Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-11
Lends Aid to Struggle for Uni
versaI Transfers.
CONGRESS BACK OF COURTS
If Litigation Fails, New Legislation
Will Be Pressed.
HOUSE REPORTED FRIENDLY
Assurance Given by Chairman John
son That Measure Can Be Put
Through Lower Body.

Chaplin Brown, general counsel for the
Chamber of Commerce, was today in
structed to give every assistance to the
counsel for the Baltimore and Washing
ton Transit Company, which has begur
proceedings against the Capital Traction
Company to compel that company te
interchange transfers with the transi,
company, and also to obtain universe
transfers on all lines in the District OF
Columbia.
At a meeting of the committee on law
and legislation Of the chamber this after
noon a resolution presented by Charles
J. Darr, and which was unanimousl!
adopted placed the matter of represent
ing the Chamber of Commerce in the fight
which Is to be made before the courts for
universal transfers In the District in the
hands of the general counsel of the or
ganizat!on. The resolution adopted was
as follows:
That the matter be referred to the
general counsel for the Chamber OF Com
MERGE, Chaplin Brown, with full instruc-
lions to confer with Mr.. Lerch. counsel
for the petitioning railway company. ano
that the general counsel be authorized to
take such action in the premises as will
assist the attorneys for the petitionine
railway company in prosecuting the suit
the purposes Of which are to secure uni
yerSal transfers on the traction lines OF
the District of Columbia
House Will Pass Bill.
During the discussion Of the resolution
offered by Mr.. Darr. W. A. Foster. 1
member of the committee and also
member of the subcommittee which ha.
charge of advancing the interests Of thu
bill for universal transfers. which ha.
had the approval of the chamber. an
nounced that he had assurances from
House District committee. that meas
ure for universal transfers would b'
passed by the House. probably at the
coming session. Mr.. Foster said that the
House would have passed such meas.
ure at the session just closed. but that
in view of the situation in the Senate in
regard to the proposed legislation i
was deemed advisable to postpone actor
until the coming session. Mr.. Foster
said that the bill passed by the House
would not be Identical with that approved
by the Chamber of Commerce, but would
be slightly modified.
Harry +. Lerch of counsel for the Bal
timore and Washington Transit Company
attended the meeting of the committee,
and at the request Of Charles Linkins,
vice chairman. who presided in the alb
sence of A. Leftwich Sinclair. the chair
man. explained to the committee the
status of the litigation begun by the
transit company against the Capital Trac-
ton Company. He also declared that tie
counsel for the transit company would
be very glad to have any assistance that
the Chamber of Commerce would give.
Would Benefit Public.
Mr.. Lerch declared that he believed the
matter was not only of great interest to
the company which he represents. but
also to the people of the District, since
If the law of 1894 were found valid and
the street railways under that law could
be compelled to give universal transfers
the people would be much benefited. lie
said that If the law were found to be
fitted to the present case 1t could be made
to tit all.
Charles j. Darr, who has taken a
prominent part In the fight which has
been made to obtain universal transfers
for the District. pointed out that the
chamber. which has gone on record In
favor of law for universal transfers
should aid in the present case since the
law of 1884 would be finally passed upon
by the courts and If found to be ineffec-
tive the chamber would then be in a bet
ter position to demand that the bill II
advocates be enacted into law.
After the meeting Mr.. Brown said that
possible with the counsel for the transit
company and determine what course
should be pursued. 1t Is not expected
that the Capital Traction Company will
file its answer before the end Of this
week or the first of next. since the time
allowed it. exclusive of Sundays anc
holidays, will not be up until next week