The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-02-21
Colonel Biddle Urges Fav-
Orable Action on Sen
ate Bill.
OPINION OF GENERAL HARRIES.
Reports Made by Engineer Commits
si"ner ON Other Bills Regulating.
the Street Railways of the District
Now Before Congress-.

ciates that a favorable report &c made
upon Senate bill No. 3557 To provide for
free transfers between street railway lines
in the District of Columbia
He also recommends that the Commits
sioners state in their report that in case
the bill is enacted they will hear all
parties interested and endeavor to adjust
the schedules upon basis fair to all con-
cerned.
The bill in question gives the Commits
sioners authority TO fix schedule of the
points of intersection and conjunction AT
which street car companies, including
competing lines, shall issue free trausfers.
Opinion of General Hnrrics.
The Commissioners in their cousidera-
ton Of the measure asked for an opin-
ion from the Washington Traction Com
pany and Electric Company. and from
the Capital Traction Company on the
subject. General Harries vice president
OF the former company. replied as fol-
lows:
Il have the honor 10 suggest that the
measure contemp!ates the establishment
of conditions which would be onerous
and unjust TO our companies, inasmuch
as it proposes to compel US 10 furnish
the public with extraordinary facilities
and does not even hint at proffer of re-
compense.
The theory of the bill is fundamentally
erroneous. 1t cannot equitably be claimed
that any person has the right to demand
street car transportation from any part
Of IL etric IF Col I,ar
part thereof. Such a proposition is COM
mercially untenable and has never been
advanced anywhere with any show OF
earnestness save in municipal campaigns
where reduced fares and universal
transfers have served for a brief season
as political war cries, and have then been
laid away until another political ex-
isency should call them forth to again
deceive the credulous voter.
Cost of Installing System.
Public demands, legislative require
ment and a remarkable spirit of cor
porate willingness have established in
this city transportation system which
required an investment exceeding twice
the amount necessary to install the same
mileage in Baltimore, Philadelphia, Pitts
burg, Cleveland, Buffalo, or Detroit.
Coupled with the insistence which result
ed in such an enormous and largely I'M
profitable investment was adherence to
the low rate of fa-e-siy tickets Tor 20
cents.
The injustice of such an adverse COM
bination was manifest. but the companies
declined to be discouraged; they deter
mined 10 make the best OF the situation.
although many disinterested Legislators
and very many Washingtonians were Of
the opinion that there should either be 4
straight scent fare or 2-cent or 3-cent
transfer The establishment of the for
mer would require Congressional enact
ment, but the latter suggestion could be
made effective by inter-company agree
ment, yet the companies have refrained
from exercising this valuable privilege
solely because their major consideration
has been the public and rot the corporate
interest.
80 far as the companies controlled by
us are concerned, there has been lavish
distribution OF transfers; so lavish, that
the chairman of the House Committee on
the District of Columbia declared on the
floor of the House that the management
was in this matter most foolishly liberal.
Yet now there comss a demand for uni
versa transfers; demand that takes no
note of anything other than the desire OF
the trainers Of the bill to ride anywhere
they please within the District. each for
the sum of cents. Operation Of the ac-
qulsitive faculty, when not unreasonable
or unlawful is to be commended; the
minor economies of life should always be !
considered by persons Of limited means, /!
but there should be no eDcourag cement for !
those who, either individually or collec- !
lively, seek selfish advantage, and who
would disregard the legal and equitable
rights of persons or corporations with !
whom they may have business dealing.
My acquaintance with the authors of
this measure leads me to believe that they
cannot have any information as to the in
jury which would be wrought our COM
panies by such legislation as they pro-
pose. Had they been in possession of the
facts, this bill would never have been
framed by them
Letter Written by President Dunlop.
Mr.. G. T. Dunlop, president OF the Capt.
tai Traction Company, has forwarded to
the Commissioners copy of a letter
written by him to Senator Mcmillan,
chairman of the Senate Committee on the
District of Columbia, which is as follows:
we beg 10 state that the tenor OF this
bill leads to a universal free transfer be-
tween all the railways in the District OF
Columbia, inasmuch as 1t places at the
discretion of the Commissioners of the
District OF Columbia the power TO order |
free transfer between the railways when |
ever and whenever they desire. We do not
think there Is any necessity for such
and IL would work a great
hardship and loss to all the companies.
We do not believe that with the present
systems, and existing transfers received
by the public there is any just cause for
complaint, and we respectfully request
that the bill be not favorably reported by
your honorable committee.
Guard Rails for Open Cars.
Colonel Biddle has also forwarded a
4, his associates that the
modified copy of Senate bill No. 5S22. ITO
regulate the operation of street railways
in the District, and for other purposes"
introduced during the second session of
the Fifty-sixth Congress, and reported
upon by the Commissioners with certain
proposed amendments, be transmitted to
the chairman of the Senate and House
committees with recommendation for IA
yorable action.
Colonel Biddle further recommends that
his associates urge favorable action upon
House bill No. 1861, Requiring corpora
lions operating street railways within the
District to equip open cars with guard
rails" and on House bill No. 1929. Re
ating TO free transfers between street
railway lines in the District" as in case
of Senate bill No. 1867, and that the title
,f the former bill be changed 10 conform {
10 the title OF said Senate bill. 1
In reference to Senate bill 9370, ITO