Evening star., 1899-01-28
MOTORMEN PAY FINES
Employees of Street Railways Punished for
Rapid Running of Cars.

Because of numerous complaints made to
the police concerning the fast running of
electric cars on both the Capital Traction
and Metropolitan roads, Major Sylvester
recently issued a general order to the force
instructing the officers to pay more atten-
ton to such violations of law. Members of
the police bicycle squad went out in obe-
dience to the order, and early last night
several cases were made. This morning the
defendants appeared in the Police Court
and answered to the charges.
Motorman William Fl. Esier of the Metro
politan road was defendant in the first of
the cases called. 1t was charged by Police
man Burrows that the defendants car was
running at the rate of fifteen miles an hour
on III street near the Arlington Hotel
DO you want to make an cxplanation?"
the mOtorman was asked.
mo, sir" was his answer, II have moth
ing to say"
Five dollars" said the judge
Frank f. Jane. motorman on the Capt.
tai Traction road. was the next defendant
and he pleaded guilty.
His car was running between eighteen
and twenty miles an hour in front of the
White House." Policeman Potter said
Il don't see how ! could have made such
speed" said the defendant for ! lost six
minutes on the half trip
Probable Increase of Penalty.
For little while" said the court Il am
going to impose 50 fines, but If this fast
running of cars Is continued the penalty
Will be increased This is a good regulation,
and motormen must not violate it,
Jane paid the fine of So imposed
William kain, John L. Ady and Ludwell
L. Smith, all of the Metropolitan road were
tried together Kain and Ady were charg-
ed with having violated the law on Con-
necticut avenue. Both cars, 1t was alleged
exceeded eighteen miles an hour In the
case of Motorman Smith 1t was said his
/ 4. m or - fBa,.
Arlington Hotel at the rate of sixteen miles
an hour
Secretary Coleman of the railroad COM
pany made a plea for the defendants He
said he thought the men had not knowinpIv
violated the law. To make these men pay
81 Of their little earnings, he said was a
hardship, and he asked the mercy of the
court.
Judge Kmball, commenting on the case
said the law must be enforced.
The judge said he had seen a number of
narrow escapes in consequence of fast
| speed on the roads. and he thought 1t was
about time this danger was eliminated
An accident resulting from violation of
the law, the judge said, might cost the
company as much as 100000, and the COM
pany is therefore interested in seeing that
the law is not violated. The Judge said he
thought the company should have some in
strument on each car whereby the motor
men could gauge the speed of their cars.
The lives of passengers and train men
afike, he said. are jeopardiZed by the reck-
less running of the cars.
Effort Unsuccessful.
Mr.. Coleman said the company had made
every effort to get such an instrument The
company he said. recognized the danger
and knows the responsibility attached to
accidents resulting from excessive speed
OF cars. He SAID the motormen have GER
tain time to make certain points on the
road sometimes. because CT the frequent
stops. time is lost. and the cars are prob
ably run fast for a short distance to make
| up the lost time. The limit of the fast
running Is so small. he said that the i'm
position of fines on the. men is a hardship
Judge kimball said he admitted this and
| disliked very much to have to impose these
| fines SO long. how ever as the law is on
| the statute books 1t is to be enforced. The
| defendants were fined IS each.