Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-15
WHAT DOES 1T MEAN?
Local Railroad Companies Delay Ex-
ecuting the Transfer Agreement.
how IT Was FIRST INSPIRED
Determined Upon to Ward Off
Congressional Action.
VIEWS OF PRESID ENTS

There was a meeting OF representatives
of the various street car companies at the
Office of the Washington and Georgetown
corporation yesterday afternoon, at which
one of the subjects discussed was the
transfer system between the various roads
entered into some weeks ago. Among the
g ntlemen participating in the conference
were President Newlands of the Rock
Creek company, who presided; President
Phillips of the Metropolitan, President
Dunlop of the Washington and George
town, President Cummings Of the Bright
wood electric and Vice President and Gen.
eIal Manager Schoepf of the lexington
and Belt line companies The meeting
was private, but 1t is understood that it
was quite breezy when the subject of the
pr opposed transfers was reached. One OF
the gentlemen present believed that It was
time to take some definite action toward
putting the agreement into effect, so it is
alleged, and suggested April l as the date.
This was met by counter proposition to
wait until May l. Then April 10 was pro-
posed but this suggestion was voted down,
and May 1 was decided upon by a vote of
three to two. While 1t cannot be definitely
found out. owing to the reluctance of those
attending the meeting to talk about 1t, the
impression is general in circles usually well
informed about such affairs that the Metro
politan and lexington representatives
were in favor Of the early date.
Something Like n Bargain.
In looking up the facts of the case The
Star reporter learned that what is known
as the limited transfer arrangement agreed
upon by the various local street car COM
panies' representatives at the Office of the
District Commissioners several weeks ago
was something in the nature of a trade by
which the companies volunteered to give
transfers at the points Of the intersections
OF their lines with each other in order to
keep Congress from making such an ar
rangement obligatory upon them. Thus
fortified, he called on President Dunlop of
the Washington and Georgetown road. Mr.
Dunlop said there had been a talk yester-
day over the transfer question and that the
system would undoubtedly be put into
operation shortly. The roads would have to
have time. he said. to have the transfers
printed and distributed. He was asked IL
1t was not possible for the firm which does
the transfer printing to receive an order.
prepare design and print from 25.OC0 to
$1,000 transfer slips and deliver them in
forty-eight hours after the order was re-
ceived. Mr. Dunlop said he thought not;
that his road had such work done in Roch-
ester, and that when the transfer system at
the Peace monument was put in operation
it took month to have the transfer slips
printed and delivered. Nothing could be
learned from Mr.. Dunlop about the actual
evident that he believed the less said about
1t the better 1T would be-for the railroad
companies.
The Agreement Disregarded.
In response to the reporters question
about the inspiration of the voluntary
transfer agreement made at the Commits
sioners' Office. Mr. Dunlop said that it was
not made With the understanding that
there would be no transfer legislation in
Congress of compulsory character, but
with the understanding that the Commits
sioners would make no recommendations on
the subject to Congress. Mr.. Dunlop said
that the Commissioners. however, had dis
regarded this and had made suggestions
on the subject to the national legislature.
President Phillips of the Metropolitan
was not discoverable, and President New
lands of the Rock Creek was not in the
city. President Cummings of the Bright
wood road regarded yesterdays meeting
merely in the light of a conference to talk
over preliminary arrangements about
transfer agreement.
80 far as the suburban roads are con-
cerned," he remarked, Congress, by its
action in compelling them to sell four tick
cts good for continuous ride on city lines
for % cents, superseded that transfer
agreement. Our road. the Brightwood, will
begin the sale and use of those tickets on
the 9th of sthis month. Yes, the agree
ment about limited transfer system was
entered into. according to my view, with
the understanding that there would be
no congressional action on the subject bur
Congress did act, and that prevents 1t be-
ing fully carried out You see we had ar
ranged for 3-cent transfer when Congress
came along AMI compelled us to adopt a
2-cent transfer
Mr.. SchOepf Speaks Out.
Vice President and General Manager
Schoepf of the Belt Line and lexington
roads took an opposite view Of the matter
my understanding of the arrangement
about street car transfers made at the
District Office some weeks ago was that the
agreement was entered into by the respec-
tive companies or their own responsibility
and judgment, and not dependent upon any
action Of the Commissioners whatever"
said Mr.. Schoepf. The impression made
on my mind was that they would not only
stand by it, but would put it into execution
at the earliest possible moment. 1 was
therefore very much surprised to learn yes
terday that the majority of the roads
May to put the terms Of the agreement
into effect"
ut appears that the printing of the
transfers is the cause for the delay" sug-
gested the reporter.
I'm my opinion" returned Mr.. Schoepf,
1.-The transfers can be designed, printed and
furnished without any trouble at all, in
from two to three weeks at the outside.
l am at loss, therefore, to understand
the action of some of the companies in in
sistine on putting it off for over six weeks.
1 think the public has right to expect and
demand a convenient transfer arrange
ment. That's the way feel about IL, and
l know that under proper restrictions 1t
cannot but result in great benefit to the
respective roads entering into the agree
ment, as has been abundantly proved in
t. h<4v IT. 4