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

LEGATIONS cannot Doe refused.
Therefore, couelusively answering
your question L would say what We
want from AIr NcDermott IS service.
good service. which ne is or ought no Dc
under am obligation Co gave, uoJ ouers
10 sell or lease. There are other impor-
taut questions involved in reply 90 AIR.
NcDermott hut 2 would rather not pro-
long this interview.
Mr.. LambeTt's View.
"From casual reading of President
McDermottS latest proclamation touch
ing sam alleged Eift 0f the Brishtwood
Railroad d cam see nothing ln 10 fur
Their tuan tac5t admission ON the part
of Mr. AIcDermoyt Jhay the present
mana gcmvnt hIs proven piuahle iail-
ure and IS apparently anxious 20 shift
re~pouslliities Iu connection with the
heavy uurtGaEc which has been In
CURED upru tlJ shoulders OF people
who raVe newer personally desired 10
operate rFfEcad OBJ "a franchise
"If BIr. AcIftrmctr Is sincere In his
desire Ll dispose ct Ihe railroad on I'D
the expression ot opinion that O. re-
ceiver would He tae proper thing, let
rre railroad BE- offered 10 the highest
bidder. ass would ba the case I'm "a re-
eeiyer.S sale. aud there IS no question
Inns what "a Esl price would be OBJ
tanned. ANA Jle raIiruad then be oper-
nted lbs competent parties. OF course,
such a sale would contemplate a de
livery of the rsilroad and franchise free
of an membranes upon the payment
OF the price bid therefor
Blair Lees Position.
Rsina shown Mr.. aIcDermotrs refer
enrs 60 him in yesterdays Times, Blair
Lee said
Ell AIR McD5rmotr Is serious iA pro-
posing 10 abandon the BrightTo I'd line,
with its burdens. 10 the public as I,ir-
chssers OF Iassees. the proposition would
be EQUITABLE. OF rather businessike, oIif
If coupled with another proposition 10
include the Metropolitan Road, aud es-
uacislly It's Ninth Street line There Is
only one purchaser Tor the BrightW3od
line. outside OF the MeuopoiJsn or
Ninth Street line. that Is the Capital
Traction and its Seventh street ilue. I'D
case OF a forfeiture by judicial Ero-
ceedlne OF act OF Congress OF the Bright
wood charter il would be- more profit
able 10 that read NOT 40 tear up Us rails
ard cut down It's posts. but l0 make the
best sale il could OF these properties 10
frs successor. so that the Wastefulues5
aIr- AIcDermott breads would bee avoid
ed.
.-It Is proper. however. 10 state. I'm be-
half oE the people who travel on the
Brightu00d Road, that they have never
desired TO take it away from its present
owners. tut have merely called public
attention through The Times, cOucurred
iu by the able editorials OF other papers
ID the fact that 81 IS the duty of this
corporation TO live mp 10 its charter or
give no the franchise There IS no Oc-
caslon Tor going into details In respect 20
what the power company, which is own
ed by the traction company, charges FOR
power 20 this road, OF how the fares
are divided or how any OF the other
costs OF the management are paid The
public is concerned iD but TWO features.
Legal Side of Matter.
FIRST As matter oI strict law. this
road could Be compelled 30 comply with
its charter OF other statutory regula-
ti0us. forcing 60 20 run ears every fifteen
minutes from each end. and also 10 sub
matt us schedules tG the Commissioner
o.. the District OF Columbia, who arc
charged with the power % approve the
Same under the terms of the charter.
Second. WIN the public. being always
benevolent ard kindly. entertain a seur-
mcnta- argument which, strangely
speaking. is the only one that comes
from This practical railroad manager,
that it would not pay -on old debts OF
watered stock 90 keep Jhe statutory
schedule iH &. eEaL0IZ'
cas- aeaiTzr Mr. McDeTmott's Eeuti-
mental argument. and without going into
The details of bookkeeping and the dlFis-
ions lI the burdens and profits between
The BrlEnlWccd road and the parent sys-
TEN, every patron OF the ErgILWo0d
road can See for himself that there are
plenty Cf people rillus ua the line 10
make il pas "a good prOut upon lHe cos,
o. building iL. and the cost oil operating
d.. AZ passenger said 60 me the other
'cay. The trouble " rhis railroad is
unique ID has TOO many people t0
carry. air. lIcDermatt IS uislatorued
Iu Saying that these cars are crowded
ONLY at rush hours. The travel Yves
heavy az other hours. Bad service IS
now reducing IT,
Forfeit or Charter
Elf the Attorney General Of the United
States should initiate. AT tle instance 9l
the District Commissioners which I le-
lleye should b= done, proceedings 20 for
leit this charter. meme oI .la points tlat
1lr- AcDermotL now suggests would hold
good in answer ~ the proceedings.
The facts lu this case are ss clear and
so simple chat the charter IS being Elo-
lated every dag u respect TO- the uum-
Der OF cars chat should Ha Ilu. are
kind OF cars lhar should b. lla. and rE=
absence Ut modern equipment thar g. "a
legal proceeding of rl-5 SORT were olly
threatened seriously. the company would
4. Immediately proceed ~ comply wlll La
charter. and before the proceeding couIa
be actually brought. the ground Of caul-
pIaint would 1e removed and t.e ll-ll.
gent public would LLeu be appealed -a q.
forgive The past conditions.
Terms q the Charter.
when the charter Ut tHe Haaallstl-
Traction Company was secured. + aE
greatly lu error D. the COMPANY Gfl LoI
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