Evening star., 1915-02-10
OPPOSES fIII[ III[ PASSAGE
OF THE CROSSER BILL
Chamber of Commerce Adopts Reso
luton Against Federal Owner
ship at This Time.

After debate lasting more than an
hour, the Chamber of Commerce, at a
meeting. held last night, adopted a resolu-
ton opposing the passage of the Crosser
bill providing for government ownership of
public utilities in the District, on the
ground that government ownership of
such utilities should not be brought about
until sufficient opportunity has been given
the District public utilities commission to
demonstrate it's worth.
This action was taken after the read
ing of a lengthy report in opposition to
government ownership of public utilities
which was prepared by special commit
tee composed of =. T. Moran, Capt. James
F. Oyster and NJ. A. Leese. Former Sen-
ator Marian Butler spoke in opposition to
the adoption of the report, and H. II.
Classic spoke in favor of such action.
Their arguments alone consumed more
than an hour. Both members said they
believed the District public utilities COM
mission has not been in existence long
enough to demonstrate whether it can
handle the public utility problem.
Compromise Suggestion Accepted.
A compromise was brought about by
E. c. Graham, who called attention to
what he said appeared to be a general
belief that the utilities commission has
not been sufficiently tried out, and sug-
gested that instead Of taking action on
the committees report the chamber
should merely go on record in opposi-
tion to the Crosser bill on the ground
that 1t is ill-advised at this time. His
suggestion seemed to meet the ap-
proval of all present at the meeting,
for not one voice was raised against it
A resolution urging Congress to de-
clare newspapers of the District of Co
lumbia public utilities, thus putting
them under the supervision of the Dis
trfct public utilities commission, was
introduced by Joseph D. Sullivan, who
declared that newspapers are monopo-
lies. The resolution was referred to the
committee on law and legislation fo1
consideration.
President Moran was authorized tC
appoint special committee of five
members to ascertain means of hous-
ing the residents of alleys who will be
driven from their homes when the alley
bill recently enacted by Congress be-
comes operative in 1918. The presi-
dent also, was authorized to appoint
delegate to the clean city committee
First Full Gathering for Some Time.
A special committee which recently
supervised a competitive examination
given Boy Scouts to ascertain to whom
the Chamber of Commerce Boy Scou
efficiency badges should be awarded, re
ported that Norris B. Gaddes. J. D. Eg
gleston and Francis w. Watson hat
passed with the highest ratings.
Upon the recommendation of the munic.
ipal legislation committee. the cham
Der voted to ask the public utlitie:
commission to grant d second publ,
hearing before permission is given t,
extend the tracks of the bureau of en-
craving and printing from 14th stree
and Pennsylvania avenue to connec
| with the f street line at 14th and l
streets northwest.
The meeting was the first full gath
ering of the chamber that has beer
presided over by p. T. Moran since hi.
recent election to the presidency. Mr.
Moran spoke of the necessity of worl
on the part of the members of the or
ganization in order to make the worl
of the chamber effective.