Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-25
Measure to Regulate Weight and
Speed Of Vehicles.
PROVISION GOVERNING EQUIPMENT
All Vehicles Propelled by EIec-
tricity to Be Registered.
THE PENALTIES IMPOSED


bills introduced, respectively, in the Sem
ate and House to regulate the weight size,
equipment and speed of cars on the Metro
politan railroad between Lincoln Park and
36th street west. In transmitting their sub
stitute measure, the features of which were
stated in The Star several days ago the
Commissioners refer to the hearing grant
ed citizens by them upon the subject, stat
ing that it appeared at this hearing that
intense feeling had been aroused among
the residents along the line of the Metro
politan railroad, and reciting, in a s'teno-
graphic report of the hearing, the COM
paints made against the heavy yellow cars
run on this line and the alleged excessive
speed at which they travel.
The Commissioners trust their substitute
measure may have the effect of protecting
the community from a repetition of the an
noyances mentioned by the complaining
citizens without unnecessarily crpp ing the
railroad company in its efforts to provide
cars of modern style and convenience. The
Commits siOners believe the cars complained
of are in many respects most commendab!e,
but by reason of their great weight when
moving at an excessive speed they become
engines of injury and destruction.
The Commissioners" they say. are
compelled to state that their efforts to con-
troll the speed of the cars on the Metropolis
tan road, by the arrest by members of the
police force of motormen under the police
regulations, has failed to mitigate the evils
complained of. They believe that no effl-
cent remedy can he applied except by legls-
lation by Congress. They are of the op II
ion that the of the large cars IN
proper manner would not of necessity cause
damage or injury, but that such cars, Wn2n
run at excessive speed, must inevitably de-
stroy the peace and quiet of the neighbor-
hood through which the line passes ana
tend to injure property rights
Except Upon Permit.
The Commissioners therefore recommend
I'm their substitute bill that the use Of
heavy cars be wholly prohibited, except
upon permits issued by them, which per-
mits are to prescribe, among other things,
the speed at which such cars are to be run,
with provision that the permits are to be
revoked in case of a violation of the terms
of the permit. They also embodied some
other provisions which they believe to be
necessary, and recommend that, after No
vember 1, 1901, all used upon the
streets and avenues of the District be prop
erly heated during cold and inclement
weather.
1.-The increasing use," they say, "of
horseless vehicles the streets and ave-
nues of the District renders it necessary
for some legislation to be had for their
proper regulation, and the Commissioners
have included a section which will provide
the means Of Identifying any auto-vehicIe
which may violate the regulations as to
speed The Commissioners regard this as
matter Of great moment, and earnestly
urge the early enactment of all the pro-
posed legislation"
Text of the Bill.
The substitute measure as transmitted
by the Commissioners, is as follows:
"Be 1t enacted by the Senate and House
nf tat Of Uni
America in Congress assembled, That, af-
ter six months from the approval of this
act, it shall be unlawful for any street rail-
way company owning or operating any street
railway in the District Of Columbia to place
or operate upon any portion of it's line with
in the limits of the city of Washington any
car of a greater weight than ten tons; pro-
Vfded. that cars weighing more than ten
tons intended wholly for suburban traffic
may be operated over and upon such streets
and avenues of the city of Washington as
the said Commissioners may approve, but
only upon special permits issued therefore,
which permits shall prescribe the weight
of such cars to be so operated, the rate CT
speed at which they shall operate, and any
other conditions necessary for the protec-
ton Of life and property which said Com
missioners may see fit to incorporate there
in. and to contain special provision that
for any violation of any Of the termS Of
the permit the same shall be revoked. And
hereafter no cars constructed or purchased
after the approval of this act shall be run
or operated on any street railway lines
within the District of Columbia without
having first been approved by the Com
mssioners Of the said District
As to Time Schedules.
"Section 9. That each and every street rail-
way company operating within the limits Of
the District of Columbia SHALL on the first
day Of January Of each year. submit to the
Commissioners of the District Of Columbia
a time schedule of the running Of cars on
each and every line or branch thereof
operated by said railway company within
the District of Columbia, and the Commits
sioners of the District of Columbia shall
approve such schedule, or make such altera-
items or changes therein as they may con-
slider necessary for the interests of the
public. And it shall be unla wful for any of
said railway companies to run operate
their cars upon any other schedule than
that approved by the Commissioners But
nothing in this act shall be construed to
prevent said railway companies from
amending their schedules whenever they
consider the interests Of the public require,
but each such amendment shall be approved
by said Commissioners in the manner afore-
said, before being placed in operation.
Section 3. 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 work.
Ing condition, and shall be used
which by reason Of a tiattened wheel bro
ken f1ange, loosened parts or other cause
makes or is liable to make, cause or pro-
duce unnecessary noise or annoy yance upon
the public street. During cold or incement
weather it shall be unlawful to operate any
open car upon any of the said lines or any
closed car which shall not be artificially
heated to preserve temperature of
at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit after the
1st day of November, 1901.
Penalty for Violations.
Section 4. That for any violation of any
Of the provisions or requirements of this
act, or Of any regulation made by the Com
missioners of the District Of Columbia un-
der the authority of this act, the presi-
dent. the vice president and all of the III
rectors of the company in charge of said
railway shall be jointly and severally Ha-
BILE to a fine of not less than $50 nor more
than 500 for each and every such viola
ton, to be recovered in the Police Court
of the District of Columbia as other fines
and penalties are now recovered by law;
and the motorman and conductor In charge
Of any car In said District operated In vio-
lation OF any of the terms shall also be
liable to fine of not less than 50 nor more