Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-15
Representative Crosser's Plan
to BE Considered by House
Committeeman.
DETAILS OF BOND ISSUE
MAIN POINT OF DIFFERENCE
Municipal Ownership Experts Are
Expected to Testify at Pro-
posed Hearings.

The acquisition by the District gov
ernment of all street railways in Wash
ington is the proposition to be discussed
within few days before d subcommittee
of the House District committee. with
Representative Crosser of Ohio as chair
man. Representative Crosser is the au-
thor of bill outlining complete method
of financing the beginnings of a munich
pal ownership of street railways in the
District and it is believed that the only
thing standing in the way of complete
accord between him and other members
of the District committee is matter of
detail concerning the issuance of bonds
which will pay the stockholders of the
roads for their property, if taken from
them
Representative Crosser had hoped to
have the hearings start this week but
minor matters interfered. and, he intends
10 nave a conference with Representa- tive
Ben johnson, chairman of the District
committee, within few days, SO that the
details of the financing plan may be
clearly understood by each.
Experts May Testify.
When the hearings opep Representative
Crosser will present the bill and make a
statement involving his own views as to
the value of municipal ownership. Ex-
perts from other cities, it is expected will
attend the hearing and give their testi-
mony. Definite arrangements have not
yet been made with these experts, but it
is believed that one of them will be Peter
Witt. street railway commissioner of
Cleveland Ohio, where the city govern
ment. While not owning the railroads,
-k-,,N
lions. has access to their books, and
makes regulations covering traffic.
Briefly, the Crosser bill provides that
the Commissioners of the District shall
bonds at 81. per cent 10 pay for the prop
erty and operate the roads. 1t is the
purpose of the bill to give every one
connected with the ownership of the
roads a perfectly square Geal as far as
getting back the worth of the property.
Various Steps to Be Taken.
The various steps to be taken. accord
ing to the Crosser bill are as follows:
The Commissioners are authorized to
deal with the railroad companies in an
effort to reach an agreement as to the
price to be paid.
IF they fail within six months to reach
such an agreement the Commissioners
shall institute condemnation proceedings
In the Supreme Court of the District of
Columbia. The court shall appoint a
jury of three disinterested men to ascer-
tain the damages each railroad would
sustain by the change.
The court shall hear exceptions and
shall have the power to vacate or set
aside any verdict. in whole or in part
and shall if necessary, appoint an entire
ly new jury.
Further protection to property owners
Is promised by the bill in a Paragraph
inc fhof .Y,arv J..
any final order of the court may prosecute
error proceedings to the Court of APP
peais" without tying up the rest of the
awards.
Provision for Bond Issue.
The section of the bill. providing for
the issuance of bonds. which will raise
the money proposed to pay the roads,
and which may be changed by the Dis
trict committee. follows:
That is the Commissioners shall reach
an agreement with the owner or owners
Of any street railroad or railroads as to
the purchase price thereof, they shall
provide for the payment of the amount
agreed upon by the issue of bonds of the
District of Columbia in such de-
nominations and in such total
amount the Commissioners shall
deem proper for the purpose OF
procuring the amount of money required
iof tHt FAY iltIlt OF tIle purchase pllce.
Such bonds shall become due and pay
able at the expiration of thirty years
from the date thereof, and shall bear in
terest at the rate of :;i2 per centum per
annuin. and the interest upon the same
shall be paid out of the revenues derived
from the operation of such street rail-
road or railroads. and the credit of the
District of Columbia shall be pledged for
The payment of such interest. If the
Commissioners shall take such street rail
road railroads by condemnation pro-
ceedings they shall issue bonds of the
District of Columbia in like manner as
provided in the case where the purchase
price of such street railroad or railroads
has been agreed upon by the said Com
Inissioners and the owner or owners of
such street railroad or railroads.
Sinking Fund Provided.
rhe Crosser bill provides for meeting
;he bonds at maturity by establishing
:, sinking fund into which. at the end
of three years of operation of such street
railroad or railroads by the public utiii-
ties commission of the District of Colum-
bia, there shall be paid annually such
portion of the annual receipts of such
street railroad or railroads as the Com
missioners shall deem proper and suffi-
cinet. The Commissioners shall safely
fund in public securities and shall like
wise safely invest the interest or income
which may accrue from such securities -
In this way. the Crosser bill provides
for the entire purchase, including inter
est on the money invested, out of the
earnings of the roads under the proposed
municipal oWenrship.