The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1911-09-24
PEOPLE OF CAPITAL
LINE UP SOL|DLY
.. IN TRANSPARENT
lAl Organizations Backing
Court Contest That Be-
gins Tomorrow.

When the transfer suit of the Balti-
more and Washington Transit Com
pany against the Capital Traction Com
pany comes up in court tomorrow TO:
determination Of a definite date upon
which to hear arguments, the people of
Washington will be lined up solidly
behind the former company.
Every organization representative of
the people of the District which has yet
had an opportunity to place Itself on
record on the subject Of universal trans
fers, has come out strongly IN support
of the contention set up by the lawyers
for the suburban railway company that
transfers schould be exchanged not only
between the two companies which are
parties to the suit. but between all COM
panies in the District whose lines con-
meet, at the points of connection.
Present Solid Front.
Around the Chamber OF Commerce, the
first representative organization to come
out squarely in assisting the 1urtherance
Of the transit company's suit have
gathered one organization after another
nutil the phaIanx OF opposition to the
Capital Traction Company and, by i'm
plication, to the Washington Railway
and Electric Company, Is eolidly repre-
sentative Of all the people OF the Dis
trict
And not only are the people Of the
District lined up in this fight for better
street railway facilities IN The Capital.
but the people of the State of Maryland
also have thrown the weight of their
political influence into II. Special COM
mittees of the Observation-Disclosures State
the Representatives and Senators of
Maryland and urge them to use their
efforts In securing new legislation which
Will force the street railway companies
in the District to exchange transfers at
points of connection. While the labor
organization is engaged in working upon
Congress, its attorney, P. J. Ryan. will
be engaged in assisting the attorneys
for the Chamber of Commerce and the
suburban railway company In the at
tempt to get relief from the courts.
1t is unfair to the poorer classes of
Washington or even to the well-tU-do
classes who do not desire to give all
their earnings to the street railway
vice president Of the Federation today.
"Ionger to withhold from them the
transfers to which they are entitled.
Predicts Increased Traffic.
81 believe that the companies In the
long run VIII not lose money by inaug-
urating such a system On the other
lUty VIII make money from IN
creased traffic. AS it is today, the
average street car passenger feels that
the companies are trying to hold him
up. The result is many persons refuse
20 use the street cars and others will
fully, whenever possible, beat the COM
panies out of their fares. This is done
not TO save money. but to show the
general feeling against the companies
which decline to give to the public what
the public thinks It is entitled to-
The District Commissioners late yes
terday afternoon, in reply to the letter
OF Major George A Armes, declared
their position again in favor of the
puolics contention that universal trans
fers should be granted. While they
consider there Is no way in which they
can properly take hand in the legal
battle for transfers, they are firm in
their assertion that they will push the
matter before Congress
Replies to Major Armes.
Capt. E. w. Markham, Assistant En-
gineer Commissioner, in the absence of
Major Judson, Engineer Commissioner.
replied to Major Armes as follows:
The Commissioners have given favor
able reports on the bills pending in
Congress, stating that the interchange
"a SdAoISIS DetWeen the street rail-
way lines is one involving a distinct
and great convenience to the railway
travelling public and should be REQUIRED
OF the railway companies"
The Commissioners have also COM
mended Charles w. Darr the Chamber
of Commerce attorney, upon his de-
cision to remain in Washington and
prosecute the transfer fight in the
courts instead Of accepting their APP
pointment Of him as a delegate to the
municipal congress and exhibition
which is now in progress in Chicago.
While the Commissioners do not see
their way clear to take a hand in the
present suit Of one company against
another, they have not denied that
they would not be interested in a suit
brought on behalf Of the people of the
District. Such a suit may be brought
by the Chamber of Commerce at
torneys 1t is now being prepared by
AIRED E. Wood, Mr.. larr's associate
In the present suit. II this is filed. an
opportunity may be afforded the Com
missioners to take part.