Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-24
STAR MONDAY, FEBRUARY a.
DISTRICT AFFAIRS
Hearing on the Free Street Railway
Transfer Bill.
PROPOSITION has been POSTPONED
Merchants Oppose Plan to Compel
Use of Broad Tires.
OF ER LOCAL NOTES

HER LOCAL NOTES
House bill 3345. ITO require the street
railroads in the District of Columbia to
issue and receive transfers and for ether
purposes" was the subject of public
hearing before the Commissioners this
| morning.
| The object Of the bill is to require all
| street railroads to issue free transfers to
| any passenger requesting the same at any
| street or place where the railroad inter-
| Sects with another. The bill specifically
provides that the Capital Traction Com
pany and the Columbia Railroad Company
| shall issue and receive transfers at 18th
| street and New York avenue and between
the Capital Traction Company and the
lexington and Soldiers Home Railroad
Company similar arrangement shall exist
| at the corner Of 10th and G streets north
west. The transfers are redeemable at
| 2 cents each between the railroad COM
panies.
| the representatives of the following rail-
| roads were present: Capital Traction Com
pany, George T. Dunlop, president; Metro
politan Railroad Company, Samuel w.
] A1A1e&SSSSAsS N~~>N
Company, H. A. Griswold, president, and
Tenleytown road, President O. T. Crosby.
Commissioner Ross called for the advo-
Gates of the bill, but no one responded.
Anacostia Objects.
President Griswold opposed the bill. 1t
would be the death of the Anacostia road,
he said. In 1895, hoping to increase its
business, the Anacostia road had entered
into free transfer arrangement with the
| "
end of the year 1t was found that the road
had carried 247, 576 more passengers than
it had during the preceding year, but its
receipts had fallen of $1,325.54. He did not
believe such system Of transfers as that
contemplated by tho bill was possible in
Washington. The conditions here were diff
ferent from most other cities. The people
here were great walkers and bicycle riders.
The passage Of the bill would wipe out a
large portion of the tracks of the Ana
costa road. He was certain that no rail-
road could carry passengers at liz cents
each.
President Dunlop's Views.
President Dunlop of the traction company
followed. He referred to the conditions of
the several railroads opeI ating in the city
and said they would not show that a trans
fer system such as was contemplated by
the bill was possible. The railroad question
in Washington at the present time was in
|
Congress that did away with horse cars,
and If they passed would put the roads to
enormous expense. The present fare was
needed. The records of the Capital Trac-
ton Company would show that 1t was i'm
possible for it to carry passengers at 1-12
cents. 1t cost within a fraction OF 8 cents
to carry each one. The road has recently
added seven miles of unproductive road to
its road, from which the receipts did not
pay expenses. To make a further cut by
making free transfers would seriously Grip
pie the road. He criticised several features
of the bill and urged the Commissioners to
report adversely upon the same.
Ais. 4resident Phillips.
President I.Ll;ius closed with an argyll
ment against the bill. The railroads Of the
city ere in a forniulative state. The roads
were cropping in the dark, and with their
futures yet unknown. no one knew what
to expect.
when it is costing US 40 cents to
carry each passenger, as 1t does the Metro
politan road. we arc certainly In no situa-
ton to enter into transfer arrangement
The Commissioners have inquired par
tieulariy Into this statement, but President
Philips exhibited sworn statement, which
showed, further, that the receipts over all
expenditures for the past month was s24.49
per day, against which, he said, must be
charged ali interest on outstanding indebt-
edness. The people of Washington were
getting the best railroad facilities in the
country.
Not Comparisons.
Major Powell called attention to the rail-
road fares charged in Detroit, where eight
tickets for twenty-five cents were sold.
President Griswold said they were wreck
ing themselves doing it. and President Dun
Top stated that in Savannah, Ca, they were
selling two tickets for one cent, while the
other road was selling tickets at a cent
|
the roads were engaged in a war. PresI-
dent Crosby Of the Tenleytown road SAID
that the transfer arrangements now in
vogue with the Capital Traction Co., where
by the latter transferred with his road at
eight tickets for a quarter, was a great
disappointment to HIM. He was certain
that a decrease of the fare in the winter
was disastrous to suburban roads. The
Tenleytown road had never paid a cent of
dividend, and his first and last connection
with it was in paying out of his priva te
funds the interest on q bonded debt of
$7O,OOO.
Another Bill.
1t was suggested, after the hearing had
closed, that the Senate bill 749, introduced
by Senator Mcmillan, be taken up and
discussed. This was, with the exception
of several small provisions. in line with the
bill just heard.
President Dunlop called the matter I'D
to the issuance OF transfers, which pro-
vided that the Commissioners shall pre-
scribe the places where and the method
whereby such transfers shall be conducted.
He desired to be put on record as opposed
to issuing transfers on cars. 1t would
mean a great delay at functions and de-
stroy rapid transit. President Phillips said
his objections to the House bill applied
equally to the Senate bill.
The Commissioners Immediately went into
executive session at the close of the hear
ing, and agreed to recommend a postpone
ment of the subject Of free transfers un-
til some time later, when the condition of
the roads would justify 1t.
Reading Matter for the Sick.
The superintendent of charities has laid
before the Commissioners a proposition to
establish in different sections of the citv-
especially at the railroad stations and places
Of public concourse, a number Of boxes to
receive magazines. newspapers and other
periodicals, which, when readers are
through with them and wish to devote them
to some charitable use. will be distributed
Nicotine NeutraliZed