Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-03-07
THOSE rRAuDuLxNr rRANsrERa
How the Railroad People win Prevent tn
Use Of Them in Future.

How the Railroad People win Prevent the
Use Of Them in Future.
Presidents Pearson and Stephenson Of the
Metropolitan and Columbia Street Railway
Companies, respectively, have ct last formu-
lated scheme which viii defeat those people
who have been working both reads by getting
| round-trip rides for single fares. Last month
more than 5000 people-rnost Of them appar-
emily Observation-Disclosures secured trans
fers; neat month they will either ride honestly
or walk. The STAR, . couple Of days since
explained the method by which the companies
were cheated. The transfer system now in
operation permits any unprincipled person to
ride from any point on the Metropolitan or
Columbia roads to downtown center and back
again for one fare Two SUNDAYS ago a mis-
chievous youngster cotton Metropolitan car at
9th street, transferred at F, again at 14th and
New York avenue and once more at 9th and
New York avenue. He had made the circuit
twenty one times when he was discovered
Within little while such q trick will not be
possible.
THE proposition" said President Pearson
to STAR reporter, sis that the Columbia COM
pany Will not issue a transfer to transfer pas
senger between 9Th street and 14th street. This
VIII not interfere with passengers who wish to
ride east OF 9Th street. but it will save us good
zeal OF money. To make the matter clear
let me recite case which happens frequently.
passenger from Georgetown who wants to
make brief visit to the business center rides
on the Metropolitan to 9th and F streets There
ne Tor she) gets transfer. Then he goes of
10 the bank or the store or Office and within an
hour comes back to 9th and +. His transfer is
stiu good. SO he rides up 9th to New York
avenue. transfers to a west-bound Columbia car
on ticket that is good for an hour delay,
transfers again at 14th street and is granted
another hour. and finally goes to his Georgetown
nome on that last transfer from the Columbia
road Under the new plan he would be stranded
at i4th street and New York avenue, because the
Columbia Company will not give him a transfer
to the Metropolitan. No, there will be no con-
fusion between pay passengers and transfer
passengers. When a passenger pays fare the
conductor will at once, if it is needed, give him
or her transfer ticket. People who give the
can only ride to the Columbia termini. A pas
senger from the West End who wants to go east
OF 9Th street on the Columbia road can travel
on the transfer he will got at 14th and New
York avenue. but il he wants to 60 north Of
New York avenue on 9th street he must get
there by the way Of F street; the short cut up
New York avenue will no longer be available for
anything less than another fare.
This change will cause some good folks q
little inconvenience. Clerks employed in the
State, War or Navy Departments and who
live on 9th street north of New York avenue
streets, have to make the trip on the Metro
politan road, for they will not be given
transfers from the Columbia to US at 14th
street, as they have been in the past.
Another change which this popular dishon-
esty will shortly bring about is the reduction
of the time for which transfers will be good.
They are now available for one hour; in future
they will only be useful for fifteen minutes.
We think that is long enough for a man to
make up his mind whether he will take "a con-
tinuous ride or not Within fifteen minutes
five cars will pass him each way.
PERSONALLY regret that these changes are
necessary, but the company must protect it
self. The people we have to look out for are
not the common or the poor. One well-dressed
lady-wearing sealskin-got on Columbia car
the other Saturday. She transferred at 9th
street and New York avenue, and, after getting
another transfer at F street, walked down to
the Center Market. Then, with loaded basket,
she tramped back to 9th and F streets, got on
west-bound car, and on the strength of her
treasured transfer rode to 14th street and New
York avenue. There she transferred to an
east-bound Columbia car and was carried
home-all for an original investment Of four
and one-Sixth cents"