Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-07
STREET CAR HEARING
Mr.. Berry Advocates His Bill for
Three-Cent Fare.
ALSO URGES VESFIBULING CARS
Many Women Advocate the Latter
Proposition.
PRESIDENT DUNLOP SPEAKS

| Columbla gave a nearing this morning on
the bill introduced by Mr.. Berry of Ken
lucky providing 3-cent fare on the street
railways in this city, all-night cars at IN
tervals Of fifteen minutes, and requiring
street cars to be vestibuied for the motor
men.
Mr.. Berry appeared in behalf of the bill.
He said that the history of railroads in the
District shows that when the Washington
and Georgetown line commenced operation
the stock in that road was down TO SO
cents. 1t went up to 24O.
II do not hesitate to say Mr. Berry as
| serted, that this road would pay each
| year % per cent Of its cost II it had not
been connected with non-paying suburban
roads,
He said 1t was common practice for
railroads when they find they are making
| too much money to bring in other lines to
| reduce the apparent profit.
| Mr.. Berry said that the people living on
| the line of this road have a right to ride
| at a cost which would be a reasonable per-
| centage upon the cost of the road. He said
| that in the city of Detroit the railroads sell
| eight tickets for % cents. His bill was a
| copy of the Detroit act. No class of freight
| is SO profitable as human freight. Human
| freight unloads itself without cost To the
road.
Fare Bound to Be Reduced.
| ''The rate of fare in the large cities of
| the country is bound to be reduced" said
| Mr.. Berry. "and the best place to begin is
| right here in the capital, where there are
| beautiful streets and no heavy grades"
| He said there is an absolute lack Of serv-
| ice in Washington. The system is good
| but there are not enough cars. He had
! seen the cars crowded time and time again,
people hanging on to the platforms who
were entitled to seats.
| MIR. Pearre of the committee suggested
that at certain hours of the day cars were
bound to be more crowded. Mr.. Berry said
| that at those very hours there ought to be
| more cars on the line. He asserted that
the cars would take in SIS trip at that
time.
President Dunlop and Mr. Glover of the
| Capital Traction Company, who were pres
| ent, smiled at this remark
see the gentlemen laughing said Mr..
| Berry. Il know that whenever you run
| up against one of these big corporation
with the press behind it and fine lawyers,
you may expect big fight. We expect it
in this case
Vestibuling Cars.
Mr.. Berry then spoke of the vestibuling
| of cars. He said that protection to the
| motormen is an absolute necessity, Other
cities had adopted vestibules, and there
| was no reason why Washington street car
companies should not do the same. The
| only excuse offered thus far seems to have
DeeH lldC IL would cost the corporation
| little money.
Il am here said Mr.. Berry, "as one Of
the city council of Washington to plead the
cause Of the people. This thing of allow
ing motormen to stand outside in the
storms is a piece of barbarity which moth
| ing but soulless corporation would inflct.
Talk about your balmy climate" said
Mr. Berry, with scorn; this is the most
vacillatfng, miserable and devilish climate
l ever saw in my life
Mr.. Berry discussed the Commissioners
report on the vestibule proposition. He
said the Commissioners admitted it would
be wise to construct the cars in the future
with vestibules, although they saw no ne
| cessity for changing those already built.
Mr.. Pearre questioned Mr.. Berry upon
the public demand for a reduction of fare.
Whether there had been mass meetings or
petitions. Mr.. Berry said there had not
been, but he had been urged by an organ
l7atlon or about 500 ren, representing the
this bill
But If We can't get Scent fares" said
Mr.: Berry, ''Iet us have vestibules and all
night cars. Let us have a system at least
as good as the one in the little town of
Newport, Ky. If Congress waits until the
District Commissioners and the corpora
tions prepare a bill to regulate these
wrongs it will wait long while"
Women Advocate 1t.
Mrs Carrie E. Kent, Mrs Sperry and
Mrs. Kibbey. representing the District of
Columbia Federation OF Women's Clubs,
were present in advocacy of the PROPOSE
ton to vestibule the street cars, which is
contained in a bill offered by Mr. Mercer
Mrs. Kent, addressing the committee said
that she spoke in behalf Of 5000 women of
TINS District, who, in the name of human
ity urge the vestibuling of the street cars.
She knew of one motorman who froze
three fingers last Friday, and of another
motorman who became unconscious at his
post. and the crowded car, rushing onward
was halted by an electrician who happened
to be aboard and saw the danger. She re-
terred to other cities which require the yes
Mrs. Sperry told of the experience of Bal
timore, where the women of the city had
agitated the subject until the railroads
were compelled to put on vestibules She
were no accidents, and the health of the
motormen had improved. She commented
upon the Commissioners report, which said
that vestibules would be good thing for
the future, but not necessary at this time.
President Dunlop Speaks.
President Dunlop Of the CAPITAL Traction
Company then addressed the committee
He said that a few years ago Congress-
had compelled his company to extend the
road less than one-half a mile and build
union station cut out Of solid rock at a
cost Of $A5o,000. This union station was
ostensibly for the accommodation of subur-
ban lines. Not single suburban road has
pSeu UTouSut 1ulO IL, anu the station Is Oh
no use to the company except the lower
floor. which is used for the storage of cars.
He said that in this and in other build
fngs used for the same purpose the space
had been calculated so closely that there
is not enough room for the handling of
cars If one inch should be added to the
length of them. To put vestbules on the
cars would increase the length from four
teen to sixteen inches on each end. They
could not be handled in the buildings at
present owned by the company.
Mr. Dunlop said that the company had
tried to get loops on its 14th street lines
termini. but Congress had not granted the
privilege This was one reason why the
service was hampered at certain hours
I'VE have cars in the barns" said Mr..
Dunlop, land would be glad to put them
out. but what's the use if we can't shift
them at the termini?' He said it required
one and three-quarter minutes to shift a
train. and that is just the length Of time
between trains at the crowded hours
Never a foot of extension that we have
asked for has Congress granted u.s." said
Mr.. Dunlop.
Health of MOtormen Good.
Turning then to the question Of vesti-
bu1es. Mr.. Dunlop asserted that the health