Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-12
DISTRICT WITHOUT REMEDY
City Railways Enabled to Ignore Law and
Regulations.
No Penalty Attached to Statute For
bidding the, Carrying of Freights
Matter of Schedules.

complaint has been made to the District
commissioners by Prof Geo. A. Hill that
lew Gays ago car loaded with brick was
observed passing over the Georgetown and
ienieytown railway, closely followed by
one niied with Passengers. In making the
complaint, Prof. Hill called attention to a
notice served on the officers Of the railway
company several months ago, that the at
torney Tor the District had rendered an
opinion to the effect that the charter Of
the company permits 1t to run only pas
senger cars over its line. This opinion, 1t
VIII De recalled, was the result of an ac-
cideht on the road, caused by heavily
ioaded freight car becoming unma nageable
another car
IT Is understood that the Commissioners
WIN. as the result of Prof HIS complaint
invite the attention of the president of the
t company TO the matter, with the request
that ne obviate further action on their part
by ordering the practice stopped.
ms incident, 1t is stated, emphasizes
wnat Is believed to be the compa rative
neipiesshess OF the Commissioners in SUCH
matters While it appears from their at
torney's opinion that the Georget own and
LenieytoWn Railway Company is not au-
thorlzed by law to carry freight, 1t ~ said
no penaity attaches for such violation of
Jaw. ana that therefore. neither the COM
HtiSsioners nor the courts have authority
Oh law TO punish such offense.
Matter of Schedules.
Inc same thing is true, 1t is further said,
ds 10 the running of street railway cars in
Tue district on schedules unsatisfactory to
tite commissioners. 1t is true that the
commissioners are by law authorized to
approve such schedules, but, on the other
mana. 1t Is said that the Commissioners, In
me me event OF schedule being submitted to
thein LOT their approval are powerless to
iequire The railway company submitting
II TO maze any change in 1t deemed neces-
sary or proper by them. In other words it
Is stated. the railway companies of the
Dls'rict are, so far as the Commissioners
are concerned, at liberty to run their cars
on such schedules as the officials of the
companies may determine upon. 1t is also
sa1d that even the courts are powerless to
require the companies to run their cars on
such schedules as may be deemed neces-
sary or proper by the Commissioners or the
public.
An impractfcnble Method.
1t has been suggested that the Commits
s1oners may bring offending railway
company to terms by Withholding from 1t
permits 1t may desire in order to make re-
pairs Oh improvements on its line. but in
answer to this it is contended the COM
pany could compel the Commissioners to
grant TIE permits by an appeal to the
courts I'ot only, 1t is stated, are the
Commissicn ers ,powerless to enforce the
running or tars on schedule believed by
them to be necessary and proper for the
accomEl' cation of the travelling public. but
1t Is also contended that they cannot force
the companies to run cars conducive to the
health and comfort of the public. In fact
1t is said that the railway companies are
masters of the Commissioners, courts and
public. in practically every direction, and
that ony Congress. by additional legisla-
ton. can remedy the evil, and clothe the
Commissioners or courts with authority in
the matter.
1t is understood the Commissioners are
not inclined to ask for such legislative au-
thority, although it is believed that they
would recommend favorable action on any
such measure submitted to them