Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-02-03
Round
One.

1SOs ~ ers. Attorney Conrad Syme, OF :
Washington put the glovesfor the commuters, au
John E. zlner1nano entered me rlns ~
the Washington Virgina Railway. Mr.
who is unquestionaby master in line and a. nfel-4
Der Of one of the foremost firms IN
way cement in the country ed OH VIII al =
figures that fairly scinaated with techlca
The laynan was soon lost the maze
S,ne at the end some ten minutes when
Zimmerman paused for his first breath came PACK VIII
series Of equally abstrnse terms and lanlaslons u
:ontered most effectively The combat contln4ea mus
FOR nearly two hours Major Ewing, for the Ballston
and Clarendon Citizens Associations
a ATTORNEY SWINE and engaged the Philadelphia man
while his principal sponging OF and gettng heW
ope.- This entirely fair, Tor IN
ivav exner there were General Manager Strauton Sll
,rntendent Rich and accountants and subexperts gal
ore Their pockets: fairly buged with papers Tau
portfolio was in evidence c1aned to the limit, and 40
,ument after document forth at the command OF e
ead-wizard who manipulated the figures it seemed to
the GAZETTE, however,, pandora box with nope Ior
the railway people lying at the bottom and finally lost mi
The shuttle. .:5z.=-.szs: "
The meeting last night developed with marked en-
phasis point which the GAZETTE has touched De-
fore The figures used by the railway last night were
III taken from the Companys books. Even Expert lln
norman was wabbly when herefelred to the bookkeep
ng of his predecessors. These were evidently not kept
IS accurately infinitely as the modern science OF
railway administration would to require or IN
stance there was information obtanable as to the re-
alive costs of operation and maintenance or the relative
revenue obtained from the Washington-Mt.. Vermont
traffic and the Washngton-Aexandria through traffic
Likewise as to the other branches This IS vital IN de
mining whether or not the Alexandria traffic should DE
made to pay for losses on other divisions a NUMBER OF
other weak spots developed under the sklltl cross
examination Of Attorneys Syme and Ewing lhefe IS
no question that if the thing reaches the Interstate
Commerce Commission, an expert auditor should De EN-
poyed on behaf~of the citizens. The GALEl i ike
wise believes that another firm Of railway engineers
should be engaged 10 CHECK
up the Washington Virginia experts The questions are
complicated and absolutely require professional assist
ance and corporations Hassand Zimmerman are en-
ployed by the railwa5eUrp exactly as lawyers
would be employed g. It is ther4duy to take the side OF
their clients, or get OUT
Boiled down to essentials the question resolves it
self into a single the railway avoid re-
ceiVership or notRS eshope it canbut not at the eX
oense of thousands people who have made life invest
ments in honles,entered employment and practically
ystaked their whole futu4on suburban casevice that
is reasonable and jst. I'VE think that comparative
table Of fares IN say, fifty other ctesen the United
States would show the contention Of the commuters to bel
aminently rand equitable This for experts to
determine. assWee have already limited i; !
On the Wi1ole the meeting last night was commend
able. 1t certainly cleared the atmosphere The rail
way representatives were courteous and frank in their
demeanor and attitude and Alexandria could not have
been otherWise We are impressed however, with the
ndsputabe fact-that iii Round One of the sparring \
match the commuters and their, neghbors out Il
ahead The<ralWay corporation was a little groggy at
the end &<
The British counter: attacked.