Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-07-26
It Enters This City With the New
Syndicate
AND HAS EXTENDED IT'S INFLUENCE
To the Metropolitan and Other
Compsn ss.
THE CHANGE OF PRESIDENT.


ropolitan railroad. which was agreed upon
at the special meeting Of the board of d.
rectors yesterday afternoon. was a good
deal OF surprise. 1t was very generally
known. or course. that change would be
made, as Mr.. Pearson, the president, so in
formed the board at the annual meeting
which was held few days ago. The sur
prise lay in the fact that the change was
made so promptly. 1t was supposed that
Mr.. Pearson could be induced to retain the
office for some time and, in the meantime,
go Off and enjoy a well-earned vacation
and come back rested and refreshed. But
Mr.. Pearson was in dead earnest when he
rendered his resignation. He is not only
tired. but he Is worn out and he wants not
merely a rest, but time to devote to his pri-
vate interests. His resignation was ac-
cepted with deep regret, for the directors
appreciate thoroughly the unselfish atten-
the company during the nine years that
he has been president. He is hard worker
and he has carried upon his shoulders the
great burden Of the affairs of the road dur
ing all this period without hardly thought
of himself or his personal interests. He is
not only familiar with the multitude of
details connected with the running of the
road, but he has mastered the mysteries Of
the electrical devices which are used in
connection with the storage battery cars
which he has been trying to introduce.
He may now rank as an electrical expert.
Object Of the Experiments.
There Is no question that he went into the
experiments which some claim have proved
to be failure with the honest intention Of
finding a practical motor which could be
used as the motive power on the road.
Whatever use the trolley influence may
make of the experience of the Metropoli-
tan Road with the storage battery cars.
an honest effort to get motor that would
do the required work. He says even now
that the problem has not yet been solved.
and that they are now using a motor which
for the past forty-five days, has come up to
the mark. and II It continues to do as
well. 1t will prove to be what they have
Mr.. Pearson has been a resident Of this
city all his life He was born here. and
here are his family and business interests.
There are few men who stand higher in
the business world than the retiring presi-
dent of the Metropolitan Road. and when
he forms other connections, as he intends to
deserved recreation, the good wishes of his
many friends will be with him.
The New President.
The actual change in the Office will not
take place until the first of August. In the
meantime Mr.. w. j. Stephenson. who has
been chosen by the directors to succeed Mr..
Pearson will make himself familiar with
the duties of the place. Mr.. Stephenson is
well-known man of business and, with
his brother, carries on large coal busi-
er n of se he
road and fs therefore. more or less up in
railroad matters. He is still the president
morrow a meeting of the directors of that
company will be held and then Mr.. Stephen
son will present his resignation. 1t is
treasurer of the road win be elected in his
place. Mr.. Baker is a member of the firm
Of Beall and Baker, grocers. and has been
treasurer of the road for the past three
years.
Both Of these changes are simply of men
and not of control. Mr.. Stephenson win
represent the same interests in the Metro
politan road as Mr.. Pearson did. The NAN
agement of the two roads viii continue
practically the same. with, however, such
change in minor details as the personality
of the men may suggest. In some respects
the change in the Metropolitan resembles
very much the one recently made IN the
presidency of the Washington and George
town railroad, when Mr.. Hurt gave way to
Mr.. Dunlop. In the latter case 1t was said
on the streets that the motive lay In the
fact that Mr.. Hurt did not get on very we'll
with Congress. while Mr.. Dunlop, it was
thought. had the qualities which Mr.. Hurt
was said to lack.
Needs Congressional Favor.
The Metropolitan, however. stands in
need Of congressional favor. as it has fail
ed to comply with the law. and is now
liable to the penalty, which is the forfeit
ure of the charter New legislation can
be given which will remove this liability.
and the general opinion is that II Will be
represented to Congress, not'necessarily py
the Metropolitan people. that the only So
S Of the ta Is to ao%
OF course II this privilege Is granted to
one road there would be no justice in dis
eliminating against other roads in the
city, and of course the right to use the
trolley would be made general.
Mr.. Stephenson occupies a peculiar po-
the use on the road of which he is presi-
dent. of the Buda-Pesth underground troll
ley system. He had made such progress in
the work Of introducing this system on
that road that 1t is Said he had made con-
tracts to have the work carried out, which
have been temporarily suspended owing to
the condition of the money market. There
Is no reason to suppose, however, that he
Will be given the authority to make any
change in the system which is now being
tested on the Metropolitan road and 1t is
understood that everything in this particu-
lar will continue as under Mr.. Pearson's
management.
Long and Bitter Fight.
There is no question that there IL to be a
long and bitter fight in Congress over ihe
railroad question. Even If that body should
by legislation relieve the Metropolitan road
from its present legal liabilities on the con-
dftion that a cable should be put down, 1t
resisted by the company. The fact is that
they have nothing to lose. The forfeiture
proceedings can be made to drag over years
and the business of the company can be
continued along the same lines rs ar pres
ent.
The opposition to the use of any motive
power on street railroads in this city with
the exception of the trolley will be con-
tinued until Congress sits down with all
It's legislative force on the trolley, and
the roads will probably give up fighting
and begin in earnest to provide a modern
equipment. The poison Of the trolley in
fiuence entered the city with the new syn
dicate which last spring bought up two of
the city street railroads. 1t is supposed
that they have big political backing, and
the names of men who stand high in party
ranks and with this administration are
mentioned as lending all the weight of
their influence to secure trolley legislation
1t is whispered that disagreements have
sprung up among thes big operators and
that there Is not that degree of harmony
which existed at the early stage Of their
| financial career. 1t is claimed that there
are two factions here watching the rail-
road situation and that the combination
which was at first proposed to gain control
of all the railroads in the city Is not as
solid as it was. These differences may
be carried into the proposed fight for the
trolley and then the old adage will be veri-
fled as to the conclusion at least, that the
people will stand some chance Of getting
their own.