The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-10-30

The second offer Of Allan u NcDer-
mott, president of the washington Rail-
way and Electric Company, in which he
proposes 10 lease the BTighrW0od road
10 an association OF the citizens Of that
section, has come a. an unexpected
move on ms part, which causes quite
as much surprise as the original 0t1er
20 make q gift of the road. The gen
tIemeu whose views follow unite In say
ing that they have not given the mat
ter sufficient thought e make a direct
reply TO the latest proposition
Il was impossible 10 see some Of those
who might take up the question VI leas-
ing the road as business question
None Of those interviewed were prepared
10 say on such short notice whether
there IS g. probability OF an association
such as that suggested by Mr.. McDer-
mott being formed. AT the same time
fl has been impossible 10 secure aI
once an opinion from them in regard 10
the advantages that would accrue 10
such an association accepting the terms
held out.
Mr.. Shoemaker Guarded.
Louis p. Shoemaker Was seen by
Times reporter, and in reply to the ques-
tion, 'fWhat do you think OF ar. Nc
Dermott's second 0fferE' he said;
81 have sincerely hoped that / would
not be questioned again upon the sub
ject. The people have lodged their just
complaint, and it has been substantial
ed without a dissenting voice We
have all agreed that the service IS sim-
/ ply arsfact0ry. This opinion j.
unanimously announced, not by an in-
dividual or by q particular number Of
/ individuals, but by the community, I. G.,
/ the BrilihtW0od Citizens Association
the Taksma Citizens Association. the
I Brightwo0d Park Citizens Association,
and the Petworth Citizens Association.
This is therefore not the complaint
of an individual or one who is disposed
merely 10 criticise- Ii is the spontan-
eOus and unanimous expression and
I opinion Of the public.
"I have only hurriedly glanced over
I AIr. -aIcDermOtt's second offer and 90
me. III it We're not for the serious as
Z pect of the whole question. Affecting as
I il does the welfare Of the most import
ant portion OF the new ana greater
I Washington. 1t would be amusing.
I A Serious Situation.
/ "I say. serious. because this agitation.
/ independent of the disadvantage under
which we nave been SO hong living, IS a
positive injury TO our entire section, and
in this way IL is also positive injury
/ TO the railway company itself. because
I the two interests are identical You
I cannot injure one without iujuriug 5ne
other, nor can you benefit or adXaucs
/ the interests of one without advancing
/ the interests OF the other.
( 'I say ghat Alr- lIcDerm0Lt.s offers
! are amusing because he knows only too
I well -hat We are uuL ia the railroad
/ bust -ss- as ne is. nor aEa We WItclLuL
Z guardians or fJs interests as national
LEGISLATORS. We are not buying and
/ selling or leasing railroads The COM
\ muuity is not complaining OF Ihe road
+ because of its adversities or success, FOR
/ those questions are with It's manage
meut What we are complaining OF ana
ob5ecting To is the fact rhat this conn
pany owns and controls "a franchise over
the leading ana most important taoF-
oughfara extending due north from the
J CAPITAL City of the nation through
[ section already denseIy populated and
Irapidly increasing iu population tHet-
v-ftIstaud-ue bad street ear facilities
+ for gearsJ and as SET has u5t Erltlied
( the needs OF the community or ade-
quataIy accommodated its patrons
Want Coed Service.
/ what We want. ] think. from AFR.
! McDerm0lt IS good service, u0t am Of
fer to sen or lease his road-that SER
vice which ne as railroad man uusnr
+ 90 be under IesaI and moral oblisa-
( tiou 10 give the people who have estab-
! lished homes out there
/ unfortunately, however. for us. the
I neouIe ana taxpayers of this c0mmuni-
. Is. iu this respect as iu many others.
( have 90 admit that moral obligations
/ are not often realized los corporations
/ because We are too remote from our
! legislators To influence Iuem. while
/ much legislation has been given ~ us