Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-20
SH0RN OF ALL AUTHORITY
Interstate Commerce Commission
Alone Has Right to Act.
MUCH TROUBLE APPREHENDED
Police Court Refuses to Prosecute on
Information Supplied by Police.
Case Is Referred as Test.

Street cars in Washington can travel at
any old speed, violating all police regula-
tions as to speed limit, and the District
government can only make a note OF II,
entirely shorn of power to prevent or
punish.
The Commissioners have absolutely no
control of street railways operating In tho
District. The enactment of a law At the
last session of Congress vitiates all their
former authority and vests all powers or
regulation in the interstate commerce
commission.
Complaint Is Not Entertained.
Bicycle Policeman Lauten OF the sixth
precinct says that by means Of his speed
meter he found that a Capital Traction
car was operating on Pennsylvania ave-
nue. at the rate of twenty-five miles an
hour last Thursday. He notified the
motorman to appear In the Police Court
the following day.
When the case was explained to James
L. Pugh. assistant corporation counsel at
the Police Court. he declined to file an In
formation against the operator of the car
on the ground that such grievance would
only be entertained when coming from
the interstate commerce commission.
This Information was furnished the
the superintendent of police. Commits
sioner West today moved that the case
be referred to the interstate commerce
commission for proper action.
Shorn Of All Power.
The Commissioners were we'll aware
that all their powers to regulate street
railways had been transferred to the
commerce commission. They had ex-
pected. however. to continue prosecutions
for violating the speed limit
Corporation Counsel Thomas. several
weeks ago. gave his opinion to the Com
missioners upon this act, in which he ex-
pressed the belief that the Commissioners
had no authority under the law, not even
in connection with the speed OF cars. The
Commissioners held the view that the
police regulations. nevertheless. would
govern in this regard. They are now sat-
isfied that they do not.
Commissioner West, who has super
vision Of the police department. said to-
day that Mr.. Pugh could not have done
otherwise than to refuse to prosecute IN
view of the wording and proper interpre-
tation of the law.
How the Law Reads.
That section of the act which has bear
ing on this case follows:
1.-The interstate commerce commits
sion is hereby given power to require
and compel obedience to all OF the
provisions of this section, and to-
make. alter. amend and enforce all
needful rules and regulations to Sc
cure said obedience: and said COM
mission is given power to make all
such orders and regulations necessary
to the exercise of the powers herein
granted to it as may be reasonable
and proper: and such railroad COM
pan,es or corporations. their omcerS
and employees. are hereby required to
obey all the provisions Of this section
and such regulations and orders as
may be made by said commission.
pph <Nr
it's officers or employees. violating any
provision of this section. or any of the
said orders or regulations made by
said commission. or permitting such
violation. shall be punished by fine
of not more than $1,000. And ea,
day of failure neglect on the part
of such company or corporation, It's
officers or employees. to obey each ana
all of the provisions and requirements
of this section. or the orders and regu-
lations of the commission made there
under. shall be regarded as separate
offense."
Section Il of the act makes 1t plain that
the Commissioners are out IN the colo
SO far as governing the street railways.
as was expressed by one Official today. Ii
reads:
Sec L. That prosecutions for vio-
lations of any of the provisions OF TINS
act shall be on information or the m
terstate commerce commission filed In
the Police Court by or on behalf OF the
commission.
Much Trouble Apprehended.
The Commissioners fear. should the in
terstate commerce commission be rushed
with business and cramped for time, SO
as to be compelled to ''pigeonhole" infor-
nation. such as was furnished by Police
man Lauten. that the results may prove
serious If not embarrassing. The Com
missioners i'm all events will be power
less.
This same act provides that the speed
limits for street cars shall be fifteen miles
an hour within the city limits and twenty
miles an hour i'm the suburbs.
The Commissioners look upon this case.
tn