Evening star., 1901-08-29
MAY SUSPEND ORDER
Probable That Brightwood Railway
Will Not Abolish Transfers.
RESULTOF CONFERENCE This MORNING
Mr.. Lambert of Citizens Commit
tee Talks With Manager Fuller.
COMP ROMISE POSSIBLE

AS the result of a conference held this
morning by Mr.. Wilton ]. Lambert the
chairman of the committee appointed at
the mass meeting held last evening of
patrons of the Brightwood railroad at Ia
koma Park, with Mr.. Fuller, the general
manager of the company, 1t is likely the
execution of the recent order of the COM
pany abolshng transfers with the Met
ropolitan road will be suspended. The COM
mittee, of which Mr.. Lambert is chair
man, was authorized by the meeting ,ast
evening to take such action relative to the
companys order their discretion might
dictate.
In pursuance of such authority Mr.. Lam
bert went to the office of the company at
18th and East Capitol streets this morn
ing. Mr.. Geo. H. Harries the vice presi-
dent and acting president, left the city last
night for Buffalo, where he will attend the
exercises of District day. In his absence
Mr.. Lambert saw Mr.. Fuller and had a
long discussion of the matter.
Mr.. Lambert was told in effect that while
the receipts Of the road were not equal to
the expenses, yet the proposed change in
the fare system had been precipitated by
the action of the citizens in that locality
urging more frequent service and calling
the attention of the Commissioners to an
alleged violation of the charter. Mr.. Full
Ter stated that while the same financial
condition existed as to the Tenleytown
read. the company had made no change in
the fare system there for the reason that
the citizens in that locality, unlike those in
the Brightwood region had refrained from
protesting against the existing conditions.
1t was explained by Mr.. Fuller that,
while the company was justified by the
condition of the business to endeavor in
this way to increase its revenues, yet, at
the same time, the immediate cause of the
issue of the order was the course of the
people in that locality in attempting to
a ia w ma a1ya
the operation of the road still more costly.
Suggests Misrepresentation.
Mr.. Lambert informed Mr.. Fuller that he
thought he was laboring under a misap-
prehension of the facts in attributing to the
patrons of the Brightwood road the initi-
ative in calling to the attention of the
Commissioners the alleged violation of the
company's charter as it relates to the
schedule. AS he understood it, the Ques-
ton had come before the District Com
missioners through request from the
company itself for an official approval OF
the present schedule, which is admittedly
not in accordance with the charter require
mentS of the company.
This request was referred by the Commits
sioners to their attorney, Mr.. Lambert said,
and the attorney sought the views of the
patrons of the BrghtWood road, as repre-
sented by the citizens associations. AS the
present schedule, Mr.. Lambert stated, is
obviously not fifteen-minute arrangement
as required Dy law, the only thlng that re-
mained for the citizens to do was to state
that the cars of the company We're not be-
ing operated in accordance with the char
ter requirements
This explanation having somewhat cleared
up the situation, Mr.. Lambert went on to
explain to Mr.. Fuller that the patrons Of
the line would prefer the present schedule
rather than to go back to the system of
no transfers with the Metropolitan rail-
read. He suggested that the execution Of
the order be suspended, and in the mean
while the people of that section could take
the matter under consideration and deter
mine which one of these alternatives they
would prefer. There is no doubt, Mr. Lam
bert went on to say, that If the matter came
before them in that shape, the people will
decide in favor of the continuance of the
existing condition.
Condition to Be Deprecated.
Mr. Lambert also said that while the
able adjustment of the matter, they would
greatly deprecate condition of affairs
which would make it incumbent on them
to involve themselves with the company
either in a legal or legislative fight.
Mr.. Fuller said that the order had been
issued by the president of the company and
had been placed in the hands of Vice
President Harries to be executed at the
latter's discretion, and that Mr.. Fuller had
out the order. He would. however, COM
municate by telegraph with Mr.. Harries
and lay the suggestion made by Mr.. Lam
bert before him. 1t was proposed by Mr..
Lambert that the order be suspended un-
til the 1st of October but Mr.. Fuller said
he would not suggest to Mr.. Harries
postponement later than the middle OF
September.
With this understanding the conference
closed.