The Washington times., 1907-03-03
mo Fares, No Seats" Pro-
vision Makes the Bill
Void.
Penalty for Violation Was
Attached to Both
Parts.
Defeat Of Standing PROPOSE
ton Knocks Out Cheap
Fares.

By a peculiar parliamentary turn,
against which Representative Hepburn
o. Iowa protested in vain, the House of
Representatives last night voted into the
street railway bill provision for 3-cent
fares on street car Lines in the District
in such a manner that the paragraph
cannot be enforced
That the sentiment of the House was
Overwhelmingly IL favor of the scent
fare proposition, offered from the floor
by ollie James OF Kentucky. was evil
dent from the first. and the vote for the
cheap transportation was ayes 40; noes,
lo2. on an aye and no vote.
Immediately after the recess taken by
the House from $3.50 to $50 p. m, Mr..
Babcock called up for consideration the
House substitute for the Senate bill Civ
ing the street railways access TO the
Union Station.
Penalty for Violation.
When the time came for Offering
amendments to it. Mr.. James moved to
amend by providing for 3-cent fares
in the District. and that no fares should
be collected from passengers who were
obliged to stand in street cars. The
penalty for violating either of the two
provisions was set at a fine of $500. Mr..
Perkins of New York asked that the
two propositions. the 3-cent fares and
the mo fares for no seats be voted
on separately
Instantly Mr. Hepburn was on his
feet protesting that II the first part
were passed and the second part de-
feated. the penalty would be thrown out
BY the defeat of the second, and would
not apply TO the 3-cent-fare proposition.
Speaker Cannon. however. ruled that
the divisible vote was proper. Colonel
Hepburn's prediction was verified. The
Scent fare was voted into the bill, while
the no fare for no seats" was stricken
out without a division, the penalty
clause that should have applied to the
s-cent-fare section dying in the slaugh-
ter.
Voted Under Special Rule.
in presenting the bill for considera-
ton, Mr.. Babcock moved that it be
voted on under a special rule that
should make it in order for a point
OF order to he made against the para
graph in the bill providing for four-lnch
hres on heavy wagons in the District.
and should also be in order for the
three-cent fare amendment TO he Of
fered. ali reference to free universal
transfers being omitted from the ar
rangement. This arrangement by the
way. had been agreed to beforehand
by Mr.. Bsbcock on the one hand, and
Representatives James, Hepburn, and
Williams on the other.
Forty minutes debate on the bill was
then allowed.
Mr.. Babcock explained briefly that
-. e..
the street railway companies access to
the new Union Station. for the wide
tire paragraph. for a cross-town street
railway by the Capital Traction Com
pauv along Florida avenue and Eighth
street southeast, and for the applica-
ton of the smoke law TO steam rail-
road engines and locomotives. He said
his special rule allowed gentlemen to
amend it as they had said they wished
TO do
James Attacks Companies.
Then followed general assault on
the street railway companies OF the Dis
trict by Representatives James. Hep
burn ard Sims. Said Mr.. James:
We've been legislating ali the ses-
sion for the States. but here in the very
shadow OF the Capitol we bave great
outrage Men and women vino work are
being robbed daily by the street car
companies and their scent fares. Last
year alone, out OF the fares collected
from the people. the Capital Traction
Company collected within 100000 OF
what st cost to build its road. 1 appea
ito the House. to the manhood of the
House. not to let this outrage go on
Although you don't represent the peo.
pie OF Washington directly, | appeal tC
you 10 do them justice."
Mr.. Sims or Tennessee said:
The street railway companies will not
do anything here unless they are forced
They would not put vestibules on their
cars until we compelled them 10 do it,
thus saving the health and lives OF their
motOrmep. 1t is time to give the peo.