Evening star., 1902-03-11
A BILL SUBMITTED
REGULATING THE OPERATIONS
OF DISTRICT LINES.
Conditions Stated to Be Unsatisfactory
Transfers and Other Matters
Provisions Of the Bill.

One OF the largest delegations ever ap-
| pearinS before the District Commissioners
at public hearing was present this morn
| ing, when the members of the District
| board granted an extended audience to the
| joint committee, composed OF the railroad
| committees Of the various citizens associa-
tions of the District of Columbia. The joint
| committee has prepared a bill regulating
| the operation of r-reet car systems In the
District. The eo...mittee asked the Com
missioners to approve this bill and recon-
| mend to Congress its early passage.
The hearing was set for II o'clock, and at
| that time the board room on the fifth floor
was taxed almost to it's full seating capaci-
ty, there being between sixty and seventy
| members of citizens associations on hand.
There were representatives from practically
all of the larger associations of the Dis
| trict. Mr.. William G.. Henderson, president
or the North Capitol and lexington Citi-
zens Association, and also president OF the
Joint railroad committee. acted as spokes-
man for the committee and introduced the
representatives of the several organizations
| uniting In the advocacy of the bill. Mr. J.
&. kinnear of the Takoma Park Citizens
Associa ton. who is secretary of the joint
| committee was also present and spoke on
the provisions of the proposed act. Brief
addresses were made by fifteen Of those
| present.
Street Car Traffic Conditions.
| Mr.. Henderson stated that the joint COM
| mittee was the outgrowth of street car traf-
fic conditions in various sections OF the
District that We're far from satisfactory.
He said that the people had often COM
planned Of the service rendered them. but
that the Commissioners had been unable to
act because of a lack of authority. The
bill proposed by the joint committee he
said, was built upon framework furnished
by what Is known as the Commissioners
bill. The Commissioners forwarded bill
to Congress al the last session vesting in
them the authority to supervise schedules
and enforce other provisions for the proper
operation of the roads for the convenience
of the public. The bill was not acted upon
at the last session but has been forward
ed again to Congress and is now pending.
Mr.. Henderson stated that the citizens had
inserted in their bill various amendments
that they deemed necessary to the draft Of
law prepared by the Commissioners.
Mr.. Henderson said the Commissioners
must be impressed by the size and charac-
ter Of the body of citizens appearing before
them. He said the joint committee repre-
sented practically the entire population Of
the District. He sa i'd the proper operation
of the street railroads is a matter of vital
Importance to all residents Of the capital
city. -
6eneral, PROVISIONS outlined.
Mr.. Henderson briefly outlined the gen
eral provisions Of the bill which first limits
the weight of cars to ten TONS provided
that cars used wholly for suburban traffic
may weigh more and run by special permit
from the Commissioners. The first Sec
ton also provides that cars Of the future
shall be built on plans approved by the
Commissioners. The second section pro-
vides for the annual filing of schedules
and transfer Arrangements with the Com
missioners. The Commissioners are given
power to make alterations and changes in
the schedules as they may consider neces-
sary for the interests Of the public, and
provision is made that from ) am. until
midnight cars shall be run on all suburban
lines in the District of Columbia at least
once every fifteen minutes, except on the
lines of the Brightwood railway. 1t is also
provided that all suburban lines between
am. and q pm. shall run cars into the
center of the city at least once in fifteen
minutes. except the Brightwood railway.
The Brightwood, it Is especially provided,
shall run through cars from it's present
terminus at the District line and in Takoma
Park or from such points In Takoma Park
as the Commissioners may designate, to the
central portion Of the city on the 9th street
line of the Metropolitan railroad
Notice of amendments to schedules it is
provided, must be advertised In the daily
papers, after approval by the Commission
ers.
The third section provides that cars must
be kept clean and in good repair, and no
car shall be run with fiat wheel or other
disorder likely to produce unnecessary noise
or annoyance OF the street. During cold
weather 1t Is provided that all closed cars
shall be heated to at least 30 degrees and
that after November 1 no open cars shall
be run other than trailers The section also
provides for the erection Of waiting rooms
at suburban transfer stations in the dis
cretion Of the Commissioners Emergency
brakes are also provided for. Penalties for
violations are placed from $50 to 500 for
each offense.
SECTION of the bill gives the people the
right to take the initiative in proceedings
against the railroad companies by directing
the Commissioners to institute such pro-
ceedings upon the joint. complaint of two
or more citizens, upon oath. In case of
failure on the part Of the Commissioners
to act, the citizens may institute the pro-
ceedings in court In the name of the Dis
trict Of Columbia. and such proceedings
shall be prosecuted by the attorney for the
District.
1t is provided in section 8 that the act Of
February rs. 1885 authorizing the Bright
wood Railway Company and the George
town and Tenleytown Railroad Company to
sell four coupon tickets for 25 cents for
continuous ride over those railroads and
the Metropolitan railroad be repealed
Transfers are provided for in lieu OF the
four tickets for quarter.
Cross-Town Line Projected.
Inc last SectloH VI the Dill provides Tor
the construction of what Is commonly
known as "cross-town line" as follows:
THAT the authority conferred upon the
Rock Creek Railroad Company by section 1
Of the act Of April 80, 1892, to extend its
line on Florida avenue east to North Cap
itol street Is hereby renewed and the Cap<
ital Traction Company, as the successor Of
said Rock Creek Railroad Company, Is
hereby required within one year from the
passage Of thiRpetot tSs build and put in op-
ground electriG fsysaah The said Capital
Traction Company tai also authorized and
required Within two years from the pas
sage Of this actto frrther extend its lines
Florida avenueIto 12sh street east. south on
18th street to LAncola Park thence west
to 11th street. ttRfncAIsouth to and west on
a9ra Eth ssaea ana Mah a ne south