The Washington times., 1904-03-20
Will Force Company to
Obey Order of Viz
ginia Authorities.
TWO CARS IN DISTRICT
Members of Corporation
Commission Visit Town
and Make Observations.

The indignation of Alexandrians has
been stirred to fever heat by the fall
ure to comply with the order Of the
Virginia State Corporation Commission
directing the Alexandria, Washington
and Mount Vernon Railway 10 provide
adequate car service for the transpOrta-
tiOn of passengers to and from Wash
ington.
This indignation found expression at
mass meeting held last night in Alex
andria, attended by more than one hum
dred commuters, who formed an organ
ization for the purpose OF enforcing the
local demand for better transportation
facilities
Yesterday Alexandra was visited by
members OF the State corporation COM
mission. The failure OF the ROAD 10
comply with its directions was under
investigation. Their visit 10 the city
was not generally known, and thcS
quietly slipped out of town without Civ
ing expression to their views of the de-
Gance OF the order. or indicating thcir
Purpose TO enforce compliance
Disobedience of Order
It develops that the road. according /
to the best authority. is not technically.
as was cOntended, complying with the
commissions s behest.
The statement was accredited 10 rail-
road officials several days ago, that the
District officials had prohibited the
running Of three cars in one train by
the road over the Long Bridge into the
territory Of the District of Columbia
James L. Pugh. Jr:. Assistant Cor
poration Counsel for the District OF Co
Iumbia, yesterday denied that any law
OF the District or order of the COmmFs-
sioners prohibited such trafnc-
Three Cars in Virginia.
The suggestion that the road was COM
plying with the direction of the order by
carrying three cars 10 a train, while
under State Jurisdiction. and uncouplng
the extra car only when on a Govern
rnent reservation, where State iurisdic-
tion ended, has also been refuted-
The attitude Of the reilway company
appears TO be without sufficient eNpla-
nation.
we are not being interviewed
This is the answer of the officials OF
the washington. Alexandria and Mount
Vernon Railroad. when asked for
statement as to their position In the
matter OF sufficient cars 10 AFFORD their
patrons comfortable accommodations
from Alexandria TO Washington.
The only statement which can be cred
fted 10 these officials IS denial Of the
assertion that the road has al any time
claimed that the law Of the District
prohibits the operation Of trains with
more than one trailer
Beyond this they are silent.
The Bad Service.
The trouble that brought about the
organization OF the Commuters Protec-
tive Association has been going on for
some tiup. and those who travel be-
.THsT.a N
the electric cars have long been trying
10 find a remedy for the existing condi-
tioEs.
The main feature of the bad service
is the failure Of the Alexandria, Wash
ineton and Mount Vernon Railroad TO
furnish enough cars 10 carry the num-
Der Ot passengers that purchase fares
The people Of Alexandria assert th>t
persons VINO would hll three cars are
crowded into two; that tire cars are
poorly heated in winter, poorly yenu-
lated at an times. and extremely dir1y.
They appealed 10 the corporation COM
mission OF Virginia and that body or
cered the railroad company 20 put on
more cars
This was done Trains Of three cars
run out Of Alexandra in the mornings
when persons are coming 10 work. They
stop ~ Four Mile Run or at Arlington
Junction. however, and switch of one
car forcing those sitting in the rear car
70 crowd iuz0 the other two, and ride
10 Washington standing.
Pleaded District Law.
when complaint Of this was made to
the railroad officials il is said. they ex-
plained il by saying that they were al
lowed 10 run only two cars 20 the train
across Long Bridge 4 letter was
written to the District Commissioners
about this and Commissioner Biddl6 re-
piled that no such prohibition had ever
been made
Obviously. therefore. the failure of the
railroad TO run the third car farther
than one Of the above named functions
Is an evasion OF the order of the Nir-
Einia corporation commission.
M. Pugh's Views.
Assistant Corporation Counsel James
I. Pugh. 5r. when interviewed yester-
day as 70 the law In effect in regard
20 the running Of street railway cars
In the District. said:
There is no law limiting the number
VI cars that can be coupled together
and operated IN the District. To is not
only matter Of privilege. but also Il
fact that frequently any street car
company runs three or four cars In one
train This is especially true when
there Is a rush Of traffic. or when one
train Of cars becomes disabled and an
5ther train has TO pull II 10 the end Of
the line
''The steam railroads pun through the
District twenty-five cars If they see ht.
There is absolutely no restriction on
steam or electric railways as 10 the
number Of cars that can be operated as
one train.
The rnassmeeting OF the patrons Of
The railway was held al the rooms Of
me business Meu's League last night.
and was called 70 order by T. II. Meth