Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-05
BORLAND PLAN
HIT BY FEDERATION
Decision of Commissioners to
Plead Statute of Limita-
tionS Criticized.

The recent decision of the District
Commissioners to plead the statute OF
limitations whenever possible in an
swer to suits by property owners Tor
the recovery of Illegally paid assess
ments under the Borland law, was
criticized by the Federation of Cit
izens' Associations at it's final regular
meeting of the season last night in the
board room of the District Building.
Charles l. Stengle, chairman of the
committee on law and Legislation,
pointed out that the Commissioners
had ignored a recommendation or
CORPORATION Counsel Francis ii.
Stephens against invoking the statute
of limitations in such cases and
adopted a procedure which the people
of the District deeply regret. On his
motion, the federation voted to urge
the commissioners to rescind their
action.
The federation also criticized the
Public Utilities Commission for re-
fusal to consider, at this time, re-
quest of it's public utilities committee
that public hearings be held on pro-
posals for a reduced street car fare
for school children, universal trans
fers, and the sale of three tokens Tor
20 cents by conductors on tae cars.
The committee announced that 1t had
resubmitted the request for reconsld-
Grafton, and the federation sanctioned
its action.
Traction Experts Authorized.
Authorization was given the public
utilities committee to accept the otTer
of tha firm of Charles Hansel, special
lists OF New York, with offices in the
TRANSFORMATION Building, to make
complete study of the financial situa-
ton and values of the physical prop
critics of the Washington Railway q
Electric and Capital Traction Com
NAMES. with view to providing IN
formation which the federation may
use in an effort to bring about a mer-
ger. The expense Of such an invesu-
cation will amount to about S5,ouV:
hut CLAYTON Emig. acting, chairman Oh
the committee, assured the federation
that it would not have to pay the
bill
Mr.. Emig previously had outlined
the activities of the committee TOWARD
developing a plan to secure legislation
RI bring about q unified operation OF
the car lines, and explained that II
was handicapped for the lack OF
ssreal. reliable information" The COM
mittee, ne said, conferred with ofhclais
of both traction companies, ana Wnlie
one was eager and willing to CO.
operate, the other, which is earning
more than a IA per cent return, de-
clined assistance.
Acting on another recommendation
OF the utilities committee, the fedora
ton registered its disapproval to the
operation of one -man street cars.
Power Report Debated.
A debate, animated by parliamentary
maneuvers, developed over a subse-
quent report by the same committee.
which asked authorization to appear
before the Federal Water Power Com
mission during consideration of the Po'
tonac River Corporations application
for permission to make a survey OF
the upper Potomac in connection
with the proposed development of a
hydro-electric plant at Great Falis.
The argument was provoked by a
clause which would empower the COM
mirtee to take such action "as seems
best for the organized citizenship and
residents of the District" modify
ing clause subject to the approval OF
the federation" was added and the re-
port finally adopted.
A contribution Of $50 was voted Tor
the Lindbergh reception fund.