Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-12-15
GRIEVANCES AND NEEDS
CITED BY PUBLIC UTILITIES
Representatives of Local Organizations
Present Views Before Chamber of Com
merce-Urge Businesslike Rates.

I ponds on its credit.
| George Hamilton. president OF the
| Capital Traction Company, spoke in
favor Of a. merger of the two local
street railway systems along the lines
of voluntary agreement between the
! merger and other advances looking
| toward the interests of the public
| marked Improvement in the utilities
! question here would result.
b. & o. Ii Represented.
| j. A. Campbell, executive assistant
to Daniel Willard, president of the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad, said that
ing between the public and carriers
than at the present time. He conveyed
Mr.. Wizards regret at his inability
to be present at the meeting. Mr..
Campbell came from New York espe-
cially to represent Mr.. Willard.
Terminal Taxtcab Company. explained
the operation of his company and the
source of its business. He said that
his cars were leased by the hotels and
the terminal company, and, therefore,
should be accorded the right to park
near their places of business.
He said that while the courts had
ruled that his company came under the
head OF a public utility. individual
hackers carrying on similar business
were allowed to fix their own fares. as
the demands Of the occasion suited. He
registered a protest against this discrim-
ination, re1na rking that under the pres
ent rate of fare fixed by the Public
Utilities Commission, on 60 per cent Of
the company's business, profit of
little less than cents per passenger
was realized.
George Whitwell and James S. Nc
Illhenny represented the Washington
Gas Light Company. Mr.. Whitwell en-
Dhasized the necessity of rendering full
service to the consumer, whose rights
were paramount in the conduct of
public utility. He said that the day
of 1.-THE public be damned was past.
Presents Telephone Film.
Thomas P. Littlepage, speaking for the
Washington, Baltimore and Annapolis
pany was confronted with the problem
of. dealing with three public utilities
commissions, the Maryland and District
of Columbia bodies, in addition to the
Interstate Commerce Commission.
A. E. Berry, president of the Ches-
apeake and Potomac Telephone Com
pany, presented a film showing the
operation of. the telephone system.
This film will be shown at number
of citizens associations for the pur
puose of acquainting the users of the
telephone with the methods OF the
system. He related the growth of
the local system and had distributed
to each member of the chamber
pamphlets showing comprehensiVely
the development Of the telephone in
Washington.
A traffic squad of not less than 500
men, backed up by a traffic court to
try violators of regulations, was
recommended in report of special
committee. headed by Charles w.
cd rrfn RI 10 II
forum. The report was referred to
the board of directors for presenta-
ton at the next meeting of the cham
Der.
The committee urged that Congress
be petitioned to authorize this cen
tralized body of traffic policemen and
readjust salaries with view to MAX
ing positions on the squad attractive
to those who seek promotion.
1t was further advocated that the
present force be increased in actual
numbers by filing the $50 vacancies
now existing and by removing 100
policemen assigned to guard public
buildings and embassies by substl-
tuting soldiers.
A letter signed by Arthur c. Moses,
chairrnan of the local headquarters of
the committee on European relief, of
(which Herbert Hoover is the head,
and asking for the cooperation of
funds for this relief work. was read.
Mrs. Cabot Stevens made an appeal
in behalf of the near east relief. A
young Armenian girl. Serapi CARING,
was Introduced by Mrs. Stevens. who
related the girls mistreatment by the
Turks
The civil service commission asked
the chamber for it's cooperation in
securing applicants for positions in
the local police force in another letter
read at the meeting.
Invited Guests.
The guests invited to the meeting last
night follow: Atlantic Coast Line rail-
way: George p James, general agent.
Baltimore & Ohio railroad: Daniel Will
lard, president; Archibald Fries. vice
president; w. B. Galloway, passenger
traffic manager; Colder Schumate.
freight traffic manager: George II.
Campbell. assistant to president; Col
Walter ". Shipley, division passenger
agent; c. e. Thorney. city passenger
agent !; j. p NJ Duvall, city passenger