Evening star., 1896-01-29
ON THE NEAR SIDE
Street Railroad Men Talk With the
Commissioners.
ENFORCING THE new REGULATIONS
Some Misunderstanding as toWhen
They Are Operative.
OTHER DISTRICT AZ
AFFAIRS

The new police regulations are now a
matter of record, and after today will be
strictly enforced.
Yesterday afternoon The Star called at
tention to the most important changes in
the regulations That section relating to
the stoppage of street cars using rapid
transit was the subject of a discussion be-
fore the Commissioners this morning. The
new regulation requires all street railroads
using rapid transit to stop on the near side
of the street. President Dunlop and Super
intendent CARL of the Capital Traction
Company appeared before the Commission
ers this afternoon to inquire about the
matter. While they said they had seen
references to the subject in the newspapers
they had never seen the advertisement of
the regulations, and consequently did not
krow when they would go into effect. The
object Of their visit was to verify the news
paper reports, since they had received no
notification.
The Commissioners stated the new regu-
lations were now in force, and street cars
were required to stop on the near side Of
streets. President Dunlop called attention
to the fact that in Philadelphia and Detroit
during the past week the city had changed
the ordinance requiring the cars to stop
on the near side, and now they were re-
QulTeQ 10 cross the street DelOre stopping.
The reason for this, he explained in reply
to Maj. PowellS question, was because the
citizens objected to walking so far to get
on the cars. This was always the case
when the cars stopped on the near side, for
the grip halted at the crossing and the
trtiilerS were a considerable distance away
However, he was not present, he said to
protest. He was ready to carry out any
regulations the Commissioners might ISSUE,
although he was confident the near side
rule would prove unpopular. Concerning
the placing of gates between the cars, he
did not quite understand what was re-
quired, and did not see what good could
possibly accrue fIom having gates there.
There had never been an accident on his
road due to any lack of protection at that
point. Maj. Powell explained that a per-
son might fall between the cars if that
space were not protected President Dun
lop replied that he was IN favor of max
ing rapid transit cars as safe as possible.
Too much precaution, he thought could not
be exercised in this matter. 1t would cost
$4,000 to do the work, and he did not see
what benefit could be derived therefrom.
Superintendent CARL asked what design
would suit the Commissioners for these
gates, and he was requested to submit de-
signs.
After the conference with the Commits
sioners, orders were evidently issued by the
street railroad officials, for the gripmen on
the avenue cars began stopping on the near
side.
Until the community realizes 1t as in full
force and operation, the new regulation of
the Commissioners requiring all rapid tran
sit street cars to stop for passengers only
on the near-side of a street crossing, there
is apt to be considerable confusion and an
noyance both to the patrons of the roads
and the gripmen and conductors. Espe-
cially is this true Of the feminine portion of
Washing gton's citizens, who, while quick of
perception as regards some matters, usu-
ally pay little heed to such things as mum
icipal ordinances.
tion Company were notified that the police
regulations prescribing where street cars
shall stop had gone into effect, and conse-
quently they must bring all trains under
their charge to stop on the near side of
crossing wherever necessary to stop, Tn
less mechanical difficulties made it imprac-
ticable to do so. This rule is being strictly
observed this afternoon, and its workings
are the cause of many ludicrous incidents
that is, ludicrous to those observant people
who take in such little things of everyday
life, but rather exasperating to the actors
in the little comedy.
The course of proceedings Is somewhat
after this fashion. Two OR three ladies who
have been down shopping will wait ON an
avenue corner until they spy the car they
want, and as has been their custom here
tofore they will walk out to the track on
the far side of the crossing. If seen i'll
time the gripman will bring his train to
halt perhaps fifty feet away on the other
side of the street and beckon vigorously
for the ladies' to walk over and board the
car. Sometimes these friendly advances on
the part of a well-meaning benefactor are
rejected with scorn, the young women es-
pecially refusing to go to any man who so
publicly invites them, even If it Is leap
year. The result is that the car starts up
and is hailed by these same would-be pas
gers when it approaches them, but 1T
is the gripman's tine for revenge and he
1o1ff in int in ho n kyxva r6
over his shoulder and referring them to the
other side of the street.
This is the time when the ladies become
vexed, and perhaps they wish they had
certain accomplishment that has all along
been regarded as exclusively a mans pre-
rogative. Some of them take in the situa-
ton, and with good grace walk across the
street, while others retire to the sidewalk
ard wait for the next car, when the whole
performance is repeated. free Of charge
and without substantial variation. 1t Is
good show, and warranted to drive away
the blues.
become accustomed to the new order of
things in few days, and then everything
will be running smoothly again, and it will
be as natural for them to hail a car on the
where it now is prohibited by law to stop.
Held Up People.
Chief Clerk Sylvester of the police de.
partment was "held up for dinner By two
big white men not far from police head
quarters this afternoon, and he invited
them to go with him, intending to give
them orders for something to eat. But
when the men saw that they were being
led to police headquarters they bolted and
ran. Detectives Horne and Weldon caught
them, and instead Of sending them to a
dining saloon for dinner, they were locked
up as vagrants. They gave their names as
Richard Kelly and Daniel H. Mitchell, and
said they were from New York. Last night
they were holding up pedestrians on
Pennsylvania avenue, and, it is alleged,
they abused those who refused them To-
morrow morning they will be given a hear
ing before Judge Kinlball.
Mysterious Horse.
Sheriff Underwood of Prince Georges
county notified the nolice hara t.,dax- that