Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-12
POINT Of LAW DELAYS
Defers Action Relating to
BrightWood Car Line.
1.-TWO SEPARATE ENTITIES
Washington Railway and Electric
Company Makes Claim.
THROUGH CARS INTO CITY
Interstate Commerce Commission
Receives Brief-Statement of
What Has Been Done.

Action by the interstate commerce
commission in the matter of through serv-
ice over the 'Brightwood street car line
Commissioner Lane said today. has been
deferred until law point can be settled
which affects the entire matter The
railway companies, at our invitation, have
submitted briefs on the point and the
commission will dispose of it in due sea-
son. The mere fact that the railway
company has given assurance that it will
provide through service will not affect the
interstate commerce commission in acting
pOn the recommendations submitted to it
by the District commission, which is not
to blame for the delay and has done all
that lies within it's power
The point of law involved. as explained
by Commissioner Lane, arises from the
fact that the Washington Railway and
Electric Company and the Brightwood
Railway Company are claimed to be two
separate entities If that be the fact, the
question arises. Has the commission the
power to order one company to operate
it's cars over the line of the other. thus
practically merging the equipment and
service of the two?
Mentions Voluntary Action.
The Washington Railway and Electric
Company, through its president, Clarence
F. Norment, recently notified the inter-
state commerce commission that by ar
rangement with the BrightwOod line eff
forts would be made to give the desired
through service from Brightwood and Ia
koma Park and return during the coming
year or as soon as the necessary arrange
ments could be perfected. But that, cit Is
explained, is a matter entirely apart from
the power of the interstate commerce
commission to make regulation ordering
it to do
In reference to action by the Bright
wood Citizens Association last evening
it was explained today at the office OF
the commission that as far back as Octo-
Der 20 the commission had passed recon-
mendations and submitted them to the
interstate commerce commission concern
ing the overcrowding of street cars on the
Brightwood line and the poor schedules.
Substance of Recommendations.
These recommendations provided that
on and after December /, 1908, the Wash
ington Railway and Electric Company,
controlling, operating leasing the
Brightwood railway. be required to OPP
crate every car through from some point
in the heart of the city to the District
line and Takoma Park and return be-
tween the hours of I and o'clock am
and 4:3O and $50 o'clock pm: that 1t be
required to operate through cars every
half hour alternately between the points
named and return during that portion OF
the day when cars are now being oper-
ated over its line other than the time
mentioned when all cars shall run
through.
1t was specifically recommended that
the company be required to operate al all
times sufficient number OF cars over It's
lines so as to provide comfortable,
convenient and expeditions passage for it's
patrons.
In transmitting these recommendations
to the interstate commerce commission,
Gen. John NJ. Wilson, chairman of the
District commission stated that they
were made after careful thought on the
part of the commission and thorough
study by its executive officer. the par
ties interested or their representatives.
other than the railway officials, having
been present at a public hearing at which
the latter declined to appear.
Regarded as Important.
1t was further stated that the changes
recommended are important, in the opin-
ion Of the commission. and are necessary
for the comfort. convenience and eXpe-
ditious passage of persons DESTROYS OF
using the cars. 1t Was added that the
commission had been unable TO consult
with the railway officials. as they had de-
clined to recognize the commission or to
receive it's executive officer or secretary
when he requested an interview on rail
way business.
Furthermore it was declared that the
Washington Railway and Electric Com
pany had. in advance of any action by
the interstate commerce commission, vol
UNFAIRLY stated to that commission that
it had already ordered thirty-fve new
pay-as-you-enter cars and would operate
them over the Brightwood railway and
into the city. giving the through service