Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-09
OFFER OF THE METROPOLITAN COMPANY
How President Phillips Construes
the Law of Congress.
ANSWERS OF OTHER ROADS


and the persons who reside in the thickly
populated suburban semicircle to the north
of Washington and transact their daily busi-
ness in the city will he compelled to pay two
| fares, as heretofore, in order to reach the
center of the capital. 1t was believed and
hoped by every suburbanite that the recent
| legislation by Congress. which directed the
Metropolitan company to enter Immediately
into transfer reciprocity with all other
street railroad companies whose tracks con-
rected with its own, would bring about
their long desired boon Of a ride from their
country homes into the heart of the city for
q single fare, and the class so much affected
will doubtless consider they have a griev-
ance In the failure cf the roads interested to
reach an agreement.
Talk With President Phillips.
When a representative Of The Star called
| at the offices Of the Metropolitan Railroad
Company tLis morning to ascertain the def
mite features Of the affair. President Phillips
was somewhat disinclined to talk. When
assured that the matter was the subject of
public gossip, how ever, he became more
susceptible to the interviewer. The public
did not get any Information regarding the
negotiations looking toward the proposed
transfer system with the suburban electric
railways from this company" he remarked,
but. as you say 1t has become the subject
OF comment, will give you the facts i'm or
der that the position of the Metropolitan
Raiiroad Company may be plainly under
stood.
How He Construed the LAW.
Under the law approved August 2 1894"
continued Mr. Phillips. reading from the
statute, 'the Metropolitan Railroad Com
pany is authorized and required immedi-
ately to make reciprocal transfer arrange
ments with street railroad companies whose
lines now connect with its lines and to fur
nish such facilities therefor as the public
convenience may require / have read that
clause verbatim. Well, sir. almost immedi-
ateiy after / became president of the road
addressed written communications to the
Rock Creek railway and the Brghtwood and
the Tenleytown railways informing them
that 1t was the opinion OF the board of d.
| rectors Of the Metropolitan Railroad Com
pany that the public. under the above act,
was entitled to q free reciprocal transfer
| between the respective lines. and that this
company was prepared to offer such facili-
| ties therefor as the public convenience might
require.
ITO this the Rock Creek railroad re-
sponded that they would issue a transfer
between their lines and the Metropolitan
for cents additional of which they were to
receive cents and the Metropolitan l cent.
That company also further offered to issue
free transfers to commuters who lived along
the line of the road. To this the Metropoli-
tan Railroad Company replied that the act
of Congress grants free transfer to the
public, which right cannot be impaired even
with the joint consent of both railroads.
The Offer to Transfer.
1.-The offer to transfer" continued Mr..
Phillips, was either at 18th street and
Florida avenue, or at 18th street and Con-
recticut avenue, and also at 9th and u
streets. This transfer from the Rock
Creek railroad would take the passengers
to the entire limits of both the 9th and F
street lines. The Metropolitan r. r. Co
offered either singly or jointly with the
Rock Creek railroad to buy or lease
tract Of land, ard erect thereon a suitable
transfer station, such as the public con-
venience might require. the expense Of the
land or its lease and the cost of the build
ing to be borne equally by both companies.
THE Metropolitan Railroad Company
declined to issue Communication tickets along
the line. because for two reasons" he went
on, first, because 1t would be unlawful,
as In conflict with the acts of Congress
regulating intercourse In commerce between
states, by which all discrimination against
citizens, on the part of railroads, is pro-
hibted when the lines extend, as these do,
into two jurisdictions-the District of CO.
lumbia and Maryland. Second. 1t was i'm
practicable, because it could not be fixed
who reside the line: some of the resi-
dents In the counties of Washington and
Montgomery living from a mile to a half
mile from the actual physical line of the
Rock Creek railway, and, inasmuch as all
transfers must be reciprocal, Communication
tickets would have to be issued to all resi-
dents OF Washington city living within
half mile to a mile Of the tracks of the
Metropolitan company. extending through
Washington and Georgetown. This would
be plainly impossible To this letter no
definite response has yet been received"
From Other Roads.
What replies. II any, were received from
the other roads?' queried The Star re-
porter.
In regard to the Brightwood railroad"
returned President Phillips, 'the Metropoli-
tan company has also made the same offer
to issue free reciprocal transfers at 1th
street and Florida avenue. To this propo-
sition the Brightwood Railroad Company
has replied that they decline to entertain
the proposition for the free transfers, alleg-
ing as a reason that the Metropolitan COM
pany are, in their opinion, about to adopt
system Of electric propulsion for their
cars that the suburban lines cannot use
In reply thereto the Metropolitan company
answered in substance that the electric
system proposed to be adopted by 1t would
not impair or in any manner violate the
said act of Congress or any part thereof,
nor would 1t impair or in any manner yio-
late or Infringe any rights of the Bright
railway by said act of Congress-"
WAS there anything else?"
Yes, the letter of this company also said
that the excuse of the Brightwood COM
pany therefore to comply with the law I'm
the judgment of this company was fall
laclous; that there was no possible connec-
tion between the subject of issuing trans
fers, which was an immediate duty and
one the public had the right to have per
formed at once, and the entering into re-
ciprocal trackage arrangements, which is
postponed by the law until August 2, 1896"
Former Negotiations.
"In their communication to this COM
pany." added Mr.. Phillips, "it was alleged
by the Brightwood company that some ar
rahgements to transfer had been agreed
upon between the railroads. To this the
Metropolitan replied that they did not be-
lieve that Mr.. Stephenson had entered into
any agreement. but at all events, ii was a
matter Of no importance, as the late pres
ident had no power to impair the rights of
the public to a free reciprocal transfer To
this there has been no response, nor has
this company received any answer to its
commit nication to the Tenleytown railroad
proposing the establishment of a free trans
fer system between the lines.
mo letter has been addressed to the Eek
ington road" said Mr.. Phillips in conclu-
sion, because that railroad comes upon the
track of this company on 9Th and also on
G fn ha tnl civ ri fha,, 40