Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-04
RECIPROCAL TRANSFERS
Street Railway Representatives Discuss
the Question Today.
May Come to Some Decision Regard
ing General System-MetrOpOlf-
tan Roads Position.

There was an important gathering OF
railroad men at the office of the District
Commissioners this morning, and for a
while the room of Commissioner Powell
was turned into a meeting place for the
representatives of the various roads-cable,
horse and electric-that carry the people OF
Washington around town at the rate OF D
cents trip, six tickets for quarter, some
times with the privilege of transfers, but
more often without.
Eight railroads were represented in the
collection which was evoked by the publ
cation of the notice that the Commission
ers would give a hearing this morning at
II O'Clock to a representative of each of the
street railroads of the District with refer
ence to the matter of reciprocal transfer
and trackage arrangements between the
different roads. This is a matter which has
been occupying the attention of the Com
missioners for some time past, and they
came to the conclusion that the best thing
to do in the premises was, to hear the views
Of the different roads before taking further
and definite action.
There was quit. large attendance at the
meeting, and there was evidently the great
est interest felt in the matter under dis
Cussion. The representative OF the Metro
politan ROAD showed that his people were
particularly anxious to have the whole
question settled with as little delay as pos
sible, for the reason that his road is re-
quircd by la'7 to enter into reciprocal ar
rangements involving transfer and track
age privileges pending the substitution Of
the new motive power. In otter words. ar
rangements of this sort must be completed
with all roads that touch or intersact the
Metropolitan before its underground sys-
evidently had no desire to lose any time
that could be saved.
The roads represented at the hearing this
morning were as follows: Metropolitan, S.
L. Phillips; Columbia, Nathaniel Wilson;
Washir gtcn and Georgetown, George T.
Dunlor; lexington. w. X. Schoepf; Belt
Line, John Rideout; Brightwood, Charles
Williams; Tenleytown, George E. Emmons
Newlands.
The Hearing.
Maj Powell began the herring by read
ing over the Commissioners proposed
amendment to the charter Of the Metropoli-
tan railroad. This amendment. the sub
stance Of which has been already printed
in The Star, requires the Metropolitan and
other roads of the city to,enter into re-
ciprocal transfer and trackage arrange
ments under conditions laid down by the
Commissioners.
posed by the road itself, dif ring from the
proposition of the Commissioners only in
some matters OF detail with reference to
the Jurisdiction of the cotffts. 1t gives to
the Supreme Court Of the District the
duty of settling any questions that may
arise between the roads rs to the com
pensaticn CT the roads, the proportion
which shall be paid to each, the proper
tfons each shall pay for the support of
transfer facilities. etc.
At the conclusion of this reading, Pres
ident Newlands CT the Rock Creek road
sprung a proposition that was in the ma
ture of surprise. He suggested that
without any formal hearing the represen-
tatives Of the different roads get together
and See If they could not come to some
mutual agreement that would be satisfac-
tory TO themselves and to the Commission
hand there was no reason why there
should be any delay in the matter and he
suggested that an adjournment be taken
until tomorrow morning to give them an
opportunity to confer. There was gen.
eral feeling in favor of this proposition,
but Mr.. Phillips seemed to think that there
was no need for waiting so long. He sug-
gested that they should report to the Com
missioners at O'Clock this afternoon.
Commissioner Ross said that they would
be willing to hear the report whenever
the railroad men might be ready with it,
and he suggested that they adjourn with
the understanding that they come back
at o'clock If they should have agreed at
that time. Commissioner Powell then
placed his room at their disposal. and tBey
began their deliberations in there without
delay. The doors were tightly locked and
the conference was held with every effort
made to preserve the greatest secrecy.