The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-08-22

The dissension in the District due to the
fact that the Washington Tracdoa and
Electric Railway has curtailed the trans
fer privileges hitherto enjoyed by the pab-
lie, recaHsa prophecy made by Repre-
sentative Cowherd of Missouri on the floor
of the House on Monday, May p, during
the pendeney of the bill to consolidate
the street railways of the District of CO.
numbia
Mr.. Cowherd sought TO amend the bill
so that the company might be obliged by
law to establish and maintain a system of
transfers, to be approved by the Commits
sioners. at. all connecting points on the
lines. giving a continuous ride over the
lines fer one fare. Mr. Babcoek, Chairman
Of the House Committee on the District
of Columbia, opposed the amendment in
the form proposed. or an amendment in
any other form, which would take away
from the railway company its right TO
regulate the transfer system. His aFgu-
ment was that the companies OF the Dis
trict had always been liberal in the matter
of transfers and that people had 40 ground
for fear that the company would reverse
its policy.
Mr.. Cowherd met this by saying that the
companies do give transfers now at near
" every connecting point. but the gentle
men back of this measure contend that II
is a hardship upon them. They say tnaL
they ought not 10 be compelled to do II,
and they say shat they had gone wild on
the transfer system. They propose 10
make some changes. What, do not know
I propose by this amendment 10 regulate
it so that. whatever the changes they GO
make they cannot change 1t so that a
man cannot ride continuously as long as
he keeD5 going in one direction-peThapS
il would be better TO make ii one direc-
tica-b2t let il be a continuous rice, TO
De regulated by the Commissioners
Mi Cowherd's proposed Amendment was
defeated or a division by 90 10 81 He ask
ed fer teIlers. but they were not demand
et bv a sufficient number CT members OF
the House
In the course OF the debate on Mr.. Cow
herds proposed amendment to House Dill
1859 providing for the consolidation OF
nearly all the street railway lines in the
District the following remarks were mace:
Ar Cowherd: Mr.. Speaker, the HOUSE
will at once recognize that this Is bill
providing for the consolidation Of the lines
in the Metropolitan system. THIS lnciuaes,
a. l remember it, some eleven tines /
have never thought that tne best service
was TO be obtained by consolidation bat
under the amendments OF the committee
lzis permits consolidation Of the Nero
DC5stan lines ard cuts out any right = con-
so!i5atc With the Capital Traction Co-uPf-
~. thus gtvihgzus TWO competing systems,
which I t=Iizzk VII secure all the belslts
10 Ike public service that can be gotteE
FROM comp petition
''No@-. il seems TO ne that the Me-ropoi.-
tan system can afford 10 give 10 the psopte
Of the District ride over that system tor
ore fare provided tbs regulation j. SO
he5szd about that q man ca9Eot ao.:ole
hack on tEem. or. as they call IL TiGe n g
circle. Nov I have attempted 10 cover
thst in this amendment. It Is very dithcult
thing 10 ward properly, because, OF course,
ycu cannot regular transfer system IN
little amendment to q bill For that rea-
sen l have put in the provision that this
! system OF transfers must be arranged to
give > transfer at all connecting points on
all the lines mentioned in the bill, and the
system must be submitted 10 the Conmls-
sicuers Of the District OF Columbia Tor
their approval I 90 this pITposely. at
tempting 10 leave q discretion in the Com
missioners.. in order that The public may
receive the best service. and in order that
ne oppressive transfers may he put upon
the company.
New should like 20 have the attention
OF gentlemen Of the committee This IS a
matter of j good deal OF interest to the
people Of the District. TIL, 7,nf' men now
Interested in the road cain hat they
ought not &c be compelled - give any ar
bitrary transfers; that it ought 10 be left
to them TO arrange. l sUJati5 to ne MEM
bers of the House that nearly every man
here representing q city viii be able to
state that under the arrangement in his
city the people can ride practically from
ore part of the city limits 10 another Tor
a single fare. As was stated before our
committee this viii compel at the longest
a ride Of about eleven miles That is
eqUaled, I know. in ST. Louis. believe II
is more than equaled in Chicago and it is
almost equaIed in Kansas City; and, as
say. it is practically equaled in every city
in the country l submit that that is little
enough to ask this consolidated road to
give to the people for the privileges we
give them in this bill.
Mr.. MUdd-If the gentleman Will SC
frame his amendment as to leave the mat
ter of what transfers shall be provided to
the Commissioners, I think it would be
unobjectionabIe-
Mr. Beuamy-Is the purpose OF this
amendment that one fare would give
transportation to any part OF the city, say
to Forest Glen or Cabin John Bridge or
ether termini Of these roads?
Mr.. CowheTd-As I understand the mat