The evening times., 1896-02-24
FREE TRANSFERS OPPOSED.
Street Railroad Officials State
Their Reasons.
PUBLIC HEARING GIVEN
HEARING GIVEN
No One Appeared In support of the
Measure-ThcMag
They Cannot Afford to Do It-Mr.
Crosby Suggests Te@t-Mr. Phil
lips Begs a Years Post ponement.

| evidence In the presence OF The District Com
| missioners today. this time to discuss House
| bill as45, commonly known as the free
| transfer measure"
The bill was introduced In the House Janu-
ary Z by MIR. Baker OF New Hampshire. and
provides, in terms, that the Anacostia and
Potomac River Railway Company, the
| Brightwood. Capital Traction. Columbia,
lexington and Soldiers Home, Georgetown
and Tenieytown, Metropolitan. Washington,
| Alexandria and Mount Vernon. and the
Washington and Great Falls Electric Rail-
way Companies, respectively, and all
| street railroads now or hereafter chartered
OF onernted in the District, shall issue a
free transfer to any passenger requesting
! the same at any place within said District
! where the railroad upon which the passenger
| has paid fare intersects any other road.
Ono C tho conditions prescribed is that the
tr1nsfcr shall be presented within fifteen
| minutes OF the time at which 1t is ssued.
MANY WERE PRESENT.
The hearing was attended by President
Dunlop of the Capital Traction Company,
President Phillips OF the Metropolitan,
President Griswoid OF the Anacostia and
President Crosby OF the Georgetown and
Tenleytown.
rs there anybody present 10 represent
the bill?" inquired President Ross.
No one responded.
IF not," continued the Commissioner,
after a pause, I'VE will hear those who
are opposed to it."
President Girls swold of the Anacostia road
arose and said the effect OF the bill would
be. in his judgment, the extinction OF his
company. He spoke from experience. he
said. In 1898 his company had entered
| into a liberal system OF transfers, and at
the close OF year found that the road
had carried 24T,576 more passengers
than in the year before. while the receipts
proved to be 81 ,325 less than those OF the
year before. II means, he said, the carry
ing of passengers for 1-2 cents each,
and no suburban road can stand it. 1t
would ruin each OF them.
President Dunlop said Mr.. Griswold had
shown that his road cannot exist under the
proposed system, and ne indorsed what was
said as to other suburban lines. His own
company, the Capital Traction, cannot carry
passengers for 8 cqnts. and no road should
be obliged to conduct a traffic for less than
what 1t costs. Congress is compelling the
substitution OF rapid transit methods for
horse power, and at this juncture that is a
considerable addition to the expenses.
THE TINE is NOTNOw.
"The time may come,' he said, when
we can carry passengers for one cent each.
don't know; but certainly that time is not
now"
Mr.. Dunlop objected to the provision
for the collection of fines upon suits that
may be brought by passengers for alleged
,.s-1,4 ID h.
an arbitrary provision. and by all means
should be stricken out.
~ shall ask for a adverse report" was
Mr.. Duuiop's concluding remark.
For once President Phillips agreed with
the Capital. Traction chief. He objected
to the House bill, as well as the Mcmillan
bill introduced in the Seante. He thought
the matter had been tersely stated by Mr..
Dunlop. 1t cost his road 4. 4 cents to carry
every passenger on its line last month.
The daily receipts last month, he said,
over expenses amounted to S24- and he
had in his hand sworn statement to
that effect as made by the secretary.
Then you must have lost money, con-
sidering your total expenses ventured
Col Truesdell.
NO, sir; we came out even
How can you say so, considering the
number of passengers carried Free in
quired Commissioner Truesdell.
I'VE take no note of transfers; 1 allude
to the pay passengers"
Mr.. Phillips then explained the charges
that were included in his statement as
against receipts.
The voluntary system OF transfers, and
the system required by act of Congress,
each well understood by the public, were
then explain in detail. 1t transpired that
two suburban roads-the Brightwood and
Georgetown, and Tenleytown. respectively
have the privilege of transfer with the
Capital Traction and the Metropolitan.
Mr.. Phillips stated, however, that the
transfer traffic with his road did not amount
to $40 a day.
President Crosby said he had been dis
appointed In the outcome Of the arrange
ment for transfers.
He hoped the reduced rate would induce
increased travel, but it had not. His first
experience with his line, about year ago,
was to pay the interest upon the bonds.
and the last, three weeks ago, except his
daily routine as president, was to pay
the interest on She bonds both times from
his own private funds.
WHAT MR.. CROSBY SUGGESTED.
He did not believe the Commissioners
should force such condition upon the
roads. He would be glad, he said, to
perfect q summer schedule OF cheap rides
as an experiment. with the privilege of
receding from it; but to be Obliged to
adopt 1t would prove to be a hardship.
Everything done toward lettering the
service would be raid for out of private
resources.
In response to an inquiry respecting the
cost per passenger per mile of the Capital
Traction traffic, Mr.. Dunlop said he could
not say, definitely. but it costs the company
within fraction of cents for every passeu-
ger carried, and the company has no interest
charges nor does 1t in clude edividendsas fixed
charges.
All the railroad men excepted to the pro-
visions for police court prosecutions as pro.
vided for in the House bill.
The Senate bin provides that the lawful
rate of fare shall not exceed five cents per
passenger: that one transfer shall be is
sued; that the Commissioners shall pre-
scribe the places where such transfers shall
be conducted, and that all street car lines
shall sell six tickets for twent five cents.
Mr.. Dunlop objected to the provision
authorizing the Commissioners TO locate
the transfer stations, and said in a general
way that if the legislation prevails, as pro-
posed, 1t would result in slower rapid tran
sit. in the reduction OF ne number OF trains.
The discussion closed with an appeal
from President Phillips for postpone
ment of the whole matter for at least one