Evening star., 1918-06-17
MARKET PRESIDENT
DEFENDS COMPANY
Edward o. Whitford Replies
to Mr.. Johnson's Profiteer-
ing Charges.
GIVES OUT STATEMENT

Edward o. Whitford. president OF
the Washington Market Company, re-
plying further to Representative
johnson of Kentucky, who has intro
duced a bill in the House providing
for communicating the Center Market
buildings, made the following state
ment today:
Representative Ben johnson of
kentucky, in his remarks made last
Tuesday in the House of Representa-
tives in connection with his bill
(I. r. 10Ss3), providing for the seizure
of the Center Market buildings. again
maligned Gas he did more fully in the
ffteen-page printed report on this
bilD number of prominent Washing
ton officials, who, he states, were in
terested in the organization of the
Washington Market Company in 1870,
and whom he accuses of many crimes
in connection with this corporation.
These men have all been dead for
many years and cannot deny what
has been said of them by Representa-
tive Johnson, but why the Washing
ton Market Company fifty years later
SnOulu D6 DldIl6u anu CHdTScu WI
corruption, fraud, arson and destruc-
1ion of human life in connection with
the alleged acts of any of these long
dead citizens and officials of Washing
ton in the 70s Is inconceivable.
Says He Doesn't Know Facts.
"As shown by Mr.. Johnson. in his
statement to the House on Tuesday.
there are many facts in connection
with the history of this company with
which he is either unacquainted or
does not care to learn.
The United States and the District
of Columbia together receive annually
over $4,000 from the market company
in rental, taxes and reversionary gain,
and not $500 only, as repeatedly
stated by him.
Neither Gov. Henry D. Cooke. AL
exander r. Shepherd nor any other
officer of the then new District of CO.
lumbfa government was at any time
an officer of this company, or interest
ed in its affairs, excepting only to the
extent of desiring to see modern mar
ket structures erected on the present
site. To this they gave thought and
effort as active and prominent public
citizens of this District.
"A monument recently erected in
front of the municipal building on
Pennsylvania avenue in honor of AL
,exander Shepherd would indicate that
The was >held in high regard by the
public, but If he were guilty of all the
crimes referred to by Mr.. Johnson that
the blame for any of his acts upon the
Washington Market Company.
Discusses Profiteering Charge.
TN his oft-repeated charge that the
market company has long been pro-
fiteering' at the expense of the gov
ernment in connection with the rental
of $4,000 square feet Of floor space at
Center market for twenty years by
charging the District of Columbia
militia $4,000 per annum, or IA cents
per square foot per annum, Mr.. John
son does this company great injus-
tice. The $4,000 per annum referred
to by him is gross and not net rental
to the market company, although he
has many times repeated the state
ment that this rent was net.
The fact is well known that dur
ing the twenty-year period the COM
pany furnished to the District Of Co
lumbia militia over half a million
cubic feet of space over Center mar
ket, including heat, electric light and
all repairs in fifty rooms and three
large halls; also expended $4,000 on
improvements for the militia to meet
their requirements. AS a matter Of
fact the company netted little, If any
thing. during this long period. and to
no other tenant but the United States
government would this large armory
space have been leased with heat,
light and repairs for twice that sum.
Amusement Hall Rental.
Mr.. Johnson again. on the floor of
the House last Tuesday, referred to
the occupancy by the government, dur
ing the past five months, Of the 9Th
was leased to the Mammoth Amuse-
ment Company in 1915 by this COM
Dany at $3.50 a month. including heat
and water. Mr.. Johnson intimate es
that the market company has been
interested in the suitcase by Mr.. E.
X. Fox. president of the Mammoth
Amusement Company, to the govern
ment at much higher, rent.
The market company has received
only the amount of rental stated, $3.50
per month, for the past three years.
The company has had no relations
with Mr.. Fox or his amusement COM
pany, except those of landlord and
tenant on $3.50 per month basis.
These are the exact facts as to the
alleged profiteering' and not as mis-
represented by Mr.. johnson, but his
charges are similar to others made by
him during the past five years against
AuiS SOiuPduys cQQdlly unsupported 0y
facts. / have been informed by Mr..
Fcx of the amusement company, with
confirmation by Mr.. p. e. Meyer,
chief clerk of the Treasury Depart
ynent, that the government war risk
bureau has terminated its lease with
the amusement company and will va
cate the premises on the 30th of the
present month.
II very much doubt If the few
months occupancy of this hall by
the government has enriched the
Mammoth Amusement Company to
any extent, especially as it has been
state by that company that many
items expended thereon to meet the
needs of the government war risk
bureau, including about $4,000 for new
plumbing, were included and paid
under the head of rental for this
short five months period.
Bill's Passage Is Criticised.
''Mr. Johnson's bill was passed by the
House last Tuesday with no delay anG
little discussion. 1t being stated tina,
only thirty members Of the House were
present that day. The bill was amended
by changing the date for the seizure Of
Center market from July to sixty day,
after the bill becomes a law, but re.
tanned the provision for an appraisal anc
payment at some indefinite time there
after.
..Such a seizure of the market CON,