Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-16
MEET IN SPECIAL SESSION
Louis P. Shoemaker Reads Statement
by Representative Sims.
MAKES MENTION OF PROMISES
ORGANIZATION Names Committee to
Advocate Improvements-New
Members Admitted.

A special meeting Of the Takoma Park
Citizens Association was held last even
| ing in Takoma Hall for the purpose OF
discussing existing conditions and serv-
ice on the Brightwood electric railway.
Rfter stating the object of the meeting
President Albert F. Woods introduced
Louis p Shoemaker. president OF the
| Brentwood Citizens Association.
| "One of the most impOrtant matters
affecting this section" Mr.. Shoemaker
said, lis through car service to the center
of the city. 1t has long been desired by
the citizens and should be desirable to
| the railroad company, especially from a
| financial standpoint. The situation is
| now in new hands. and / believe we are
now going 10 accomplish something.
| When the matter is presented by conf
petent committee I confidently expect
that through service will be obtained.
and il 1t could be obtained tomorrow
| property values would increase % per
| cent all along the route"
| Mr. Shoemaker referred to the fact
| that through cars from the center OF the
city are in operation on the City and
Suburban line. while the residents on the
Brightwood line are dumped In the mud
at the loop at 7th street and Florida
! avenue. He characterized this as abom-
road authorities.
Here is a cheap trolley road. which
does not pay one dollar for franchise;
an urban road, not d suburban road
operating along this beautiful thorough
fare. Brightwood avenue; all graded and
finely macadamized for a distance of five
miles. and yet they say that the road does
not pay" the speaker added. There is
not word of truth in that statement
We want through service, and should
al ootS ~
our part We ought to secure the desired
results.
Reads a Statement.
Mr. Shoemaker concluded by reading a
statement prepared by Representative
Sims of Tennessee, to be read at the
meeting, as follows:
I'm 1900 the then owners of the stocks
and bonds to the amount Of or in excess
Of Is per cent in eleven railway COM
panies Of the District of Columbia,
lines in the District Of Columbia except
those In the Capital Traction Company,
solicited legislation which would enable
one of the companies to acquire any and
all Of the other roads. stocks and bonds.
the statement being that it was the pur-
pose to consolidate the eleven lines into
one company in all respects. SO that q uni
fled improved service on all the lines could
be had.
1T was also reported that the dividends
earned by the solvent roads would be
used for improvements on the roads and
service of all of the suburban roads in
cluded in the eleven, and further. in order
to enable the perfect and complete con-
solidation,' they sought the authority Of
Congress to acquire, by condemnation. the
stock of any dissenting stockholders in
any Of the lines to be acquired.
The bill was favorably reported and
passed. but a complete and perfect con-
solidation and unified service did not fol-
low. The .Tenleytown and the Bright
wood road. the City and Suburban and
the Anacostia were never consolidated.
while the other of the eleven roads were
consolidated under the provisions of the
ington Railway and Electric Company,
but the Washington Railway and Elec-
trio Company. or those acting for it as
trustees, who own practically all the
stock in the roads just mentioned. are
pretending to operate them as separate
properties. BY reason of owning almost
all Of the stock they have all Of the direc-
tors. make all of the rules and regulations
governing the companies and force the
through transfer upon the suburban lines
with the Washington Railway and Elec-
trio Company.
What Investigation Will Show.
investigation will show that the trans
Ter upon the SUBURBAN line IS a much
greater per cent of the entire number Of
passengers carried by them than It is on
the Washington railway lines. In order
to properly maintain and give a good
service upon these suburban lines they
should have the full benefit Of the entire
fare, for passengers coming from other
lines and forcing a free transfer from
them to the Washington Railway and
Electric Company makes it impossible to
pay a dividend upon the stock of these
companies and maintain a service equal
to what it could be and would be without
the transfer arrangement. While the
stock of the suburban companies is prac-
tically without value, the Washington
Railway and Electric Company has for
several years paid interest on the out
standing bonds. amounting to $40, 600, 900,
and also paid per cent accumulated divi-
dends upon the So 100000 OF preferred
stock, amounting to $4,000 per annum.
when it would require a sum not equal to
one-half of the one years dividend on the
preferred stock to acquire all outstand-
ing stocks and thus completely carry out
the alleged object and purpose of the
legislation embraced In the act Of June s.
1900. Failure to do SO is an act Of bad
faith. and this bad faith attaches to the
present management Of this company as
we'll as to those who sought this legtsla-
ton, because they today are receiving the
benefits Of tho act Of June 5, 1900 without
accepting In good faith the burdens thew