Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1914-12-11
Fifty Per Cent More Railroad Fare
Or Fight-Which
Garrett Park, Md, Dec. 2. 1914.

"ii hiiu hCieWllil CllpplnS ITOn
the Washington Star of last evening, which
gives a very good account of the organiza-
ton of THE Metropolitan Branch Commu-
tiers Association" The names of the officers
and members of committees, which have
looked over with care, seem to be correct
Steps are to be taken at once by the men,
bership committee to enroll the commu-
tiers and many other patrons of the Metro
politan Branch, while the finance COM
mittee will endeavor without delay to
secure the necessary "snews of war;
hope the Sentinel will bring this mat
ter prominently before the people inter
ested. Doubtless there are many who do
not yet realize that the communication rates
to Washington are to be increased on the
average forty-five (45) per cent as COM
pared with the present quarterly rates
that the cost of travelling on the proposed
1O-trip ticket will be nearly twenty (2O)
per cent more per trip than on the exist
ing 24-trip ticket; and that above Rock
vile the two-day round trip tickets are to
be abolished, so that those now using them
will be compelled to resort to the 30-day
round trip, which costs much more, unless
using the 10-trip ticket.
If the proposed rates are put into force,
there will soon be many vacant houses
along the Branch. Naturally the renters
will lead the way in moving nearer to the
city or into the city. Gradually many others
will do likewise, although they will doubt
less have to sell their property at loss.
With the decreased population, and gen.
eral resort to the trolleys where available,
will come reduction in train service.
There is good reason to believe that the
proposed tariff will not be allowed by the
Commission to become operative if the
people affected let the Commission know
that they are in dead earnest in wanting
a hearing before the new rates are passed
on. individuals and especially all organ
lied bodies along the Branch should file
petitions and protests with the Interstate
Commerce Commission. Not day should
be lost, as time is pressing. The Commission
may take up the matter at any time.
Yours very truly,
j. G. GURLEY,
Secretary The Metropolitan Branch Com
muters' Association.
PREAMBLE AND RESOLUTION Or COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS.
Office of Board of County Commissioners.
Rockville, Md. Dec. LIST, 1914.
Whereas, the Baltimore and Ohio Rail
road Company has filed with the Interstate
Commerce Commission tariff of passen-
ger rates for the Metropolitan Branch of
said Company, proposed to become efrec-
tive December 2lst, 1914, and
Whereas, it has been represented to the
County Commissioners of Montgomery
County that such rates are so unreasonable
and excessive as to impose undue hard
ships to both income and property values
on the people residing along said Metro
politan Branch, who are dependent upon
same for both passenger and freight facili-
ties, therefore be it
Resolved by the Board of County Com
missioners for Montgomery County, That
on behalf of the people using said railroad
we do strongly protest against such action
Of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Com
pany, and urge the honorable Interstate
Commerce Commission to suspend the op-
Grafton of the tariff of passenger rates so
until the patrons of said Metro
politan Branch shall have had hearing
in the matter.
Note. Action similar to the above has
been taken by the Town Councils of Gar
rett Park and Kensington, and am in
formed, by that of Gaithersburg, for their
towns. am not informed as
to Takoma Park and Rockville J. G. C.
ORGANIZED COMMUTERS,
Having perfected an organization and
selected the name of the Metropolitan
Branch Commuters Association, the COM
muters along the branch of the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad at a meeting last night
in the office of A. II. Baker & Co., 7l0
18th street, instructed its executive COM
mittee to present as soon as possible to
the Interstate Commerce Commission, in
behalf of the association, an emphatic
protest against the tariff of passenger rates
by the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
road. to become effective December 81, as
and excessive, especially
against the Communication rates in said tariff.
THE resolution also asked that the rates
be suspended until the commuters can be
given a hearing.
THE principal part of last nights meet
ing was given over to the report of the
committee and the election,
which resulted as follows:
President, L. Cabell Williamson, Wash
ington Grove vice-president, A. II. Baker,
Germantown secretary, j. G. Gurley. Gar
rett Park; assistant secretary. W. A. Viii
liams, Rockville; treasurer. NJ. W. Phillips,
Buck Lodge
THE officers, together with the following
men, compose the executive committee :
Thomas J. Owen, Gaithersburg; f. w.
Moore. Kensineton. and J. c. c. Patterson
Washington Grove.
Finance committee-M. W. Phillips, Buck
Lodge, chairman; S. c. Cissel, Washington
Grove II. d. Gloyd. Gaithersbure R. B.
Colt. Dckerson c. r. Rowdybush. Ken
sington.
Membership committee-Harry C. Arm
strong, Kensington. chairman; Edw. p.
Schwartz. Gaithersbure F. W. Browne,
Garrett Park; A. H. Baker, Germantown {;
F. r. Rynex, Washington Grove.
Publicity committee-W.G G. Davis. Gath
ersburg, chairman. The chairman of this
committee was empowered to select the
remaining nine members to assist him.
"Mr. Gurley, the secretary, urged the
members of the association to get behind
the associations along the line and urge