The morning times., 1895-07-17

The issue between the people OF wash
mgton and OF AnaCostia and President
Griswold, OF the AnaCostia railway will
come up sqEareIy in court tc-day on
motion to he made by MeSsrs. Ralston and
Siddons. OF The Times Bureau of Legal
Advice that the company forthwith pro-
ceed TO operate its line or forfeit its char
ter The remedy asked for is a mandamus.
The proceedings viii he short sharp and
decisive, and barring the risk of being
confronted by techaicalities, a construc-
tion by the court of tie law under which
the company is operating and whether
this law can be longer and defiantly vio-
lated, VIII be promptly bad.
The petition and related papers were
filed yesterday. The petitioner is Mr.. W
Il. Pc.k =, of the Bureau OF Printing ana
| Engraving, a citizen OF the Unitcd States
and resident Of Anacostia.
OBLIGATIONS OF TIE COMPANY.
The petition after the usual recitatious
! quotes from the act OF incorporation OF the
/ company, including the provisions for the
/ extension Of the road UP Harrison street
BY virtue Of a further provision OF the
act OF August 1883 the company was re-
! quired to place cars ofthe best construction
/ on the said railway with all modern i'm
/ lEDAtll1tIAlN necessary 10 Allt convenience
! and comfort OF passengers; and to run the
| cars a. often as the public interest may re-
quire in accordance with time tables or
schedules adopted 10y the company 10 be
! apprOvedby the District Commissioners.
That such schedules were submitted many
months ago to the District Commissioners
and accepted, aud that the cars have been
/ operated Hereunder, as the petitioner be-
Hevcs, siuce January 1885.
That 10y section Cos, of the Revised
/ Statutes. relating TO the District OF Co
| lumhia. the company was required 10 run
their cars for the transportation OF per
| sons and property at regular tunes fixed
/ by public notice.
That the company is not now operating,
aud has not operated its lines since the
! lst day OF July, and is not offering TO
operate The same, although repeated
demand has been TO the president OF the
! company, H II Griswoid, by persons
/ ;hat the same should be operated. and
! that the corporation has refused TO coin
ply with the law under which Its charter
! was secured.
PASSENGERS HAULED PER DAY.
That, as Ilown by the last annual state
ment, the company hauled 4,1S4 passen-
! gers per day, and that the petitioner is
4 informed that nine-tenus OF tins number
was carried to ana from the village of
! AnaCUstia.
! Thata line Of 'bUsses has been established,
! but they do not accommodate an average of
! ] 900 persons. a little more than one-fourth
OF the number accommodated by the cars,
and that as a result Of the twolincstwo fares
are now required TO be paid, only one being
! necessary when the defendant company op
Grated its line OF cars.
7 THAT the defendant is obliged 10 pay two
such fares. and that more than 900 citi-
zsns OF Anacostia are inconvenienced IN the
same manner.
That real estate in Anacostis is being
damaged III value, and also other proper
/ ties
Mr. Peck therefore asks that mandamus
1 issue against the company tocompelit either
10 run its cars or TO forfeit its charter.
The argument for the petitioner win be
made This morning either before Judge
Hagnsr OF Judge Cox.
REJECTED THE PROPOSITIONS.
President Griswold, OF the Anacostia Rail
road Company, rejected two propositions
last night that had in the course OF the
negotiations for the Teopering OF the road
been submitted TO him.
The first was presented by representative
Of the Railway Protective Union, W wliCh
as may be inferred from the stand hitherto
taken. was for the unemployment OF the
old employees at S1.5O for a day of twelve
hours. Upon this offer Mr. GTswold in
dorsed simply the word declined"
The second proposition was from one
hundred citizens of Anacostia. They asked
for the reinstatement of the drivers at
the rate of IL 1-2 cents per hour, and
suggested that the management of the
road be left as far as possible under the
supervision of Superintendent J. b. New
ton and Treasurer J. b. Pitcher for a
period OF three months They promised
upon his acquescence TO raise the boy
colt.
Mr.. Griswold rejected this proposition
and it was at once announced that the
letter addressed to him by the citizens
had been practically composed in his pres
enCe, if not at his diCration, in his own
office, and that therefore he was fully
aware OF It's contents before its formal
delivery TO him last night.
In his response he stated that he was
forbidden by the act creating the company
from acccding 10 the suggestion, and eX
expressed surprise that one hundred cit
/ ZenS StOuld q Sk u OF h5nl
II was stated that Mr GriSwold's a
legged change OF front was due probably tc
/ the fact that the union Rad anticipated hin
by rejecting the proposed compromise an
/ had substituted their own terms. but Mr.
Lawrence said last night that the organize
ton had taken no such action