Evening star., 1901-08-28
The Brishtwood Fare Question.

The action of the Washington Traction
Company liz aboiishing the free transfers
between the Brightwood and the Metropoli-
tan lines prectpitates, as far as the Bright
wood road is concerned. precisely the same
situation as that OF year ago. At that
time the general company decided to mod
ifs Its transfer system by the adoption of
a rule of mo transfer on transfer" and.
incidentally 1t fell back upon the old char
ters and declared four -a-quarter rate
for the Brightwood and Tenieytown ,inAs
The residents Of the affected suburbs en-
tered protest SO emphatically that the COM
pany rescinded It's action In that particu-
lar and permitted the free transfer privi-
lege to continue. 1t is now proposed to re-
turn to the old law in regard to the Bright
wood road alone.
This action raises a question not of law,
but of equity. 1t Is grossly unfair to the
residents of the affected section, and as
such it should be resist ed While the COM
pany may have the legal right to do as 1t
now proposes 1t assuredly has no moral
right
The people of the northern and central
suburban section of the District along with
other residents, indirectly helped the cor
pcration to secure its valuable consolida-
bioh PiNheScs STdHleG HI lney &c
qHesced in the proposal because of the un-
derstanding which was foStered that FREQ
transfers would continue after consolida-
tion and that under this plan the suburban
lines would be bound closely and perma-
nently to the urban roads. Under the
stimulus Of the single fare which had been
established by the syndicate on the Bright
wood road in execution of a wise policy,
had 10
growth had been based in part upon the
belief of the people that the rate of fare
had been permanently settled and that no
future changes would increase it. The
threat of last summer averted, the growth
has continued. The patrons Of the region
have established a strong equitable claim
which the company should now be brought
to realize. and which 1t cannot violate with
out practical breach of faith.
Awaiting itself of the advantages of con-
solidated administration in effect, though
net yet in law. the corporation refuses to
give to this suburban section any portion
of the benefits of corporate union This is
a jug-handled proposition. 1t is bad faith
for the company thus to fall back upon
practically superseded charter to extort an
extra fare from the patrons in a particular
section
What makes the case less tolerabie is
the fragrant discrimination against the
Brightwood avenue neighborhood The
company grants free transfers to the pas
sengers on other suburban lines or permits
trackage arrangements which enable the
residents of the outlying sections to ride
straight into the heart of the city. 1t now
proposes to single out one section for harsh
treatment under law virtually abandoned
in favor of the new policy OF regarding
these constituent roads as feeders on a
free transfer basis. 1t is unfair to the
suburban home seeker who has been led to
believe that there would be no such dis
elimination, but that all neighborhoods
would be treated alike.
Such a course is not for the permanent
benefit of the corporation itself. 1t as
suredly does not tend to build up the af-
fected section, but rather to discourage
emigration in that direction. 1t does not
invite frequent patronage OF the line, but
rather puts a premium upon walking rid
ing. wheeling or recourse to the Balh-
more and Ohio railroad. 1t spreads feel
ing of hostility against the syndicate
which cannot fail of an unwholesome effect
upon the corporations future welfare.
In rates OF fare and rolling stock and
schedules the Brightwood road should be
treated as an integral part OF the Wash
fngton Traction system, carrying It's all
the-year-round heaviest suburban travel;
and the conditions of today should be equi-
tably considered in all these adjustments,
both company and patrons dfsregarding the
old and practically superseded charter.
There should be no retrograde movement.
Street railroad reforms do not go back
ri