The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-10-08
BUSINESS MEN MEET
Want Laws tOImprOYeStreet
Car Service Here.
MENTION CONDUIT ROAD, TOO
IndOrse Resolution 10 Ask Congress
for statute Governing Automobile
ThOroughfare - Call Attention 10
Faulty Methods of COndemnfng
Property for streets and Alleys.

The committee on municipal legislation,
OF the Chamber of Commerce, held its
initial meeting yesterday at the head
quarters OF the chamber in Guide Hail
Chaplin Brown. chairman, stated that he
had called the meeting with view TO
completing its organization, and thought
it best to take up suggestions TO be
worked out more IN detail later. A.
Schultels was elected secretary.
Mr.. Brown suggested that some action
ought to be taken by the committee
looking TO a change in the law relative
TO the condemnation Of alleys and minor
streets in the District He suggested
an amendment TO the law which would
make the assessment Of benefits only
such as were actually found to exist by
the jury OF appraisement, and that any
surplus over and above this should 20
10 the credit OF the District OF Columbia.
Il was determined that this subject
should be reported on by the committee
to the Chamber Of Commerce, with a re-
quest for that body to take appropriate
action
Attention was then called to a similar
condition prevailing in regard 10 widen
ing streets by looping of part Of the
building lines. It was thought that it
would be well to incorporate this IN the
same report, though several OF the mem
bers Of the committee advised a separate
report upon the latter subject
Discuss Conduit Road.
gtk,,rf.- w .yt.,-.,.+- ~.ee,-.,4 . --7.-
ton, which was adopted, that the CON-
mittee ask the Chamber Of Commerce
to indorse the proposition that Congress
should pass d law for the proper policing
Of the Conduit road.
The subject or the inadequate service
on several street car lines was brought
up and discussed at some length. The
opinion was expressed that the car
accommodations are worse this fall
than ever before in the history OF the
city. This time. Il was said. Il was not
the suburban lines alone. but the cars on
the main systems. Everywhere the dec
larauOn was, the cars are packed with
passengers, and the facilities inadequate
to accommodate the public. After a fun
Ol-sDeSo-o-A "a NA49 SNbJSCL A. was AttS4-
mined TO refer the whole subject TO a
committee OF five. 10 be appointed by the
chair, which should frame a suitable re-.
port and submit it at a later meeting.
Laws Inadequate.
In the discussion OF this subject it was
found that the District, according 10 the
lawyers present, Is without adequate
laws governing the street railways. Il
was pointed out that the corporations
are not responsible TO anybody, so far
as any law that will reach them IS con-
cerned-
Several members OF the committee IA
vored the creation OF a special commits
sion to look after the enactment Of a
new law. stating that the District Com
missioners have neither the time nor the
facilities.
The stand was taken by the committee
that It was not and could not, be placed
in a position Of antagonism toward the
railroads. The idea was. first. 10 find out
what should be done. then have the
proper legislation passed. with com
mission 70 work out the problem with
the companies 50 as to disturb them as
little as possible.
The members Of the committee present
were Chaplin Brown. Charles W. Clag-
gett. J. L. Atkins, z. NJ. Brown, and 4.
Schulteis.