The Washington times., 1902-12-28
SuburbaniteS Are Agitating
Question of Law That
VIII Give District Com
missioners Control OF
Time Schedules.
With Traffic Heavy and
Weather Severe, Compa-
MES Operated Open Cars
on Almost Every Urban
Line Yesterday.

Citizens Of Washington, particularly
those who live in the suburbs. are again
aEitating the question Of law that viii
give the District Commissioners greater
authority I'm the regulation OF street
railways What the people most desire
is the passage OF the bill now pending
before the Senate District Committee
measure that was iudorsed by the com
mercial. business mems. and citizens
associations. This bill would give the
Commissioners control Of the time sched-
ules.
But there are other Inconvenience
that will receive public attention If the
gathering clouds of discomfort portend
the breaking Of a storm. The questions
Of overcrowding cars 10 the annoyance
OF their patrons. Of an alliance between
the two companies which Will permit the
exchange Of tickets. but not OF transfers.
OF the operation of open cars in zero
weather. and OF closed cars not provid
ed with heaters. will come in for share
OF public condemnation.
The character and the heating OF the
cars to be operated. as well as the time
schedules would be regulated by the bill
now before Congress II IL became a law.
The provision is: After the first day OF
November Il shall be unlawful in cold
OF inclement weather to operate any
open car or any closed car which shall
not be artihcially heated so as 10 pre-
serve a temperature Of at least so de-
srees Fahrenheit"
Case Of Freeze or Wait.
Even yesterday. when furs we're
brought into evidence by all who
possessed them. and heavy mittcns.
muffers. Overshoes and other comforts
we're worn with utter disregard for
fashions dictates. open cars were used
10 some extent on nearly every line in
the city. The travel was particularly
heavy and in many cases it was neces-
sary for persons 20 ride in cars which
subjected them TO the exposure Of the
extreme cold. or wait on the street cor
ners. which proved equally as bad
Crowding Of cars beyond their con-
templated capacity is another evil that
has brought forth vigorous protest. On
days when traffic is unusually heavy. or
at times when public meetings or
theatrical performances are breaking up
the crowding has been known 70 reach
the danger point
The contention has been made that
each passenger Of a street car Is en-
tilted to a seat and the company must
provide II. The courts OF the District
have not passed upon this. though
those Of New York have so construed
the laws OF that State. The decision
was brought about by the refusal Of a
transfer on which the time limit had
expired.
The Jenkins Case.
John jenkins. OF Brooklyn. was put
of a car IN New York because his
transfer had expired and he refused to
pay another fare. He brought suit
against the company and recovered
$500. lie explained that the reason he
had not used the transfer sooner was
that he was waiting for a car in which
he could get seat.
The bill now pending before the
Senate seeks TO endow the District
Commissioners with all the powers OF a
railroad commission. where such bodies
have been created by State Legislatures
The bill limits the weight OF cars oper.
ated within the limits Of the city oI
Washington TO ten tons, and provides
that all cars Weighing more than thai
amount, intended wholly for suburban
traflc, may be operated only in sucf
streets and avenues as the Commission.
ers may approve. and then only by frs
taking out special permits. which viii
prescribe the weight OF the cars. the
rate Of speed at which they shall run
and any other conditions necessary for
the protection Of life and property
which the Commissioners may see o. C
incorporate.
Must Submit Time Schedules.
The section Of the bill in reference tc
the time schedule is as follows:
THAT each and every street railway
company operating within 'ne limits o.
the District Of Columbia -hall, on -,
lst day Of January Of each year. submit
20 the Commissioners u -be District o.
Columbia a time schedule - e runninl
OF cars on each and eve,. '.r4. O. brancl
thereof operated by said -eiIway com
pany within the limits u the District o
Columbia. And the Comm saoners O
the District OF Columbia shall approx,
such schedule or make such alteration
or changes therein as they may con
slider necessary for the interests OF tn
public. And 70 shall be unlawful fo
any OF said railway companies 10 rur
or operate their cars upon any othe
schedule than that approved by sal,
Commissioners. But nothing in this ac
shall be construed 10 prevent said rail
way companies from amending thef
schedules whenever they consider tn
interests Of the public require. but eacl
such amendment shall be approved b,
said Commissioners in The manner afore
said before being placed iD operation"
Another section OF The bill provide
that the cars shall at all times be KEEP
70 good repair and in clean and prope
condition: that the tenders must al al
times be in good working order, and tha
no car shall be used which. by reasol
Of a nattened wheel broken hanga Ioos