The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-28

The legislation proposed by the Com
missioners. relative to the regulation OF
the size. weight. and speed Of street cars
operated in the District, has attracted
good deal OF attention among the people
Of the city. One Of the largest attended
and most representative delegations that
ever appeared before the Commissioners
was shat which went to the District Build
ing to protest against the use of the
large yellow cars on the F Street line
of the Metropolitan Company. In addi-
tion 10 this the Commissioners have re-
ceiyed scores of letters from residents Of
the District complaining of the heavy and
noisy cars run at great speed over the
various street railway lines of the city.
The Commissioners were overwhelmingly
convinced that legislation ought TO be en-
acted that would give them authority TO
regulate the matters complained of. and
TO provide penalties that would cause the
street railway officials to heed regula-
lions prescribed by the municipal author
tiles.
gentleman in the employ of the Dis
trict Government. who has much to do
in connection with the electric and steam
railroads operated in the District, eX-
pressed himself freely with regard to the
proposed legislation to a Times reporter
He said that the company against which
the chief complaints had been made, had
brought the trouble on themselves by
openly ignoring the regulations in force
relative TO the allowable speed of cars.
He said that the company winBed at the
violations of the law on the part OF its
motormen and he expressed the belief
that instructions more or less explicit
were given TO the motormen TO run the
cars little beyond the prescribed limit
of speed.
Most people" this man said do not
realize the difficulties in the way OF as
pertaining the exact speed al which a ear
is being run There is required two men
stationed at points on the street several
hundred feet apart provided with stop
watches. Then, after the time is taken,
the distance must be carefully measured.
This distance, say 500 feet in three sec
onds, worked out ma hema tically gives the
rate OF speed per hour. or course the
policemen are not armed with stop
watches and steel tape with which to
solve this problem, and yet to make .
case in the Police Court something of the
kind is required for evidence you know,
cannot be hearsay or the opinion of a
casual observer in matters of this kind.
THE present law and regulations pre-
scribe that the motorman who runs his
car beyond the speed allowed shall be
answerahle for the violation of the reGu-
lations Now nobody wants the motorman
fined. He is himself working under pres
sure from above. He is required to make
his trips within certain time, and right
here. in placing the motorman under such
a pressure. the company is all the time
offering a bonus on high speed and vio-
lation OF the letter Of the law. What Is
needed is for the penalty clause OF the
law TO strike higher. The president and
directors OF the company are the ones who
should be made to feel the punishment OF
the violations OF the law regulating street
car operation. II they were brought into
the Police Court few times and fined
for the fast running Of cars on their lines
the thing would be stopped at once. They
wouldn't like IL.
But l think the bill proposed by the
Commissioners does not go far enough.
Rather il goes too far in one direction
and not far enough in another. The big
cars would not be SO Objectionable If they