The Washington herald., 1907-01-17
AGREE ON TRANSFERS
Commissioners Report for
the Universal System.
STREET RAILWAY TAXATION
> mendment, Suggested ia Madden
Bill, Provides that Companies he
Assessed q Per Cent of Their Gross
Earnings-Present Practice of Sell
ing Tickets satisfactory.

The Commissioners reported Iavorably
upon the Madden and Wiley bills pro-
Fiding system OF universal transfers.
The Madden bill is not approved in its
entirety, however. the Commissioners
stating that section 3 Of the bin, which
provides for an increase Of the taxation
OF street railway companies from per
cent + 20 per cent. should be amended so
as to provide that the said tax shall be
. per cent of the gross earnings. The
Commissioners state that they are of the
opinion tnat the franchises enjoyed by the
street railroad companies are of great
value, but 20 per cent seems 10 be an
inequitable amount.
1t is suggested, also as an amendment
that the cars shall run every fifteen min
utes on all lines between the hours of G
H. IA and a. m, and every sixty minutes
between the hours OF / a. m. and a. m.
instead OF thirty-hve minutes between
those hours. as provided by the Bill
Ihey state also that the present prac-
tice Of selling six tickets for a quarter
Is generally satisfactory, and therefore
90 not recommend that twenty-five tickets
shal be sold for 81. In regard to the
opposition to the proposed measures by
'he street railway companies. the Com
mi5s.oners say:
Reply to Opposition.
The hearing developed opposition on
ihe part CT the railroad companies Ia the
proposed legislation on the ground that
the giving Of universal transfers would
result especially during the evenings in
the summertime, In large numbers of
persons enjoying the unlimited use Of the
railroads By the payment Of cne fare. II
was also argued by the representatives,
OF the railroad companies that the giving
OF transfers would result in serious fnan-
ciai loss
II was also claimed. and reports were
cited 10 show that the contention WAS cor
rect that the generous system OF trans
le1s already in vogue IN the city. al
iEpugh not between competing lines. re-
suited in reducing the average fare per
passenger carried 60 about 8 IL cents. on
the other hand. the representatives. Of the
citizens associations cantcuded that th,
privilege Of transfers would not be
abused. and that The public was en-
titled u this consideration
Examine Conditions Elsewhere.
THE Commissioners have taken occa-
sion 90 examine into conditions elsewhere,
and dnd that in all cities w2fefe the t-ac-
uon lines are under the control of one
corporation as in Minneapolis. Milwaukee.
and Pitts5urg the universal transfer sys-
tenn is iu " que, aad even ia some ether
cities, as, for instance, indianapolis,
transfers are given between competing
lines The Commissioners appreciate the
practical difficulties suggested by the
railroad Companies. but believe that "a
system of reciprocal transfers should be
provided. and that II the proposed law
should be- enacted the railroad companies
could devise some means t0 put it into
operation without "a serious Inconvenience.
The bin now under discussion might be
amended 50 that TO person shall be en-
titled 10 obtain "a transfer after having
rendered q transfer as fare except where
the destination OF the passenger is %
some suburban point on the lines OF The
I Georgetown and Teun8Hytown roads, the
Brightwood Railroad Company. the City
and Suburban Railroad Company. the
Auacostia .and Potomac River Railroad
Company. and the Chevy Chase extcn-
sion OF the Capital Traction Company.
Fiat Three-cent Fare.
zone suggestion made during the hear
( ing was that all transfers be abolished,
and that a fat rate Of cents De charged
each passenger. This proposition has
also been commended 70 the Commission
+ ers in several communications.
The Commissioners invite attention to
the fact that the various street railroad
companies of the District Of Columbia
submit annual reports TO Congress, Civ
+ ing their operations in detail, which in
formation is easily accessible to the COM
mittCe. These reports show the capital
stock, funded and floating debt cost OF
operation, dividends paid, and other de-
/ tails, all OF which deserve consideration
/ in connection with the proposed legisla-
. tiOn.
This bin gives authority to the Com
/ missioncrs 10 regulate schedules so that
the public can receive the maximum OF
I accommodation. and also to adjust q
/ scheme Of transfers between competing
lines"