Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-14
GRANTED A HEARING
PROPOSED REGULATIONS FOR
GOVERNING SPEED OF CARS.
Protest Against Holding Members of
Corporations Responsible for Acts
of Subordinates.

The officials OF the TWO street railways
liz Washington were given a hearing before
the District Commissioners this morning,
relative to the proposed adoption OF police
regulations governing certain features OF
the operation of street cars in the District.
President G. T Dunlop. Chief Engineer
David S. Karl and George T. Dunlop, jr..
appeared on behalf of the Capital Traction
Company, and Gen. George H. Harries rep
resented the interests OF the Washington
Railway and Electric Company.
Commissioner West. who presided at the
hearing, mentioned that the hearing had
been granted for the purpose of discussing
the proposed regulation relating to the re-
sponsbillty of officials Of the company in
cases of violation of the speed and other
regulations, and also relative to the dis
tance to be maintained between street cars
moving and standing.
Gen. Harries and Mr.. Karl stated that
they understood the hearing was with ref
erence to the latter amendment only, and
that they were not ready then to take up
the question of responsibility of the off,
Gals. 1t was decided. therefore, to con-
slider only the amendment relating to dis
tanCe between cars.
Mr.. G. T. Dunlop, jr., on behalf of the
Capital Traction Company, said that the
company had no objection to the regulation
excepting to the provision that the follow
Ing car could not approach closer to pre-
ceding car than 100 feet. except in the case
the preceding car was disabled
The speaker declared that in cases of
blockade of cars, accident the road,
parades on the streets, etc, 1t was practi-
cally absolutely necessary that the cars
stand closer together than 100 feet At
the terminals. he said, it is also necessary
that the cars be banked closer than 100
feet apart.
Regulations Quoted
Mr.. Dunlop quoted regulations of the
company which required the motormen to
keep an interval of 200 feet between their
car and a preceding car No excuse is
accepted, he said, for rear-end collisions.
General Harries told the Commissioners
that the officials of the street railways are
vastly more interested than the Commits
s1oners in the prevention of collisions and
accidents.
Every collision or accident" said Gen.
eral Harries, touches the pocket book of
the company, and we have scriptural au-
thority. believe, or some other authority,
for the statement that where the treasure
is there is the heart Also"
AT certain functions, he declared, the
proposed regulation requiring cars to MAIN
tain an interval Of 100 feet between each
other, would practically prevent the opera
ton of cars during busy periods of the
day. There is no rapid transit in Wash
ington, he said, and the schedule on the
F street line to Georgetown is only six
minutes faster than the old horse-car
schedule.
In reply to question from Commissioner
West, both Gen. Harries and Mr. Karl
stated that the company imposes no pen
atty whatever on the motorman for failing
to get his car at the terminal on scheduled
time. The motormen, they said however
are disciplined and fined for getting In
ahead of time.
Regulations Unnecessary.
The railroad officials declared that the
adoption of anv such regulation as pro-
posed is altogether unnecessary, as the
companies are more DESTROYS than the Com
missioners of avoiding collisions and acct
dents
The subject of the proposed regulation
holding officials of the company responsible
for violations of the speed regulations was
briefly referred to, and Gen. Harries stated
that 1T would be a violent assumption to
hold absent officials responsible for an Of
tense Of the motormen.
While the motorman Is exceeding the
speed limit on the 14th street line' said
Gen. Harries, President Dunlop may be
down in Virginia shooting quail"
How about the chief engineer of the
road?'' inquired Mr.. West.
We'll, he may be dangling his feet over
the wharf in Georgetown fishing for crabs"
replied the general.
1t was stated that the question Of re-
sponsibilty of officials would be considered
later, and the hearing closed with Mr.
Vests statement that the Commissioners
would take the arguments of the railroad
ofhclals under consideration.