The Washington times., 1904-01-06
COMMITTEE TO DEMAND
BETTER GAR SERVICE
Crusade of Business Men to
Be Continued
WILL APPEAL TO CONGRESS
Promises of General Tarries Not Ac-
cepted as Meeting Requirements
of the Situation.

Promises made by Vice President
George III. Harries OF partial relief from
the inefficient street car service In the
District Will not deter the special COM
mittee Of the Business Mems Associa-
ton in it's crusade for Improvement
After all interests now striving for bet
ter service have united in a concerted
movement. and a proper plan Of pro-
cedure has been mapped out. Congress
will be asked to make ii compulsory
upon the railway COMPANIES to recede
from their present position of defiance
The committee has arranged for a
conference at 4:30 o'clock tomorrow aft
ernoon at the Offices OF the Business
Mems Association. to decide upon a plan
Of conducting the campaign.
The first question to come up for
their considerable will be that Of So
liciting the assistance of the various
citizens associations in view of adding
strength to their demands
Will Frame a. Bill.
The committee viii also consider a
bill to be introduced In Congress. This
bill is similar to tiaat presented in
the House last year. but failed TO pass
The measure provides hat the Commits
'sioners be empowered - demand proper
service from the railway companies. and
in the event OF the latter not carving
out in detail the stipulations of the law,
a heavy fine may be imposed on the
officials.
Before presenting the bill the commit
tee will call uDon the District Com
missioners 10 obtain their Endorsement
OF its provisions. That the Commits
sioners approve the movement mas al
ready been signihed. and the committee
expects to receive their assistance iu
the fight
While the business men appreciate the
promises made by General H rrfes. at
the conference yesterday afternoon.
they have unanimously concluded that
these promises are not sufficient The
pledges made by the company to the
Brightwood citizens and others that
failed TO be carried out are still fresh
IN the minds or the committee members,
and unless something definite, and
something that viii be permanent, is
done by the companies. the crusade will
continue unchecked.
AS an excuse for the poor service on
the Brightwood, lie Droit Park, and
Maryland lines. General Harries sub
mitted figures to show that these roads
were not paying investments. and not
in position to make improvements. He
did. however. intimate that patrons Of
the Brightwood line would be provided
with a better transfer station, and he
promised that nine closed cars now
running on the Columbia line would be
maintained there
Combination Cars.
In explanation OF the running OF COM
bination cars in the northeastern part
OF the city. General Harries said that
many persons preferred to ride in this
style of vehicle.
To combat these facts the committee
will present facts To stow that the cars
on the suburban lines are usually crowd
ed TO their greatest capacity. so that
;he receipts must be large enough to
conduct tho roads on a profitable basis.
They will also show that the vast ma
iorfty OF residents of the northeast pre-
fer closed cars. and that the open
vehicles have been a menace to the
health of the people.