Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-18
INFORMATION NOT GIVEN
President Hamilton Will Act. When
I. G. C. Makes Complaint.
WEST CHOSEN VICE CHAIRMAN
Definition of What Constitutes
"Crowded Car" Asked in Com
plaint From E. r. Magic.

when notified by the interstate
commerce commission Of speclhc
complaint. this company will act as re-
quired by law.
The name of George E. Hamilton. presi-
dent of the Capital Traction Company. Is
signed to a letter which concludes with
the expression given above. construed as
a denial of the authority of the District
railway commission
The letter is addressed to the chairman
of the railway commission and is a reply
to a communication from the commission
to the railway company.
Members of the railway commission re-
fuse to discuss Mr. Hamilton's attitude
They say they are drawing no conclusions
from the letter. but are simply accepting
1t upon its face.
Request and Reply.
Several days ago the District railway
Company asking the officials to supply the
commission with information showing car
schedules and the number and kind OF
cars operated by that line. The reply &C.
knowledges receipt of the former COM
nunication, gives no information as re-
ouested and concludes with the terse an
nouncement that the company will act
when the interstate commerce commits
sion. from which the railway commission
derives its authority, makes speclnc COM
plaint-
This letter was the subject Of much dis
cussion at q meeting of the commission
held this morning in its rooms In the
Westory building.
Other matters considered were q letter
from e. R. Magic Of the solicitors office
of the Department Of Commerce and La
Dor. asking when car is crowded" In
the meaning of the recent act of Congress
governing local street railways: COM
plant from resident Of southeast Wash
ington protesting against cars stopping on
the near side Of the street: and plans for
meetings and for a continuation OF the
commissions work during the summer.
Commissioner H. L. West was elected
vice chairman Of the commission. In the
absence of Gen. John M. Wilson, the
chairman. he will have power to call
meetings Of the commission. It is ex-
pected that both he and Commissioner
T W. Smith will be here during the
summer, and they win meet when nee
essary.
Gen. Wilson will be in readiness to an
a meeting Of the commission when any
important matter requires immediate
consideration.
What Is q Crowded Carr
In asking for a definition Of the words
WitllOut CTOWuluH tHc CdIS, tAd6Ic,
the complainant, points out that section
16 of the act Of Congress approved May
q last requires that every street rail-
road company or corporation owning, con-
trolling, leasing or operating one or more
street railroads within the District Of Co
lumbia shall. on each and all of its rail-
roads. supply and operate q sufficient
number of cars. clean. sanitary" ETC..
without crowding said cars"
The writer tells of the number of pas
sengers in cars he has been a passenger
on. He says he rides to work on Brook
land car. and that the seating capacity
of the car on that line is thirty pas
sengers. and that the number Of pas
sengers, not counting those riding on
transfers, was sixty. He declares the
cars were crowded"
The commission will take up this mat.
ter later. 1t Is expected that light will
be sought from the legal branch Of the
government and from the experts of the
interstate commerce commission
Henry E. Kondrup of PIT I'd street
southeast wrote protest to the com.
mission against its recent order com.
pelling all cars to stop on the near side
of the streets. He thinks an exception
should be made along Pennsylvania ave
nue. southeast. because. he says, in wei
weather passengers must step of cars
on to wet grass mud.
Gen. Wilson, chairman, will leave to.
morrow to spend a couple of months ir
the north.