Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-02

Commission, District Of Columbia: 1875
Ira importation survey.
Il learned from all three Of YOU
that YOU had nothing whatever 10 do
with this work. but that the North
American Co of New York had II done
At it's own expense. And | learn from
Mai. Covell that these two volumes
cost the North American Co. $4,000.
Now, why did it spend this $40. 900?
Does ii cast its bread upon the waters
without expecting biblical return? This
North American Co. OF New York
owns "a per cent Of the common stock
of the Washington Railway and Flee
trio Co. 1t owns the controlling stock
in the Capital Ira ction co. 1t owns
the controlling stock in the Washing
ton Rapid Transit Go. 1t is interested
I'm having Scent fare on street cars in
Wa shington. and ii is interested In
selling six fares for 90 cents on its
hrIsses. which take up two-thirds of
the street. observe no ira ftfc rules. Will
run right over you II YOU don't get out
OF the way and will drive around a
new Pierce Arrow II 1t doesn't brea k
the speed limit. And ! find that these
two $40. 900 volumes have been deliv-
cred to other Congressman and to
Senators. And I have perused them
carefully. And il were YOU Commits
sioners. would take my names off Of
the tops Of these voluminous pages. for
| bunk TO gull Commissioners and Con-
gress with.
Il expect to do my own thinking
and not let these traction compa MES
prepare my facts for me. The only
pledge | have taken on this New Year
day is that l am going to match wits
with Secretary Fisher and Corpora ton
Counsel Stephens in overcoming your
objections to my bill. and in securing
before Congress adjourns legislation
that will bring these compa MES back
within their charters, and thus give
the half million people OF Washington
a scent fare. Ii is a crime to permit
these compa MES to charge 66 900 little
school children cents car fare. In no
other comparable city In the United
States Is it done. And when we force
them hack to their charters, IL they
want to go to court about 1t. | will
tender YOU and the people here my
services gratis in defending the b-cent
fare all the way to the Supreme Court
of the United tSates. Very truly yours.
THOMAS l.. BLANTON."
Bell UphoIds Criticism.
Mr.. Blanton's criticism of the man
ner n which the utilities commission
hers Of Congress was described toda V
by Engineer Commissioner Bell as
iustifable.
Il think Mr.. Rlanton is right" ga id
Col Bell. His comment is the best
argument I have vet heard in favor of
the proposed reorga MIA ton of the
utilities commission. Members of the
commission with their other multifar-
ious duties. do not have the time to
go into details"
Col. Bell admitted Mr.. Blan-
toms statement to the effect that he
had no personal knowledge AS to the
accuracy of the statistics cited in the
letter sent to him by the Commission
ers, but explained that the figures
were compiled by two Of the commits.
sion's experts, in whom he has the
| utmost confidence. II believe, how
ever" he added, that a member of
the commission should check I'D on
these matters, but this procedure is
! harry possible with the pressure of
| other official business"
Cuno H. Rudolph. chairman Of the
Board Of Commissioners. declined to
comment on the letter. He took the
position that IT was Commissioner
Bells duty. as he is chairman Of the
| Utilities Commission. Commissioner
! Fenning Is in Atlantic City.