe. for the Wash
ington Utilities Company and the Wash
ington-Nirginia Railway Company.
Several conferences have been held by
the defendants attorneys and the de-
murrer last night received Its final
touches. Should the demurrer be sus-
tanned. the corporation would be In
position to proceed with its plans for
amalgamating large utilities concerns in
the District of Columbia. Maryland and
Virginia, provided an appeal should not
be taken by the District and the ruling
OF the court reversed.
in the hearing on the demurrer the
District will be represented by +. II.
Thomas. corporation counsel of the Dis
trict of Columbia. Mr.. Thomas prepared
the suit that was filed by the Commits
sioners and 1t is the Commissioners pres-
handed with the defendants lawyers.
Activities Confined to Virginia.
With the exception of taking over the
Virginia Railway Company.
which operates railway lines between
Washington and nearby points in Vir-
ginia. the Washington Utilities Company.
so far as is known, has made no at
tempt to acquire any other properties.
It's attorneys have been busy with the
preparation of an answer to the Commits
sioners' suit. and It is not likely the cor
poration will consider expanding its inter-
ests until this matter has been thrashed
out i'm court.
Since acquiring the Washington Virginia
Railway Company. the corporation has
made numerous improvements in the prop
erty of the railway concern, double-track-
ing d portion of one of the lines and in
creasing its transportation facilities in
other respects.