Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-09-29

business between the Commissioners and
the railway managers has, however always
been so reciprocal and easy of disposal
that the distinction between compliance and
obedience has not been drawn. The officers
Of the company have always felt that they
were sufficiently protected against any
charge of noncompliance with the terms
Of their charter when they had the full
warrant of the Commissioners for sus-
pending operations, on occasions when the
public was best accommodated by having
the streets clear for imposing and patriotic
festivities.
These occasions are few. While the la
Dor parade was an eminently successful
demonstrat ton, doubtless bringing into view
almost the entire labor interest in the Dis
trict, 1t was not like an Inauguration or
Grand Army parade. Its proportions were
not as great, or its duration as long, as
knights Templar or Pythian procession. 1t
was one of the general average of parades
through which our skilled gripmen have
been left to pilot the cable trains, yielding
when there was danger of interfering with
the marchers, and taking advantage of gaps
in the ranks, or the long delays to which a
hastily organized body of men is always
subject, to push the business of the road
and comply with the contract to carry the
people; contract which cannot be as easily
abrogated as some people who fly off at a
tangent seem to think it can.
What Was Done on 9TH Street.
Il proceeded, with an assistant, to the 1tb
street junction when / was informed, on
Labor day that the 1th street cars were to
be stopped. 1 found no authority for the
stoppage. police lieutenant was there.
acting, he said, under the orders of the chief
of police. with the purpose to halt the 9TH
street cars. Nobody connected with the
company having committed a breach OF the
peace. and the running of the cable cars not
being matter over which the police had
original jurisdiction. 1 pursued the usual
and long approved course in such emergen-
cies. 1 ordered the gripmen to move their
trains cautiously through the open spaces
in the procession. This was done without
embarrassment to the parade, and under
careful regulations that presented not a
possibility of injury to any person
Il take pleasure in assuring the stock
holders of the railroad, as well as the
board of District Commissioners. that the
published accounts of my action were in
hamnatory and untruthful. / trust / have
too much sense 20 make such an exhibit
ton OF myself. 1 have certainly no desire
to quarrel with the ger tlemen of the press
with whom / have friendly relations, but
on misinformation they did me an injustice
Il cid not seize a grip, strike a threaten
ing attitude and command the gripman to
rush madly through the crowd and run
people down to death. l did rot have my
hand on grip, and merely gave the orders
that were necessary and usual on such oc-
casions. No effort was made to start a car
unless there was a reasonable space, and
then the movement was SO deliberate that
there was not a possibility of accident
My governing idea was to do my duty as
managing officer of the company. The
cars were crowded with people, and each
passenger was doubtless anxious to reach
his destination without delay; There was
duty to the general public which was dis
charged in the best possible manner under
the circumstances.
Not an Insult to Labor
There was no reason why the cars should
not run. There had been no embargo on
othe- kinds of circulation. and many
vehicles were on the street. No indignity
was intended, as some one has foolishly
suggested, toward the men in the process
sion. There would have been no business
sense in insulting the paraders. even If
there had been the slightest disposition on
my part in that direction, for / am familiar
with tie policy of the company toward the
community represented in the procession.
AnylcGy can see that a very large proper
tion or patronage comes from the working
people, and 1t Is our policy, as 1t is our
pleasure. TO be agreeable to them.
Il was arrested and fined $50 in the Po-
lice Court. The compensation for having
been detained by the officers Is my knowl-
edge that / only did my duty, and violated
no lawful regulation.
Il respectfully submit the importance of
arriving at clear and final construction
of the rights and duties Of the Washington
ano Georgetown Railroad Company on oc-
casions when there are many visitors in
the city. Who has the right to stop the
cars? Certainly not q single member of the
board Of District Commissioners. There
are three members of that body, and it
must require at least two of them in for
NAL session, to perform an official act. The
rights of the public are involved, even to
greater extent than those of the railroad
company. The company cannot be expected
to take the risk of invalida ting its charter
on the Judgment or caprice of an individ-
ual Professions undoubtedly have rights
which the company is bound to respect
but the public at the same time demands
that passengers shall be carried promptly
and speedily"