Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-10
RIGHT OF WAY.
Funerals Must Not Obstruct Passage
of Street Cars.

OF street cars.
Judge Kimbal favors rapid transit, and
he says that the law giving street cars the
right of way on their own tracks is to be
enforced. The question came up in court
| this morning in a case against Thomas A.
Costello of the firm of Collins & Costello.
undertakers, for an alleged violation of
| the law, it being charged that while IN
| charge CT q funeral procession the cars on
| the Columbia railroad were delayed ilf-
teen minutes between North Capitol street
| and the eastern terminus of the road
| This particular obstruction is charged to
| have occurred only few days ago when
a funeral moved along the tracks of the
road it's way to Mount Olivet. There
were band of music and soldier COM
parry also turned out. Because Of the SHOW
on the street and the bad condition of the
thoroushfare account of the laying OF the
cable track the procession moved over the
newly paved part of the street between the
tracks. The men in charge of the car be-
hind the procession made no effort to
have the carriages get off the ira cks, nor
were the drivers or any one In charge OF
the funeral asked to rid Ike track OF the
obstruction.
Judge Kimball read the section of law
under which the prosecution was brought,
as follows
Street cars within the District of Co
lumbia shall have the right of way upon
their respective tracks, and no person
shall obstruct or delay the movements
thereOI at lawful Idl1 VI opSe' ASiSH
after provided. except the authorized Off
Gals of the District offColumbia In the
discharge OF public duty unless otherwise
provided 80
Commenting on the law, Judge Kimball
said that ample provision Is made for
funerals, and there is MO reason why they
should interfere with the movements of
street cars. Funerals crossing car tracks
and street crossings have the right of
way, and vehicles are not permitted to
pass through them. But when funerals
ard street cars are going the same direc-
ton the cars have the right of way and
are not to be INSTRUCTED in any manner,
except as provided by law.
H street northeast beng the only paved
street in that section north of Maryland
avenue and being the direct route to sew
eral cemeteries 1.-THE funeral professions
naturally go that way. This was explain
ed to the court, and the street car men said
that only few days ago another funeral
followed the track from 9th street north
west to 18th street east, and caused
serious delay to the cars.
Undertaken Costello said that on the oc-
oasion charged he only had charge Of the
hearse and three carriages, and he had
no control over the movements of the
soldiers and band, nor over the fifteen car
riages furnished by private parties. On
the other occasion mentioned he said there
were 1902 carriages from Georgetown and
he did not have control over them
Judge Kimbal told the undertaken that
hereafter he had better not let the funerals
interfere with the rights of the street cars,
but in this case he could not hold him, for
the reason that he did not have charge of
charge of the carriages Judge kimball
said he would certainly have imposed a
fine.