The Washington herald., 1907-06-10

Shall large lady Of color, accompanied
by a white infant. a yellow hound-dog
pup. an air Of aggressiveness, ana TWO
transfers. be allowed 10 ride on the
street car, against the rule of the COM
pany forbidding the transportation OF
CANNES on passenger cars?
This was the weighty question that |
Metropolitan line carload of passengers !
and conductor were called upon 10 decide |
late Saturday afternoon lnasmuch as
the lady In question rode 20 her destlna-
ton, It would seem that the affirmative
side won the debate, but the argument IS
probably still in progress.
The incident opened at Ninth and +
streets, when the passengers on Mount
Pleasant car were amused by the entrance
of a young colored woman OF substantial
construction bearing in her arms three
year-old white girl baby and a small.
forlorn-looking pup, Of obviously cosmo-
p0litan lineage. She secured something
more than a mere seat and holding the
babe and pup in her lap, allowed them
20 enjoy one another's society, as only
babies and puppies can.
The conductor approached her and she
held out two transfers.
Nothing doing with the dog he said
curtly. Cant carry dogs on the car"
"Cyan't carry dawgs on de cyar?
What's mattah wild you, man? Ain All
jes done got often er car
Cant help that. Against the rules.
You'll have TO pass up Rover or get of. Do
Gavin, man; All ain goin' ter do nuf-
fin oh de kline
You'll do il or I'll call a cop and have
him put you Off
COIored Woman Flares Up.
This was more than her equanimity
could stand.
"Jes you call or cop. GAVIN call er cop,
she fared. while the passengers began 10
sit up and take notice. "AhN have you
understan dat All is er respectful woman
and nah white people moves in de bes
circles OBJ de neighbo'hood. All jes gib
YOU two transfers-one fer me an one fer
dis chile and d7wg. OATS all you gets
from me-"
Her air Of determination sent the con-
dUctor out on the platform, hesit8ting as
20 the proper course Of action.
why don't you stop the car and throw
her Off" suggested one OF the smokers.
with an unusually pronounced Southern
accent
"No. let her ride; the other conductor
| let the pup go along was the, suggestion
/ Of another man. who bore less resem-
blance to Senator Tillman than the other.
Leave &c 20 me" said the conductor
and ne tapped the bell cord, bringing
/ the car 20 a sudden stop.
/ This is your corner he called 70 the
woman. Here is where you leave us Oh
part with that sausage meat
y The one addressed was apparently lost
| In the contemplation Of a particularly
/ lurid car "ad'
Conductor WAKES WrOth.
Hey. there" continued the conductor,
waxing slightly wroth, dyer hear me?
Tie the can 20 that pup or get off before !
/ put you on
Put me Off" said the passenger
amusedly, You sho' is dreamin' now.
/ Jes come on an Try ter put me of"
/ His bluff having been called, the con-
ductor held a conference with the motor
man 20 consider the next move. while
/ the passengers began 20 discuss the pros
pect Of getting home in time for dinner
Seated side by side were two we'll
| known Washington lawyers. and they
opened an amicable argument upon the
| merits Of the case. taking opposite view
points
This is a case where the doctrine Of
| estoppel comes into play. said one 0f
/ the legal lights The transfer is the
method by which the railroad company
| indicates its acceptance Of the contract
. 10 continue the passage Of the passenger.
and this method has been established by
| custom. For this reason they could be
| estopped to deny the right Of the holder
Of the transfer to continue riding
An Exceptional Case.
"I take exception 10 that" said the
other. This is not a case where that
[ doctrine applies The railroad company
has its rule about carrying dogs. and be
cause the first conductor chose to ignore
the rules and allow the passenger to ride
with the dog. and gives her transfers,
/ there is no reason why the second con-
ductor should not obey and enforce the
rules of his company. II is the old story
about two wrongs not making a right"
Cheese the arguments and let's get on
our way" suggested testy individual.
At that moment the conductor returned
and endeavored once again to induce the
unruly one TO vacate or dispense with
the hound pup, but in vain.
well, I'll tell you what you can do. %
he finally offered. Here's a newspaper:
| cover the pup up and 1 won't know IL
ever came aboard
The woman acquiesced, and the unfor-
tunate canine was soon swathed in paper,
while its baby girl friend set up a lusty
howl at the disappearance of her pet
| "Dang-dang' went the bell. and the car
sped onward.
That evening a puzzled conductor pOTed
over the rule book. but found nothing
| there 10 cover the case in point He
asked the night superintendent. who, it is
I ic in search of cnlufior .,