Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1915-01-15
To The Commuters And Other
Patrons OF The Metropolitan
Branch.

This Association was formed December
LIST by your delegates for the purpose Of
representing you in matters pertaining tC
rates and service on the Metropolitan
Branch. A few days later the Association
} filed with the Interstate Commerce Com
mission a carefully prepared statement
protesting against the proposed increases
in passenger rates for the Metropolitan
unjustly discriminatory, and asking that
their operation be suspended and hear
ing granted the people affected thereby
Subsequently representatives of the Asso-
Board of the Interstate Commerce Com
mission and emphasized the justice and
Importance of the action urged by this
organization.
AS you are aware, the Commission post
poned until April 20, 1915, the effective
date of the proposed communication rates.
and also that of the proposed changes with
respect to family tickets. Everyone can
easily determine what this means for him
in dollars and cents, regardless of the final
adjustment of rates, to say nothing of the
question of property values.
We regret to say that, Notwithstanding
our representations, the new tariff cancel
ing the two-day round trip tickets from
Metropolitan Branch points above Rock
vile to Washington, and vice versa, was
permitted to 60 into effect This action
on the part of the Interstate Commerce
Commission is, however without prejudice
to our right to enter formal complaint
against this change, and it is hoped and
believed that the scope of the hearing al
ready provided for will be broadened to
include investigation of this phase of the
situation. The Association will do all in
its power to bring about this result.
The changes in passenger rates on the
Metropolitan Branch between stations in
the State of Maryland are now under in
vestigation by the Executive Committee,
to the end that appropriate action may be
taken with respect thereto 1t was impOs-
sible to prevent these intrastate rates from
being put into force because the Maryland
Public Service Commission has no power
to suspend rates until they have become
effective.
We wish you to feel that this is essen
TALLY your Association, created by you for
the purpose of protecting your interests,
not necessarily by opposing the Baltimore
g. Ohio Railroad Company. but on the con-
trary. through cooperation and amicable
arrangements with the Company whenever
possible. The degree of success to be at
tanned by the Association rests very largely
with you.
There are now two practical ways in
which your hearty support is needed:
|. By increasing the membership of the
Association, which should include in the
near future all commuters and a large
proportion of other patrons of the Metro
politan Branch. The larger our member
ship. the greater the authority with which
we can speak in your behalf and the in
fiuence we can exert. 1t is urged there
fore that you become members yourselves
and urge others to do so. Membership
cards can be obtained on payment of the
annual dues $50 cents) from the chair
man of the Membership Committee, Mr..
II. C. Armstrong, of Kensington. or from
any officer of the Association.
2. BY contributing further toward the
expenses of the Association. The chief
expenses now in sight are involved in the
preparation and presentation Of your case
before the Interstate Commerce Commission.
In this connection ii will be necessary to
employ competent attorney and to meet
incidental costs. The services of all off,
GERS and Of members of committees of the
Association are given without compensa-
ton.
Contributions may be sent to the Treas
urer. Mr. M. w. Phillips, Buck Lodge
washington address Department of JUS
tice). to whose order checks should be
drawn. or handed to any other officer or
member of committee.
1t is believed that with your solid sup
port the Association will be able to secure
results that will prove of substantial bene-
fit to you and to the people of Montgomery
county in general.
Will you helpY
Suggestions and criticisms are invited
at all times.
Cordially yours.
THE METROPOLITAN BRANCH
COMMUTERS ASSOCIATION.
L. CABELL WILLIAMSON.
J. G. GURLEY. President.
Secretary.
Garrett Park, Md, Jan. 8, 1915.
RefheSda District High School