Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-07-13
STREET RAILROADS.
What is Said About the Change in
the Metropolitan Directory.
A REVIVAL OF GOSSIP.
A Combination of All Roads to
Fight for the Trolley.
MR.. PEARsON's SUCCESSOR

MR.. PEARSON's SUCCESSOR.
The change in the directory Of the Metro
pohtsn Railroad Company, which was made at
the annual election held yesterday, as stated in
yesterdays STAR, was more or less discussed
| today In railroad circles. Owing to the recent
changes in railroad properties in this city
and the rumors that have been general of
others that are pending, anything Of the sort,
sucn as that which occurred at the election yes
terday, however slight and trivial it might seem
under ordinary circumstances, just now gives
rise to an extraordinary amount Of talk in
which conjecture is pretty apt to be mixed up
Win Facts. 1t Is not enough to know that Mr..
A. A Thomas was not reelected and that Mr..
3. Thomas Brown was chosen in his place
out everybody wants to know the reason
Tor the change. The closeness Of the vote, il
| there was nothing else indicates that there was
| contest, and that Mr.. Thomas friends did NOT
allow him to retire from the board without q
protest In the shape Of all the votes they could
muster.
THE REAsoNs ASSIGNED.
There are two explanations which are most
generally heard. On one side 1t il said that the
Georgetown people desired that section
Of the city should be represented on
tne board, as was the case In former years,
ana therefore, ~ Mr.. Brown was Q well-known
resident Of the city beyond the Rock creek, he
was selected as a member Of the board. On the
other hand the change il attributed to Q per-
sonai leeling which is said to exist between q
| large stockholder Of the road and Mr.. Thomas
growing out Of the conduct of the affairs of the
electric llUht nf ~ h{ohN NJ -
the president. It is further alleged that this
| change Is In line with policy which has some
connection with the scheme about which there
was good deal Of talk some months ago.
namely, that all the railroads of the city were
TO be consolidated practically under one man
agement.
1t is not represented that the separate cor
porate existence Of the roads are to be inter-
Tered with, but that there will be such har-
mony OF action, such unity Of purpose in the
management Of the street railroads that profit
able traffic arrangements can be made and
properties that are now perhaps . trife weak
viii be revived and strengthened.
THE POWER BEHIND THE THRONE.
or course this is mere talk just now, but the
failure Of the Metropolitan stockholders to
elect at the election yesterday Mr.. A. A.
Thomas as one Of the directors has sprung
afresh the flood Of gossip which ran
riot here last spring when railroad deals
were served up for dinner almost daily. At
that time it was said on the street that the So
called Philadelphia syndicate was Q mere blind.
and while they had secured the control Of the
lexington and the Belt roads and were after
the METROPOLITAN, yet IL would be found when
the dust Of the first discovery cleared away that
the Washington and Georgetown railroad was
the power behind the throne.
Strangely enough. this same comment has
been revived by the incident of yesterday, and
1t is claimed by those who seem to know that
the men who control the Washington and
Georgetown will eventually control the Metro
politan and also the railroad properties now
owned by the so-called Phlladelphis syndicate.
1t is not claimed that this control il to be Sc
cured at once, but that everything IL working
that way.
THE FIGHT FOR THE TROLLEY.
At the coming session Of Congress, not per-
haps the special session. but the regular session.
which convenes next December, an active cam
paign is to be opened with the end in view to
secure from Congress the necessary su-
thority to have the trolley through the
streets Of the city. 1t is believed that
the railroad companies BY that time will have
such relations one with the other that they can
present Q solid front to Congress in favor of
this change. There will be no cutting Of
throats In the dark and poniard thrusts
from behind, as has frequently complicated and
nullified the railroad program in the past. All
VIII D0 uhrWOuy anu DrOtuorly love, ana the
committees will witness Q unity Of action and
oneness Of views that will be quite pleasing.
On the part OF the Metropolitan the expert
ence with storage battery cars, which il still
going on, will be detailed, the impracticability
OF putting down q cable on the main line at
least will be pointed out, the visionary character
of the underground trolley now being operated
on Q street will. it is hoped, by that time be
possible to easily demonstrate to the congress
sional mind. Once started on this line it will
be impossible to shunt off until the conclusion
is safely reached that the trolley il the only
way out Of the dilemma.
TRIUMPH FIGURED OUT.
At the same time application will be made on
the part Of those who control the Lexington
and the Belt roads for the same privilege.
There will be. it is believed, no dissent
ing voice raised In railroad circles in
this city at least against the trolley,
and 1t is thought that the trolley is bound to
triumph this time. This is the program that
has been marked out in the street gossip. and
much Of it. in fact, all Of it, is denie BY those
in the management Of the yoads, and 90 for
wait and to see.
WILL Mr.. PEARSON RETIRE?
There - another interesting phase Of the
meeting Of the Metropolitan directors yesterday
which is being discussed today, and that is the
contemplated resignation Of Mr.. Pearson
from the presidency Of the road. 1t
ls stated that he said something
about resigning at the meeting yesterday, and
said that his private interests required more
attention than he was able to give them
and at the same time run the road The di-
rectors appreciated the situation, but at the
same time they appreciated Mr.. Pearson and they
did not want to let him 60. They refused to
consider the question of his resignation,
and in view OF the close attention which
he had given to the duties of his posi-
ton they voted him q months leave of abb
ence and engaged a new man as superintendent
who 1t is thought will relieve Mr.. Pearson from
much OF the burden Of the work The new
superintendent is Mr.. Williams an English
man. Who has been in this country for a num-
Der OF years. He is an engineer and q practical
railroad man.
However, it is generally believed that Mr..
Pearson will soon retire from his present DO
sition. 1t is not known who will succeed him.
The only name mentioned in that connection ia
Mr.. W. B. Gurley, who is . member of the
board Of directors
MR.. Q. THOMAS BROWN.
Tha ~