The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-18
NEW TRANSFER REGULATIONS.
Prof. Hill Declares the Company Ex-
ceeds Its Legal Authority.

The Commissioners have received a let
ter from Prof. George A. Hill, OF the
United States Naval Observatory, relative
to the right of the Washington Traction
and Electric Company to issue certain
regulations regarding transfers. Prof Hill
takes the ground that The company mas
exceeded its legal authority in the matter.
Referring to the fact that the Wash
ington Traction Company has issued GER
tain Instructions to its conductors, and also
has posted in It's cars notices that trans
fers will be given only at the time the
fare is paid. and a transfer will not be
given on a transfer, | ask the Honorable
Commissioners upon what authority Of law
the Washington Traction Company as
sumes the right to issue and enforce such
instructions, as far as they dictate TO a
passenger the conditions under which
transfer will be issued. and also what ac-
tion should be taken by a passenger Upon
refusal Of the conductor employed by that
company to Issue a transfer at any time
1t might be desired.
The question OF transfers from and 10
all connecting lines IN the District of Co
lumbia has been definitely decided by the
act Of Congress OF August 2. 1894. and it
ests OF the public have not been protected.
as the act declared they should be. In the
present agitation OF transfers
THE Metropolitan and the Tenleytown
Roads. the former and the Brightwood
Road. not to speak OF others. have been
brought within the control OF the act by
the Washington Traction Company. wnen
1t secured permission to connect the
several roads as 1t has done, SO that
10 10 har
one is surprised at the arrogance OF that
company in assuming TO Issue such in
structions to its employees, and totally 10
ignore the Commissioners who are the re-
sponsible head in all municipal affairs in
the District
THE part OF the law that covers the
whole question OF transfers. to which l
would invite your attention. will be found
in section 5 OF the act of August 2, 1894.
and is as follows:
That the Metropolitan Railway Com
pany is hereby authorized and required TO
make reciprocal transfer arrangements
with street railroad companies whose lines
now connect with It's lines and to furnish
such facilities therefor as the public con-
Yenience may require
The Metropolitan Railroad prior TO the
time 1t passed into the hands of the Wash
lngton Traction Company, and the latter
since lNat time, mas carried out Inc pro-
visions of that law, as is the case with the
Ninth Street line and the Columbia road,
and no question has ever been made in re-
gard to transfers from one to the other.
The following which Is the closing portion
of the act mentioned, indicates that 1t was
the intention Of Congress. in the event Of
any railroad in the District Of Columbia
making connection with another they
should also issue transfers.
Provided that every street railway
company In the District OF Columbia whose
lines connect or whose lines may here
after connect with the lines of any other
railway company, is hereby subject to the
same requirements as to transfer and
trackage arrangements. upon similar con-
ditions, as in this section provided in the
case of the Metropolitan Railway Com
pany and the lines connecting herewith
in joining the several separate roads. as
has been done by switches and other con-
nections, and also using the several tracks
of those roads in common it would seem
the Washington Traction Company has
clearly brought the railroad SO connected
within the province of the act above quot
ed. and in view OF that | would be graft
fed to be informed upon what grounds the
Washington Traction Company assumes the
responsibility of ignoring the law, and what
action is necessary when ask for trans
fer on a transfer to compel them 10 give it
to me"