Evening star., 1911-06-08
ANSWER TO PETITION
Washington and Rockville
Fares Fixed by Law.
Statement BY RECEIVER
Connecting Railway Companies Also
Respond to Complaint.
ALLEGED EXCESSIVE RATES
Denial Of Arrangement for Pooling
With Rockville Line-No
Share in Receipts.

II the existing railway fares between
Somerset. Drummond. Friendship Heights
and this city are unreasonable, excessive
and unjust" as charged in the petition of
the residents of those places against the
Washington Railway and Electric Com
| pany, the Georgetown and Tenleytown
Railway Company, the Washington and
Rockville Railway Company and George
Weems Williams, receiver. which was
filed May with the interstate commerce
commission, they are the fares fixed by
the general assembly Of Maryland, and
they are insufficient to meet the fixed
charges and operating expenses OF the
railroad, and are in effect confscatory."
This 10 the virtual defense Of George
Weems Williams. receiver Of the Wash
ington and Rockville Railway Company.
in his answer which has been filed with
the commission.
Replies Of Defendants.
The answer of each defendant denies
that any part Of the moneys collected by
the other defendants for the transporta-
| ton of passengers is received by the
answering defendant, but all admit an
PooSSAoSAS
| from and coming to this city and the
points in Maryland have been exchanged
and carried.
The answer of the Georgetown and Ten
leytown road denies that the railway
company at any time entered into an ar
rangement or understanding with the
citizen complainants or any of the resi-
dents OF the places named with regard TO
the operation of the railway to Somerset
or intermediate points between the Dis
fri In a mentioned place.
as to the rate Of fare to be charged for
transportation. 1t denies. also, that that
company increased the rate of fare, as
charged in the petition. and that 1t exer-
cised any control or authority in the mat
ter, but AYERS, upon information and be-
lief, that the new rate was established
by the manager and officers Of the Wash
ington and Rockville Railway Company
and is now continued by the receiver.
Reciprocal Arrangement Admitted.
It admits entering into reciprocal ar
rangement with that company and the
Washington Railway and Electric Com
pany for the transfer of passengers from
it's line to the Washington Railway and
Electric Company's line at 32d and o
streets northwest and 3od and p streets
northwest, and from the latter line to Its
line for transportation, but that 1t does
not receive any part OF the moneys col
lected by the Washington Railway and
Electric Company for the transportation
of passengers over it's line. 1t further
declares that the fare charged by 1t for
the transportation over the Georgetown
and Tenleytown line at the rate OF o
cents cash, or ticket fares at the rate OF
six for IS cents, is that fixed by the acts
of Congress for the transportation of
passengers within the District of Colum-
bia.
The Washington Railway and Electric
hnca
Georgetown and Tenleytown line. Is
signed by George n. 9Iarries, vice presi-
dent. denies that the former operates
any railway line extending into Mary
land. except that running to a point at
the dividing line between the District and
Maryland adjacent to the Conduit road
and extending to Cabin John bridge. 1t
declares it does not own. contgpl or
the other defendants. and the only rela-
tion II bears to either of them is that of
holder and owner of certain shares of the
capital stock. It has never entered into
the places named with regard to the
operation OF the railway to those points
or the fares to be charged.
Denies Increase in Rates.
1t further denies that 1t increased the
rate of fare and did not exercise any
| control or authority in the fixing Of the
| rate OF fare. but AYERS on information
| and belief that the present rate of fare
| was established by the manager and ofi-
| GERS OF the Washington and Rockville
Railway Company and is now continued
| by It's receiver. The answer makes a
similar statement to that of the George
| town and Tenleytown road as to q recip-
rocal agreement for the transfer Of pas
sengers at 32d and o and 32d and p
| streets northwest, and e. similar denial
| that 1t receives any part OF the money
| collected by the Washington and Rock
Vile road for the transportation Of pas
| sengers.
| The answer of George Weems Williams.
| receiver for the Washington and Rock
| Vile road. admits a reciprocal arrange
ment for the transfer OF passengers at
| the dividing line between the District and
| Marylnd with the Georgetown and Ten
| leytown road. 1t states that the re-
| spondent has no knowledge Of any In
| ducement extended to the complainants
| in the past to settle along the line OF the
| road with the assurance of a continu-
ance Of free transportation to and from
the points named in the petition.
Receivers Appointment Cited.
It cites the appointment OF Mr. Williams
as receiver for tho road March 81, 1911. by
| an order passed in the circuit court OF
the United States for the district Of Mary
land and that he took charge April l,
1911. 1t admits that the fare charged
since then from points between Somerset
and the dividing line between Maryland
/ and the District has been at the rate OF
5 cents cash. or a monthly communication
book good for twentytsix trips at the
| rate OF $1.73. It states the respondent
had no connection with the railway COM
pany before his appointment as receiver
| and he denies knowledge OF what fare
| was charged before that time.
| The answer AYERS that prior to June I,
1910, the Washington and Rockville road
was divided into four fare zones. but that
| under an act passed by tho MARYLAND
general assembly in 1910. approved April
| II, 1910, and known as chapter 22O OF
| the acts OF 1910. the company on and
after May 1. 1910. was required to divide
it's line into three fare zones. the f1rst
extending from the boundary line Of
the District to the first street Cross
| ing Of the road east Of the residence OF
Cyrus Keiser. and the other two OF as
nearly equal distance In length as the
point of meeting thereof upon the public
highway would permit. the fare to be
| charged In each zone not to exceed .
! cents. and that communication tickets
| should be issued containing not less than
/ twenty-six trips at q rate not exceeding
two-thirds Of the full cash fare.
i =