The Washington times., 1902-06-20
The Commissioners Hold
Hearing on Senate Bill
to Provide Change.
ADVOCATED BY RAILWAYS
General Harries and President Dunlop
Speak in Favor of MeasuIe-Street
Roads Accused of Sinister Motives in
Approving Bill.

The District Commissioners yesterday
gave 4 hearing TO street railway Off
cials and citizens interested in Senate
bill 60S2, requiring street railway. COM
Ianies in the District to station uni
formed flagmen at designated track in
tersections. \ few officials of the two
railway companies appeared to defend
the bill, and a large number OF resi-
dents of the city were present to pro-
test against it.
In the discussion of the subject some
personalities were INDUCED in, and a
lew of the speakers took it upon them
selves to attach sinister motives to the
railway companies in their advocacy of
the bill. The debate was at times very
spirited.
Mr. p. NJ. Snowden was the first
speaker in opposition to the proposed
measure, appearing. he said, for all the
PEOPLE of Washington. He called at
tention TO the fact that the bill repeals
the present law authorizing the Com
missioners to appoint street crossing po-
licemen to look after and protect the
public at points where accidents are
most likely to occur.
In the place of the policemen,
Mr. Snowden said, it is proposed to
citation uniformed fagmen in the pay
of and solely under the control of the
companies.
Efficiency of Crossing Policemen.
Mr.. Snowden paid tribute to the eff
cheney of the street crossing police
men,. calling them "sentinels for the
public welfare" He declared that their
removal meant the loss of protection to
the thousands who go and come on the
street cars. The substitution of flag
nen, in his opinion, would not meet the
requirements of the situation at all, be-
cause it removed the responsibility of
public protection from the shoulders of
the District Commissioners to those of
the soulless corporations who operate
The ears.
AS a guarantee of public safety Mr.
SnoWden urged the Commissioners to
report the proposed bill to Congress
with a request that it be not enacted.
Gen. George H Harries, vice presi-
dent of the Washington Railway and
Electric Company, replied in favor of
the bill. He declared that the act pro-
viding for the crossing policemen was
q rider to an appropriation bill. passed
in two minutes without any reference
to either the Commissioners or the
the companies. He designated the law
as a piece of political legislation, pure
and simple.
The point was to make places for
men, and have the railroad companies
pay the salaries. He said it was in
in Ifch ND
recommending it to the judgment of
sensible men.
General Harries submitted a statement
showing the cost to the companies of
The salaries of about forty crossing po-
licemen, declaring that the operating
expenses of the street railways, in
equity, ought to be relieved of this bur
den.
others who spoke against the bill
were Messrs. P. J. Ryan, Dr. Millard
J. 3. Lackey, Alexander Scott. A. NJ
Raymond, John W. Stone and R. s.
Lacey.
President DunloP's Views.
President George Dunlop. of the Capt.
tai Traction Company. spoke briefly in
favor of the measure. He stated that
f. was . mistake to charge the oorspa-
Lies with a desire to get rid Of the
policemen as such. He said they would
be welcomed by the companies, if they
were only employed by the city and
raid for By the Government, as other
policemen are.
At the close of the hearing Commits
sioner Macfarland announced that the
arguments pro and con would he care
fully considered by the board before
making its repo-t to Congress on the
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