Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-05
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Business Matters Before East
Washington Association.
THE STREET RAILWAYS
EXPRESSION OF OPINION RE-
GARDING CRoss-ToWN ROAD.
Endorsement Of Proposition to Increase
Pay Of Police-Purchase Of
Fireboat Urged.
THE STREET RAILWAYS

Reports of the committees on street ran
roads and public comfort were received at
the meeting of the East Washington Citi-
zens' Association, held last night in Don
nellys Hall, and other matters of interest
we're also acted upon. The first report read
was that of Chairman w. Mosby Williams
of the street railroad committee, which
reads:
"Your committee on street railroads re
ports that 1t has, in conjunction with the
officers of the association, during the past
month, continued to actively further the
interests of the members of our association
in legislation affecting railroads in East
Washington. A question having arisen If
the Commissioners of the District clearly
understood our position with reference to
the proposed cross-town line in East Wash
ington, letter was prepared setting out
our views the subject and forwarded TO
the Commissioners under date OF January
81 1904.
On the I'd and Sd instant the Commission
ers forwarded to the committees in Con-
gress On the District of Columbia their re-
port and recommendation with reference to
the proposed changes in the routes OF ex-
listing street railroads in order that cars
may reach the new union station. one or
these bills, which has received the favor
able Endorsement Of the Commissioners,
proposes a new track in East Washington.
that is, the bill Is. 2132 or III. r. $500 au-
thorizing the Washington Railway and
Electric Company-the old Metropolitan
to construct double track extension from
the intersection of East Capitol and 1st
streets south on LIST street to e street
southeast. After careful consideration of
the subject. your committee reports that it
is opposed to this route, and to that extent
takes issue with the Commissioners on their
recommendation. Your committee Is OF the
opinion that the alternate routes suggested
by the Commissioners on 4th street from
East Capitol to E street would be the best.
and accordingly recommend that resolu-
ton to that effect be adopted by the asso-
citation.
Legislation Regulating Railways.
Your committee would further report
that the prospect for favorable legislation
giving to the Commissioners of the District
certain supervision over street railroads Is
very bright. This measure, if enacted into
law, which is being so vigorously pushed
by delegates from each of the several cfti-
zens' associat tons and the committee of the
Business Mems Association, provides the
limit to the weight of cars; that they
shall. before operation, be approved by the
Commissioners as to construction. and also
their time schedule and transfer arrange
ments shall be regulated by the Commits
SionerS, who are empowered to see that the
cars are kept IN repair anu Cream, anu tIldt
tenders at all times are In good working
order; that they are equipped with neces-
sary emergency brakes: that in the winter
months the cars shall be properly heated
and that in the same months no open car
shall be used. except as trailer, and also
provides that suburban cars may run into
the business center of the city"
Increase Of Police Pay.
Mr.. Couldren, chairman of the committee
on public comfort. said his committee had
concluded to report upon two of the three
subjects referred to it. The first subject he
called up for consideration related to the
bill providing for an increase in the pay of
the members of~the police force. He started
out by commencing Major Sylvester for his
efforts in behalf of the members of his
force and said his committee favored the
bill. The salary now paid. he said, is not
large enough to enable the District to get
the best men for the positions. In other
cities of the size or larger than Washington,
he said, policemen receive from 20 to 30 per
cent larger salaries than they do here. The
resolution of the committee urging the pas
sage of the bill now before Congress was
adopted.
Mr.. Couldren read a report upon the law