Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-11
Interstate Commerce Commits
sion Promises Results.
WAYS ARE TO BE DEVISED
Meeting of Body on Monday to De-
termine Upon Procedure.
REFERENCE OF COMPLAINTS
Power to Regulate and Enforce
Given Under Recent Law
Is Adequate.

'There is no reason why the National
capital should not have a model street
railway SYSTEM said Commissioner Lane
of the interstate commerce commission.
which was recently clothed, by act OF
Congress, with power to regulate the
traction in the District of Columbia.
Commissioner Lane is authority for the
statement that the commission will use
its power to give the District the best
possible street car service that the reve
nues of street car companies can afford.
The exact method by which this will be
accomplished, he says. will have to be
determined by the commission at it's next
meeting
Meeting on Monday
The members of the commission will
meet, according to practice, Monday next
1t is expected the law will be gone over
and plans laid for its enforcement at
that time.
The commission is given power under
this law to make. alter. amend and en-
force all needful rules and regula tionS to
secure said obedience. Whether or not
a set of rules viii be promulgated at
once. or At all, by the commission is a
matter Yet to be determined by that body.
At present all petitions from citizens
associa ationS and others, touching the
| street car service in the District. are re-
| ferred by the District Commissioners to
! the interstate commerce commission.
| The latter body may determine, it is
said, to enforce the law by merely taking
| cognizance of these complaints as they
| come in and asking the railroad COM
| panles to show cause why they do not
| supply the sort of service demanded by
| the citizens. This would necessitate hear
ings. following which the interstate COM
| nerce commission could issue orders to
| the roads requiring them to do what it
| might think proper.
A question has arisen to whether
or not the commission has funds which
IT can use for the purpose of enforcing
| this law. No appropriation was carried
IN the act the trainers doubtless believ-
ing the regular appropriation for the
commission would cover all necessities
that might arise under it, A system OF
| regular inspectors might be established
/ 1t is said. provided the commission has
the money needed for such purpose
Police Court May Not Be Needed
\ general impression prevails among
| the members of the commission that i,
will not be necessary to go into the local
police court, as provided In the act to
enforce its provisions. 1t is believed that
| when the commission notifies a railway
| company that more or better cars should
| be provided On a certain line or some
other Improvement should be made. the
! companies will agree to make the i'm
provements. after a satisfactory hearing
has been accorded them. In many cases
1t is believed. 1T will not be necessary
to hold hearing.
The Union station trackage act. passed
al the last session of Congress, gives the
commission power to require and com.
pei obedience to all provisions of the
! section of the act, which provides that
Every street railway company or cor.
poration owning, controlling. leasing OIL
operating one or more street railroads
within the District of Columbia shall or
each and all of its railroads supply anC
operate sufficient number of cars. clean
sanitary. in good repair. with proper AND
safe power. equipment, appliances and
service, comfortable and convenient, anG
! 50 operate the same as to give expedi-
i tious passage. not to exceed fifteen miles
| per hour within the city limits or twenty
miles per hour in the suburbs TO all per.
sons desirous of the use of said cars
without crowding said cars.