Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-12
CAR ROW ADJUSTABLE
Chairman Knapp Predicts
Better BrightWood Service.
CASE BEFORE COMMISSION
Compromise to Be Effected Without
Coercion or Hearings.
CITIZENS TALK TO OFFICIALS
of Street Railways Not
to Be Taken Up Until Week
From Monday.
CASE BEFORE COMMISSION
CITIZENS TALK TO OFFICIALS

Chairman Knapp ct the interstate COM
merce commission believes the differences
between the Brightwood. Takoma and
Petworth Citizens Associations and the
Brightwood Railway Company over the
service on that road will be satisfactorily
adjusted through the good offices OF the
commission. without the necessity Of
hearings or of coercion by the commits
sion.
This would mean the end OF long con-
troversy between the citizens and the
railway officials.
Mr.. Knapp made this statement follow
ing an interview with Gen. George II.
Harriek. second vice president Of the
Washington Railway and Electric Com
pany. which controls the Brightwood
road.
Compromise Is Effected.
The demand Of the citizens is for
through car service from Brghtwood and
other points along this road to the Ith
street wharves. and the maintenance OF
a fifteen minute schedule.
1t is understood that a compromise will
be effected. The citizens will get practi-
cally everything they are after. The rail-
way company will not be forced to go to
deemed necessary to meet the demand
had it been sustained by the commission.
Mr. Knapp said he understood con-
ference was held last night between Off
cials OF the Brightwood road and the
citizens using the line and that the out
come was highly satisfactory. This is
the first case that has arisen under the
so-called Union station trackage act. pass
ed at the last session of Congress.
The interstate commerce commission
t,ue. xyrt Iowa rtn1t
eraI question of how it will carry out the
provisions Of the section giving to it the
power to supervise the service on all of
the local street car lines.
The Brightwood question suddenly
doomed up when the District Commission
ers referred to the interstate commerce
the petition of the Brightwood
citizens. The whole matter has thus far
been talked over in an entirely informal
manner.
Consideration Is Deferred.
'The commission will not meet to con-
slider the question of the supervision of
the local street railway companies until
a week from next Monday. in all prob
ability" said Chairman Knapp today
This delay is occasioned by the fact that
several members will be out of the city
'.axt week.
I'm the meantime. however. informal
conferences Will doubtless De nel0 Win
officials of the Brightwood road and rep
resentatives OF the citizens associations.
anticipate no difficulty in adjusting the
differences that have arisen
Officials Of the Brightwood road are
authority for the statement that the road
will not be able to run If the demands
of the citizens should be granted by the
commission in their present form. The
road would he sent into the hands of a
receiver at once. they declare. and the in
terstate commerce commission will have
its hands full with It,
This is believed however. to be rather
a strong statement of the case. in view of
the fact that the members Of the COM
mission have no desire to force the local
to do anything they cannot af-
ford to do.
Consolidation Under Consideration.
1t is learned on good authority that the
members of the commission are seriously
considering. as individuals. the advan-
tages that might accrue from consoli-
datiOn of the various subsidiary companies
OF the Washington Railway and Electric
Company. 1t has long been urged by a
certain element in Congress that while
1t is fact that on paper the BrightwOOd
road is losing money, in reality it is not
when it is looked upon as a part of the
system. 1t Is not a separate road in any
thing but name. 1t is claimed. and there
lore SnOulu not De so considered
Legislators Of this opinion have long
sought to bring about consolidation that
would eliminate the Brightwood road as
an individual corporation and make it
on paper. as it Is in fact. part of the
Washington Railway and Electric Com
pany.
Chairman Knapp said today the commits
sion Is not likely to promulgate any set
of rules and regulations for the govern
ment of the local railways. as far as their
service to the public is concerned, but
will enforce the laws by dealing with each
case as it arises, as in the present in
stance. OF course. a general policy will
be determined upon when the commission
takes up the question. The subject may
be assigned to one or two commissioners
for special attention.
Clarence Norment. president of the
Brightwood Railway Company. said to-
day he was entirely satisfied with the
action of Congress in giving the commits
sion supervision of the service of the
local railways He said he anticipated
no great differences of opinion. and be-
Iieved controversies will be easily settled
as they come up.