Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1912-01-19
Ride For One Fare.

Citizens of Somerset, Drummond and
Friendship Heights, this county, have won
their point against the Washington Rail-
way and Electric Company, the George
town and Tenleytown Railway Company
and the Washington and Rockville Railway
Company, and beginning February goth,
1912, the companies will be required to
return to the rate of fare which formerly
was charged for the transportation of
passengers to and from points in the Dis
trict of Columbia-namely. single cash
fare of cents or six fares for rs cents.
A decision to this effect was handed
down Monday by the Interstate Commerce
Commission, the commission holding not
only that the railway companies had failed
to justify the increased fare. about which
complaint was made and which went into
effect June /, 1910, but that the railway
companies, contrary to their contention,
actually were and are common carriers
by railroad" and that when engaged in
the interstate transportation of passengers
or property are amenable to the provis-
ions of the act. The commission declared
this question has been passed upon several
times. and that its rulings had been sus-
tanned by the Commerce Court.
GROUNDS Or DEFENSE UNsoUND.
Our conclusion" said the commission,
lis that the grounds of defense urged by
defendants are unsound and can not be
sustained.
THE defendants have made no effort to
discharge the burden placed upon them by
the statute to prove that the increased
fare is just and reasonable. We accord
ingly find that defendants, having failed
TO justify the increased fare for passen-
ger travel between Somerset, Md, and
points in the district of Columbia, herein
complained of, that the same is unjust
and unreasonable to the extent that it ex-
ceeds the fare continuously applied be-
tween these points for more than ten years
prior to June l. 1910. which fare will be
prescribed for the future. An order will
be entered accordingly"
The order which was entered at gem
eral session of the commission, January 8,
1912, with Commissioners Clements, PrOuty,
Lane. Clark, Harlan, McChord and Meyer
present and asserting. reads as follows
Citizens of Somerset, Drummond and
Friendship Heights, Md, against Wash
ington Railway and Electric Company !;
Georgetown and Tenallytown Company !;
Washington and Rockville Railway Com
pany. and George Weems Williams. re-
ceiver thereof.
This case being at issue upon complaint
and answers on file. and having been duly
heard and submitted by the parties. and
full investigation of the matters and things
involved having been had, and the COM
mission having, on the date hereof, made
and filed report containing its findings
Of fact and conclusions thereon. which said
report is hereby referred to and made a
a part hereof:
IL 10 OuCiCu thut NilC dDONC-udliiCu
defendants be, and they are hereby. noti-
fled and required, OH or before the goth
day of February. 1912. to cease and desist,
and for period of two years thereafter to
abstain, from charging. demanding, col
lecting or receiving their present fares for
the transportation of passengers between
Somerset, in the State of Maryland, and
points in the District of Columbia
QUESTION Or APPEAL UNSETTLED.
1t is furthered ordered that said defend
ants be, and they are hereby, notified and
required, on or before the goth day of
February, 1912. to establish. and for pc
riod of two years thereafter to maintain,
and apply to the transportation of passen-
gers between Somerset, in the State of
Maryland, and points in the District of
Columbia served by any of their lines. a
fare not in excess of S cents cash. or six
fares for rs cents.
Attorney George p Hoover, counsel for
the Washington Railway and Electric Com
pany and the Georgetown and Tenallytown
Railway Company. Monday afternoon said
he could not determine, until he had a
conference with the officers Of the cOmpa-
MES. whether an appeal would be taken
from the ruling of the commission.