The Washington times., 1915-02-10
CHAMBER OPPOSES
CROSSER MEASURE
Adopts Resolution Against Mu-
nicipaI Ownership of Dis.
trict Street Railways.

Copies Of a resolution, opposing the
ure providing municipal ownership Of
the street railways of the District, and
which is on the House calendar. will
today be sent to each member of both
houses Of Congress by the Chamber of
Commerce.
The resolution, basing the opposition
of the chamber on the ground that
the efficacy Of governmental regulation
as provided in the Public Utilities Com
mission has not yet been sufficiently
tried out, was unanimously adopted at
general meeting of the chamber last
night.
The resolution was presented by E. c.
Graham as a substitute for a resolu-
non presented by a special committee
composed of P. T. Moran, president Of
sns ns NJ ess csp5 bs sass FL oyster
port did not deal with the concrete
question presented in the Croeser bill:
but. embracing all phases of municipal
ownership. condemned the proposition.
1t was regarded by many members as
too broad In scope.
Would Consolidate Systems.
Former Senator Marion Butler Of
North Carolina. speaking in opposition
to the committee report, declared that
while he favored Government ownership
as a general proposition. believing that
service which affects all the people In
which there can be no competition Is
too vital to be left to private corporate
ownership. he was opposed to the
Crosser bill. His opposition, he said.
was founded on ihe fact that sufficient
time had not elapsed to enable the
Washington public to determine what
strict regulation under the Utilities
Commission would accomplish.
Senator Butler, in discussing the
street railways Of Washington. advo-
Gated the consolidation Of the two sys-
the Utilities Commission should have
member learned in corporation work.
Fl: H. Classic. in defending the com
mittee's report. asserted that expert
ership was neither practical nor profit
able. and asked what would be gained
under the Crosser bill that might not
be obtained through proper regulation.
The fundamental vice of government
ownership. he declared. was the gen.
eral disregard for cost
For Postponing Line Extension.
BY a unanimous vote the Chamber
adopted. without discussion. the report
Of the municipal legislation committee.
presented by the chairman. Walter r..
Guy. recommending that the District
commissioners and the Public Utilities
Commission be petitioned to postpone
putting into effect an order for the ex-
tension of the lines Of the Washington
Railway and Electric Company on
Fourteenth street. between r street and
Pennsylvania avenue. until a hearing
shall have been held for consideration
Of the entire traffic situation obtaining
in the area bounded by New York and
Pennsylvania avenues and Fourteenth
and Fifteenth streets.
The Chamber Of Commerce efficiency
badge awarded to Boy Scouts -Waa
voted to Norris B. Gaddes. J. d. Eg-
sleston and Francis w. Watson. The
badges will be presented at the scout
rally to be held at Convention Hall
tomorrow night.
President Moran was authorized to
name delegate to represent the
Chamber in the clean city campaign
and on the general committee conduct
ing this work. He was also directed
to appoint a committee OF five to in
vestigate the housing situation con-
fronting the thousands dwelling in
alley properties that will be declared
utenable as residential properties I'M
der the so-called Galley" bill.
The question whether the Chamber
should give a cup to the National Capt.
tai shorse show, as was done last year.
was referred to the executive commit
tee.