Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-16
THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
COMMISSIONERS FAypR RESTRICT
I'VE LEeIsLATIoSttRY CONGRESS.
Hearing Given Interested Citisens
Today-Provisiohs Of the
Bill Approved.

Bill Approved.
TSI
At hearing given by the District Com
missioners today on Senate bill 5S49, to
regulate the size. weight, equipment and
speed of certain street cars in the District,
and for other purposes, which bill is identi-
cal with that introduced in the House and
numbered 1905, a number of prominent
citizens appeared in support of the measure,
| among them being Judge Walter s. Cox,
Mr.. Fred B. MCGUIRE, DR.. H. c. Yarrow,
Mr.. A. K. Paris. Mr.. Nathaniel Wilson.
| Mr.. W. c. Dodge. Capt. John Mullan. Mr.
F. P. B. Sands, Mr.. Jesse H. Wilson, Mr..
E. 1. Resented, Mr.. T. E. Roessle and 9TH
ers. The bill makes 1t unlawful from and
after date of its passage Ter any street rail-
way company to run upon that part of the
line Of the Metropolitan railroad between
Lincoln Park and 36th street west any
cars of greater weight than nine tons,
and that thereafter the cars on said line
shall be of the size, weight style and equip
| ment of those heretofore operated on this
line and known as the green cars" Each
of the gentlemen mentioned spoke In auvo-
cacy of the enactment Of the bill, and the
Commissioners intimate ted that not only will
an early report be made by them to Con-
gress, but that they will recommend in theiI
report favorable action thereon.
The bill also provides that the cars on
this line shall not be run faster than twelve
miles an hour, and that no car having a
broken fange or f1attened wheel shall be
taken or started from the termini or car
barns of the line and operated thereon. A
penalty of a fine of 500 is proposed for
weight, size and equipment Is run on the
line. and like penalty for violations of
the provisions relating to speed and broken
fanges or hattened wheels, the Commits
tn
is strictly enforced
Extended to All Lines.
Each speaker explained that the pro-
posed law met with his approval, although
Mr.. Dodge, who also complained Of the
heavy cars of the G street line, suggested
that the Commissioners recommend that
the proposed law be made applicable to all
street railway companies operating cars
within the city limits. This suggestion was
approved by other speakers and 1t can
be stated that the Commissioners will so
recommend when they submit their report
| on the bill, which will be- it is understood
| in day or two. With their report they
will transmit several petitions, signed by
about every one on the line between Dupont
circle and Georgetown and by very many
other people residing on parts of the road
protesting against the operation of heavy
cars, their alleged unlawful speed and
other incidental disagreeabe features.
The speakers at the hearing left no doubt
in the minds of the Commissioners tha;
4 they are thoroughly of the opinion that the
running Of these heavy yellow cars amounts
| to an intOerabe nuisance. Dr. YarroW
| the first speaker. said no reasonable person
| can doubt this. He spoke of the high rate
| of speed at which these cars are run or
the Metropolitan line. saying that there is
no complaint against the police authorities
! in the matter, as it is believed that they
/ have done everything possible to prohibit
the running OF these cars at unlawful ra e.
| of speed In some unknown way, said DR.
4arrOW, the men on the line become aware
| when they are being watched by the police
| men and govern the running of their cars
| accordingly. The doctor not only com
| planned of the high rate of speed of the
| cars, but also of their heavy weight, stating
| that they shake houses, crack walls anC
! ceilings, and to bis own personal knowl-
| edge have broken crockery ware in houses
| on the line.
Other Charges Made.
/ Dr. Yarrow also complained that the cars
| are not run with regard to the safety OF
| the lives of the passengers, and he added
that passenger can hardly get on the car
much less reach seat, before 1t is violent
| ly started and the passenger staggers to
| his seat as best he can He also charged
| that the cars are not run with respect to
| the convenience of the patrons of the road
| as they will fly by waiting people even
| though the cars are but partly filled He
! further charged that the conductors and
mOtOrmen are bOoriSh and in that respect
greatly unlike those formerly employed on
the line. Property along the line has he
submitted, deprecated at least 33 per cent
since these heavy yellow cars displaced the
green cars and rest has become practical
ly impossible during those very hours of
the night when it is most important and
desirable to obtain 1t.
Regarded as Nuisance.
Judge Cox followed DIR. Yarrow, stating
that he considers the heavy summer and
winter cars not only nuisance which
ought to be abated, but. as operated on the
Metropolitan line, against the law. Not
only has he felt his own house vibrate.
said the judge, but also the Columbian
University building, ats15th and H streets.
If this nuisance is to be tolerated, remarked
Judge Cox, the advantages of Washington
as a place of residence VIII be destroyed.
The fudge also spoke of the cars passing
waiting people, and of the cars being sud
denly started while passengers are passing
from the platform to their seats. He in
dorsed the tatementS made by DR.. Yarrow
as to the deprecia ton of property along
the line and as to the destruction Of rest.
Mr.. A. K. Paris read number of let
tiers from persons living along the line, IN
which the writer's enlarge upon the COM
plants rected and begged for relief. Mr..
Paris stated that Lieut.. Swindells of the
police force has said that he and his Of
fcers know well enough that the cars are
being run every day and night at unlaw-
full rates of speed. but explained that 1t is
practically useless to attempt to make
cases against the motormen, who, in the
event of conviction, are fined triflins
amount. Mr.. Paris said he resides on 2
street Georgetown. The people along that
street suffer because of its narrowness
much more acutely than those on Connec-
ticut avenue and other thoroughfares. If
the railroad company is entitled to the
street he remarked the people are entitled
to enjoy rest and other comforts in their
homes
Provisions of Bill Explained.
Mr. Nathaniel Wilson explained the pro-
visions of the bill, stating that the penalty
provided would fall not upon the MOTOR