The Washington herald., 1907-01-16
TRACTION BILL IS Up
Action Taken on Old Street
Railway Measure.
POWER TO THE COMMISSIONERS
Measure introduced Two Years Ago
ResurrecteG and Given Life by the
District subcOmmittee-The whole
Question of Regulation Put in the
Hands of the Commissioners.

The subcommittee OE streets, street
Railways, and Avenues. Of the House Dis
trict Committee, completed consideration
yesterday Of the Babcock bill to regulate
the street railroads Of Washington. and
decided 30 report the measure favorably to
the full committee. The subcommittee
consists of Mr.. Babcock. the chairman Of
the full and also chairman Of the sub
committee and 5 W Smith. Of Michigan;
Amos Allen. Of Maine; W II. Wiley. OF
New Jersey, William ;. Greene. of Massa-
chusetts; r. w. Sims. of Tennessee, and
Adolph Meyer. CT Louisiana.
The bill taken up yesterday was intro
duced two years ago. Il has been in the
pigcOnholes of the committee clerks desk
ever since. The recent agitation. and the
prospect of some distinct legislation On
The subject along the line Of the short and
clear bill introduced by Representative
Madden. this session. has served 10 resur-
rect it.
The bill stands opposed 20 the Madden
bin in that it places the control Of the
local street railways in the hands of the
District Commissioners The friends Ct
the measure assert that il gives them
the power go require universal transfers.
The Babbcock bill limits the weight Of
ears used on Washington street railways
70 10000 pounds. but the Commissioners
may give special permits for heavier
cars. restricting the speed at which they
may be run. All cars bought by the
companies hereafter must comply with
requirements made by the Commissioners
Transfer Arrangements.
Within thirty days after the passage Of
the bill an street railways operating in
the District are required 20 report to the
Commissioners their time schedules and
transfer arrangements for their APPROVAL.
The bill provides that "the Commission
ers shall approve such schedule route des-
tinations and transfer arrangements, hav-
ing, however, full power first 10 make
such alterations as they may consider
necessary, and # shall be unlawful for
any one Of Jhe companies TO operate its
cars upon another schedule or route or
10 any other destination or upon any
other transfer arrangement than that ap-
proved by the Commissioners.
The railway companies are required TO
use clean cars, well lighted and heated,
avoid fiat" wheels or any appliances
that cause undue noise. and use emer-
gency brakes on all lines where there are
grades greater than per cent for any
distance over 800 feet
Regulation Of Fares.
The bin repeais section ) OF the act OF
February 26. 1895. which authorized tno
Brightwood Railway Company and the
o. sr
Company to sell four coupon tickets for
twenty-five cents for a continuous trip
over either of those roads. but il provided
that nothing in this section shall be con-
strued 90 repeal section 3 of the act OF
July :, 1895 requiring the Brightwo0d
company 10 abandon its overhead troll
leys on Kenyon street between Seventh
and Fourteenth streets. and portions of
the act OF February 26. 1855. are retained
in order 10 provide penalties.
It is provided further that il shall be
unlawful TO charge more than the pres
rut lesal fare for one car ride for a
single trip 90 either direction within The
District % Columbia between any point
on the Brig6twood railway or on the
Georgetown and TennaIyJ0wn railway
and any point on the line of the Wash
ingt0n Electric and Railway Company"
Section 5 provides that every suburban
road whose tracks now intersect OF con-
Meet with or hereafter may be made 10
connect or jntersect with tracks Of any
of the urban street railroads IS required
90 run ears over the tracks of the urbad
street railroad into the business section
Of the city. And each urban railroad IS
required 10 permit the suburban street
railroad 20 run cars over its lines. The
Supreme Court of the District IS 10 set
tie any matters in this connection that
the railroads cannot agree on.
Violations Of the law by any company
are punishable by fines Of from S2Q TO 500
for each Offeuse. The Commissioners are
empowered % begin legal proceedings
against the railway employees I'm case of
such violations The bin will be taken
up by the fun committee tomorrow.
The subcommittee voted 10 report
favorabIy the bill introduced by Repre-
sentative Allen to widen Mills avenue IN
LaHgdon from p 10 50 feet. Benjamin
W. Holmes, representative OF the
Langdon Citizens Association, appeared
before the committee.