The Washington times., 1911-08-31
UNIVERSAL TRANSFER OUES'
TON ONCE MORE.

tice Stafford has authorized the re-
ceiver of the Baltimore and Washing
ton Transit Company to start suit to
compel the Capital Traction Company
to exchange transfers under this act:
1t is plain that if the law is. still
in force-and the legal authorities of
the District have indicated that = is
then it is applicable to the very case
in which it is to be invoked. The law
! appears to have been made for the
benefit of street car companies, not of
the public. Its language is such that
apparently nobody is entitled to en-
force the exchange of transfers, unless
street car company becomes the
petitioner, in an effort to compel an
other company to exchange them. The
lawmakers had in mind the interest of
traction concern in need of con-
nections; not the interest of the public
in need of transportation facilities.
The more important street car COM
panies don't want to exchange trans
fers; each thinks it would lose by the
operation; neither is concerned about
the public interest. Therefore, until
now, no situation has arisen in which
case could be got into court with a
traction company as petitioner.
Now, however, the necessary factors
are presented for a test of the law, and
it is to be made without delay. If the
Baltimore and Washington Company
wins, a unique situation will be pre-
sented. 1t will appear that a street
car company can compel another street
car company to exchange transfers, but
that the public still has no way to
accomplish this end.
Manifestly, this is a situation to
which the public will not submit. The
street railways have taken the posi-
tion that enforced exchange of trans
fers is confscation. 1t is not apparent
how confiscation can be any less con-
fiscation when it is enforced in the in
terest of corporation than when en-
forced in behalf of the riding public
If the court holds for the Baltimore
and Washington Company, the logic
of the situation will be that in decency
to the public Congress must extend
the operation of the law so that the
public may get consideration under it
The law, it is further explained, has
no penalty attached, and therefore
; cannot be enforced. If the traction
companies are going to make a bust
ness of disobeying the law for want OF
penalties; if the public policy laid
down in the law is to be shifted at in
contempt because nobody can be fined
or locked up for refusing to obey the
law-then surely it is time that effec'
tive penalties be amended into the act
and the proper authorities directed tc
enforce them.
1t is earnestly to be hoped that
; the Baltimore and Washington Com
pany will prosecute its case to the
limit. If a method can be found tc
compel exchange of transfers in on,
: case, and if that exchange can be helt
constitutional, then Congress will not
long delay to amend the law 80 thai
} the exchange may be enforced in al
cases, and on the initiative of the pub
lie as well as of a street car company
l But an exchange of transfers betweeI
the suburban and the downtown line'
is not half measure of justice to th'
public, nor half of what this new
found law contemplates. This act alst
: requires that cars of the suburban line
! shall be permitted trackage rights, un
: der proper terms, to bring their car
down into the heart of the city. Thi
ought to be enforced.
People from the Maryland and Vir
gania suburban lines ought not to b
I dumped off the suburban and inter
3 urban cars, at remote outlying transfe
4 points, and compelled, in all kinds o
weather, to Chamber from one to an
other car. Whether they pay an ex
a ira fare or not, that is all wrong. Th
cars from the suburbs ought to be rul
right down into the business center o
n the city, so that the physical operation
] of transfer would be unnecessary.
That proposal must not shock tn
f self-centered managers of the tractio
: properties. They know perfectly We
: that it is the rule already establishe
v in all progressive cities.
n Nobody knows better than Geners
o Harries or Mr.. Norment that Detroi
would not submit to conditions sue
as prevail here. So far back as til
r regime of Mayor Pingree in Detroi
r when suburban and interurban line
= first began to develop, Pingree CON
v PEELED the downtown lines, not to a
p low transfers to and from the outlyin
companies, but to HAUL THE CAR
q of the outlying companies from the
: points of connection down into the cit.
n Applied in Washington, that woul