The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-26
AFFAIRS OF THE DISTRICT
A Bill to Regulate Size, Weight,
and Speed of Street Cars.
The commissioners Submit n Sub
-Ciauscs to Cover Penalties and
Speed of AutomobiIes-Tem
Tracks During inauguration " eek


ted to the District committees OF both
houses of Congress- the draft of a bill,
which they ask to have sub 5tituted for
House Resolution 1905. TO regulate
the size, weight. etc, of certain street
cars in the District of Columbia The
new bill applies to all the street rail-
ways OF the District, while the original
bill referred only to The cars run upon
the Metropolitan line between Lincoln
Park and Georgetown. The bill presented
, by the Commissioners also includes GER
tain requirements which were not in lud-
ed in the original measure. In their let
ter transmitting the bill to the commit
tees, the Commissioners say:
Soon after the bill was received by the
Commissioners. a public hearing was had
of large number of citizens interested
in The proposed legislation. 1t appeared
at the said hearing that an intense feel
ing had been aroused among the resi-
dents along the line of the Metropolitan
Railway Company, and detailed state
ments were made by representative citi-
zens of injuries to property and depre-
oiation of real estate along the said route,
alleged TO have beeen caused by the use
OF the heavy cars of said company, run
at an excessive and unlawful rate of
speed.
The Commissioners have given the
subject matter much consideration and
have sought to frame a substitute bill,
which they trust may have the effect to
protect the community from a repetition
of such annoyance and injury. without I'M
| necessarily Gripping the railroad com
pany in their laudaDle efforts TO provide
for the Capital City cars of modern style
and convenience. The cars which cause
the complaint are in many respects most
, commendaDle. They provide seats upon
| which the passengers may sit facing the
direction in which the cars are moving.
They are clean and have many modern
| advantages, but by reason of their great
weight when moving at an excessive
speed, they become engines OF injury and
destruction.
The Commissioners are compelled to
state that their efforts to control the
speed Of the cars on the Metropolitan
road by The arrest by members of the
police force of the m0tormen. under the
police regulations. have failed to mitigate
the evils complained of. They believe that
no eff ,ient remedy can be applied except
( by legislation by Congress. They are Of
the opinion that the use OF the large cars
in proper manner would not of necessity
cause damage or injury. but that such
cars, when run at excessive speed. must
| inevitably destroy the peace aud quiet of
!
passes and tend to in1ure property values.
They recommend. therefore, in the ac-
companying Legislation. that the use of
heavy cars be wholly prohibited, except
upon permits issued by the Commissioners
upon a special application therefor, which
permits are to prescribe. among other
things the speed at which cars are 10 be
run. with provision that the permits are
to be revoked in case OF a violation Of
the terms of the same.
They have embedded in the same bill
some necessary provisions in regard to
the equipment Of all cars in the Dis riCt,
and have recommended that ali cars. after
November l. 1901, used upon the streets
and avenues Of the District be properly
heated during cold and inclement weather.
The increasing use CT the hoEseleSs
vehicles or the streets and avenues of the
District renders it necessary for some
leg station to be had for their proper reg
ulat!cn The Commissioners have includ-
ed section which VIII provide the means
OF Identifying any auto-yehicle which may
violate the regula lions as to speed. The
Commissioners regard this as matter
OF great moment. and earnestly urge the
enactment of all OF the proposed legis-
lation."
The bill provides: That, after six
months from the approval of this act 1t
shall be unlawful for any street railway
company. owning or operating any street
railway In the District OF Columbia. TO
place or operate up0n any portion Of Its
line within the limits OF the city of Wash
inston any car Of a greater weight than
ten tons. Provided. That cars weighing
more than ten tons intended wholly for
suburban traffic may be operated over and
upon ouch streets and avenues Of the city
OF Washington as the said Commissioners
may approve, but only upon special per-
IT,. -.
prescribe the weight OF such cars to be
so operated, the rate Of speed at which
they shall operate. and any other condi-
tions necessary Tor the protection Of life
and property which said Commissioners
may see fic 10 incorporate therein; and TO
contain 4 special provision that fo- any
violation Of any Of the terms Of the per-
nit the same shall be revoked. And here
after no cars constructed or purehaseds
after the approval OF this act shall be run
or operated any street railway lines
within the District Of ColuIn bia without
having first been approved by the Com
missioners OF the said District.
That each and every street railway
company operating within the limits OF
the District OF Columbia shall on the
Isl DAY uf January Of each year. submit
to The Commissioners of the District Of
Columbia a time schedule of the running
o. ars On each and every line or branch
| thereof operated by said railway company
within tn. District Of Columbia. And The
| Commission OF the District Of Co
| rulbia shall approve such schedule q
| make slch alterations or changes therein
| as they may consider necessary for the
| interests of the public. And It shall be
unlawful for any Of said railway com
panies to run or operate their cars upon
any other schedule than tina: approved by
| the Commissioners. But nothing in this
act shall be construed 10 prevent said
| railway companies from amending their
| schedules whenever they consider the in
| terests of the public require. but each
| such amendment shall be approved by
| said Commissioners in the manner afore-
| aid before being placed in operation.
| That the cars run upon the street
| railways Of the District Of Columbia shall
at all times be kept in good repair and
| in clean and proper condition. All
| tenders must at all times be in good
| working condition. and no car shall be
| used which, by reason of hattened
| wheel, broken hange. loOsenod parts. or
| other cause. makes or Is liable TO make
| cause, or produce unnecessary noise or
| annoyance upon the public street. During
| cold or Indictment weather IL shall be I'M
awful TO operate any open ear upon any
| OF the said lines CT any closed car which
| shall not be ar,i6cially heated so as to
, preserve . temperature Of at least 60
degrees Fahrenheit after the Isl day Of
| November, 1901.
That for any violation OF any of the
| provisions or requirements of this act. or
| Of any regulation made by the Commits
| sioners II the District Of Columbia under
| the authority .; this act the president,
the vice president, and all OF the directors