Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-09
Metropolitan Branch Patrons
Declare Increased Rates
Are Unreasonable.
DECLARE DESOLATION
WILL FOLLOW IN WAKE
Property Depreciation Is Set Forth
in Petition Asking I. C. C. to
Intervene.

Vivid pictures OF the desolati ton which
IT is claimed would follow in tho wake
of increased Communication rates on the
Metropolitan branch OF the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad are painted in Wig
orous protest against the proposed
rates, which are TO become effective
December 2l, filed with the interstate
commerce commission today in the way
Of formal complaint by the Metropoli-
tan Branch Commuters Association. The
complaint was drawn UP by the execu-
tive committee of the organization. and
is signed by L. Cabell Williamson
chairman, and ]. G. Gurley. secretary.
The complaint seeks suspension OF the
rates pending hearing and fnveetiga-
ton.
Numerous tables worked out by the
committees of the association showing
the increases and percentage OF IN
crease at the various stations along the
Metropolitan branch are filed as part
of the complaint, which is also accom-
panied, as an exhibit. by an editorial
from The Star.
First characterizing the proposed
rates as unreasonable and excessive"
the petition then calls particular at
tention to 1.-The canceling Of the quar-
terly (1s0-trip) ticket. which has been
in use on said Metropolitan branch
for more than twenty-five years. This
| form of ticket is used by practically
all the commuters on the Metropolitan
branch, and is. it is submitted. the
logical and proper basis for compare
son with any new Communication rates"
N F-11 la%; inn, Of al
and new rates, showing the increases
from each station in the event the
rates become effective. and the per-
| centages OF increase, which from one
Increase 80 to 100 Per Cent.
ut is respectfully submitted" says
the petition, that such increases in
Communication rates. ranging. as they
do. from SO to 100 per cent, are on
their face go extraordinary and radi-
cal as to suggest at once the pro-
priety of suspending their taking ef-
feet until careful investigation can be
made with respect to their reasona-
bleness.
I'm the Communication rate case. de-
cided juno 81, 1911. the commission
said. in refusing to sanction certain
changes in communication rates:
Such increases per month as these
certainly require a definite explana-
ton on the part Of the carrier
Yet. the average percentage OF in
crease proposed for the Metropolitan
| terially greater than the average in
the case just mentioned. In view OF
this fact. and in view Of the proposed
rates for the Metropolitan branch.
which speak for themselves. surely 1t
to permit the new tariff schedule to
become effective without giving tho
persons who would be affected thereby
an opportunity to be heard.
The situation OF the commuters
whom your petitioner represents 10
typical of many committing communi-
ties. For many years these commuters
have been building up communities
along the Metropolitan branch. Few
Of them enjoy more than very mod
crate incomes and many are paying
for their homes by degrees.
"A considerable portion, 1t may be
added, are employed in the government
departments in Washington. The Bal
timore and Ohio Railroad Company
voluntarily offered certain inducements
to people to settle along this branch
of their line, chief among which. per-
haps, was a schedule Of reasonable
Communication and family tickets.
Property Values Deprecated.
with the passage Of time. there has
come to be q feeling of stability with
respect to railroad conditions along the
METROPOLITAN branch, without which the
various suburban and communication
communities could not have developed
The property values along the road
have been, and are now, dependent IN
rates especially on those for commu-
ters, and the same is true to an appre-
cfable extent OF such values in many
parts of Montgomery county not serveu
directly by the Metropolitan orahcn-
Then the complaint calls attention 70
the curtailment of service offered by
the roads, such as right to check bag
gage free on Communication tickets,
adjustment of school tickets. ana re-
ouirinR school children to use the reeu-
lar tickets, and, several weeks ago.
the withdrawal of the privilege OF free
transportation for marketing. FRO
certes. ice, and many other common
ties, Eat considerable additional eh
nense to the patrons OF the Metropoli-
tan branch
tention to the depopulation and loss or
property values which Will sure TOTO"
an increase in rates.
"If the rates proposed by the Bait
more and Ohio Railroad Company are
permitted to become operative IL IS
evident that there VIII iac spssa loss Of
population within the committing zone.
with consequent injurious erect on
schools, churches, business inpefesto
and community life in general; serious
depreciation OF property values; ana.
finally. reduction in train service
Your petitioner has every reason TO De-
lieye. and does believe, that the fore
going view OF the effects that would
follow the proposed change in rates
is that generally entertained by the
residents along the Metropolitan
branch, and the people OF Montgomery
county as whole
Protests Excursion Adjustment.
A good part OF the petition is given
over to the protest against the abol-
ishment of the two-day excursion
ticket from stations between WASH
tngton Junction and Rockville to
Washington, D. C. At those stations
where it is proposed to abolish the
two-day excursion there Is no trolley
competition. according to the COM
plant.
To allow the proposed increases to
become effective. says the complaint,
in concluding. would work injury to
the commuters and other patrons OF
said Metropolitan branch. Many resi-
dents along the road, especially those
renting property. would abandon their
residences by reason Of increased cost
of travel and of uncertainty as to
f,,% conditions fho