The Washington times., 1911-09-05
COMMERCE BOARD
TO HELP CITIZENS
IN TRANSFER FIGHT
C. w. Darr to Suggest Plan
Tomorrow Night-Sure
of Adoption.
LAWYER TO APPEAR
AS COURTS FRIEND"
Former State Senator Dodge, of
Ohio, Also Enlists on Side
of People.

The Chamber of Commerce will rep
resent the people of the District in
court in the suit for exchange of
transfers filed by the Baltimore and
the Capital. Traction Company, II the
directors approve the suggestion to
be made to them tomorrow night by
Charles w. Darr, author of the Cham
ber's universal transfer bill.
Mr.. Darr has been considering the
suit Of the transit company for the
past several days, and although he
believes, as stated in The Times yes
terday. that the quickest and surest
way to get universal transfers is to
urge the passage of the Anderson bill
now before Congress, he is of the
opinion that every means should be
taken and through new legislation
Accordingly, at tomorrow nights meet
ing, he will bring the matter to the at
tention Of the body by recommending
that the Chamber authorize its general
counsel, Chaplin Brown, or a special at
torney, to ask the Supreme Court of
the District, when the suit is heard, for
permission to appear as a friend OF
the court" and present whatever con-
siderations may be in the interest Of
the people.
The proposal is almost bound to be
adopted unanimously, for the reason
that the Chamber is already on record
In favor OF universal transfers.
D. hC puDllSlNg slNSu In6 De-
tween the two traction companies by
The Washington Times has brought out
a new champion for the people, former
state Senator Martin Dodge of Ohio
who, as member Of the Ohio State legis-
Hlature. was the leading figure in the
hight for better transportation facilities
in Cleveland.
J Mr.. Dodge for several years has been
suburban resident of Washington, and
a large Maryland land owner.
u had the honor tn sreDresenf the
city of Cleveland in the general as
sembly OF Ohio for ten consecutive
years" said Mr., Dodge today to a
Times reporter. "and during that time
! introduced measures that abolished
the last toll gates at the entrance of
that city. / also introduced the first
enabling act in America to provide for
the entrance of suburban cars into
the heart OF Cleveland. This measure
was strongly opposed, but it finally
passed and the system in vogue there
has become a model for nearly all the
other great cities of America.
The most important pat of II all is
the fact that those who opposed II mSst
have been benefited by the esults. BY
sort OF mental blindness the owners
or the suburban street railway systems,
wne snouid have been the first to-see
the facts, have invariably been the last.
.Ihey assume that the purpose and re-
suit OF these beneficial changes are to
place a burden on them. The fact in
every care mas proved 10 be that great
and almost tnconceivable benefits have
come from these changes brought about
not by the street railways but by the
people themselves.
The same condition Is presenting it.
self in Washington. The people are
urging the things which are TO be lust
as beneficial to the companies as to
themselves"
Not only in regard to the entrance
into the heart Of the city of suburban
cars does Mr.. Dodge show beneficial
results to have accrued 20 the street
railway companies, but also in the en-
forced exchange of universal transfers
THE street railroad managers think II
against their interest to give universal
transfers. said Mr.. Dodge, "hut the
fact is exactly the opposite, as is shown
in every case that has been tried 1
lived in Cleveland for more than twenty
years, during which time the street
railway system was developed from q
petty to a millionaire business One of
the greatest elements in that successful
evolution was the universal transfer 1t
stimulated the traffic so that in a short
time 1t was doubled. The additional
cost to the companies was almost moth
ing"
He is Of the opinion that the two
street railway companies of the District
are standing in their own light In
their opposition to universal transfers
and use of their tracks by suburban
cars.