Evening star., 1894-03-20
T lME FOR ACTION
Senator Gallinger Takes Humane View
of Car Tenders
His Resolution to Find IL Numeroui
Accidents Cannot BE Avoided
Question of Speed.

Ine Senate District committee will in
tew days, begin an investigation of great
interest to the people of Washington, and
10 the stockholders of the companies op-
eratlng street railway lines within the
District. This investigation will be tie fruit
or resolution introduced by Senator Gal
linger, as follows:
RESOLVED, That the committee on the
District of Columbia be directed to inyesti-
gate and report. as promptly as may be.
whether, In their opinion, the street rail-
ways OF the city of WASHINGTON propelled
by cable and electric power have adopted
ana are using the most effective tenders
LOT the protection Of human life and limb
ana II they are not SO using the best avail
able appliances, what remedy should he
invoked to compel them to do so'
Ihis resolution, which was at once adopt-
Gu, was inspired by the fatal accidents that
occurred iast week on the Chevy Chase
ilnger In introducing the resolution also
handed in clipping from The Star of Ia st
evening containing the leading editorial on
the subject OF these accidents Senator
Haiihser later said to Star reporter:
Time for Action.
1T seems to me to be about time for
something to be done to find out lust how
far these railroads that are enjoying such
valuable franchises have taken precautions
to prevent destruction of life. Here we
have corpora ton running cable cars a, a
very high rate of speed through the streets
or the city with absolutely no protection in
the way OF tenders. This company has one
or the most valuable franchises in the
Onlted states. l do not know, of course
what the profits are. but l surmise that they
are not far from 80 or 40 per cent They
seem TO be run on the principle of getting
as much out Of the public as possible with
nrft tn,,1a IL ~
matter of protection to the citizens Not
long ago woman was killed at the Balti-
more and Ohio railroad station terminus Of
the 18th street line, when in my Judgment
the horrible accident could have been pre-
vented had there been a switchman employ
ed at that point Petty economy is out
rageous, and these more recent accidents
on the electric roads are now serving to
point out the danger that the citizens are
running every day.
Something Necessary.
"Of course, 1 do not pretend to know now
what device is considered the best or
even what can be done in this regard, but
am certain that something can be lone
more than has been DONE un1 t seems to
be incredible that there should be no means
of so fitting the cars that the Sc accidents Is
can be prevented. To be sure as long as
children play in the streets there will be
accidents, but i do not think that II the
cars would furnish adequate Tenders there
would be so many lives lost. These COM
panies are given the right TO use our city
streets, right which we deny to the steam
railroads, which are compelled to run
through the fields and to guard all of their
exposed points with gates, switchmer and
1agmen. l think. therefore. that the street
railroad companies should BE made to ad-
just themselves to city coniitions and to
prevent as far as possible these shocking
and distressing accidents.
Question of SUeed
II see now that in one point my resolu-
tion does not go far enough. This Is the
matter Of speed. think that the corrpa-
nies should be restricted in this matter and
that the speed Of the cars. especially around
curves, should be materially lessened. The
main point, however, about the investiga-
tion will be questions Of car protection and
l think that a great deal of valuable IN
formation can be obtained from the m
quiry. At all events, should nothing be
done by the railroad companies and should
these accidents continue there will be a
protest louder than any that has yet been
raised and that will force itself upon the
attention Of the companies in n way that
cannot be mistaken. Should This inquiry
fail l am sure there will be other mean 8
to accomplish proper result. am not
opposed to corporations. have been quot
ed, in fact, on the other side; erroreously
quoted, l might say. in passing. But cor
porations must be made to feel the obliga-
tions which they owe to the public and
take proper steps for the preservation of
the interests of their patrona"