Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-02

THE policy of the District railway
commission will be to guard the inter-
ests Of the people of the District to
the utmost degree without crushing
the railways"
In this way Gen. John NJ. Wilson, pres
ident of the newly appointed commission
which is to have supervision over the
street railway lines in the District, out
lined the attitude OF the commission. The
other members are Henry L. West. Dis
trict Commissioner. and Thomas w.
Smith, a Washington business man. The
three representative citizens were nameo
by the interstate commerce commission.
to which power to regulate the street car
lines of the District was delegated by
Congress at the last session.
The District railway commission plans
two lines of work. First it will investi-
gate complaints regarding street railway
service and decide on a remedy to be en-
forced by the interstate commerce COM
mission. Secondly. 1t will adopt code OF
based on information obtained from other
cities and from the local railway man
ayers.
First Meeting Held.
The new commission held its first meet
lin K. Lane Of the interstate commerce
commission at 10 o'clock this morning.
General plans for carrying out the work
of the commission were outlined. Steps
were taken for the adoption of a code OF
regulations governing the washington
street railways to supersede the ponce
regulations which are no longer IN iorce;
The plans will probably be approved
by the interstate commerce commission
in a few days, and then become effective
The business transacted at the meeting
was, in brief. as follows:
Adoption, tentatively. of the old police
regulations as to the movement OF street
cars.
Adoption of regulation recurring that
cars stop on the near side OF the street
in all sections of the city
Provisions made for prosecutions IN the
Police Court of violations OF the speed
regulations
Decided to ask heads of Washington
street railways for schedules of car serv-
ice. showing. particularly. night service.
Decided to have headquarters on the
top floor of the Westory building, where
most of the hearings will be held.
Decided to hold the next meeting Mon
day at 10 am. at which time an execu-
tive officer will be appointed
Gen. Wilson Made Chairman.
BY virtue of his appointment first. Gen.
Wilson was made the chairman Of the
commission and presided over its drst ses-
sion this morning. Harry S. Garner or
the interstate commerce commission was
made temporary secretary.
The meeting was not open to news
paper men. Members of the commission
said they had nothing to conceal and that
all the steps taken will be made pubic
Immediately after adoption.
Commissioner West submitted to the
commission sections of the police regula-
tions governing the movement or street
cars which is now in the jurisdiction or
the interstate commerce commission. On
his motion il was decided 10 submit the
regulations TO the interstate commerce
commission and ask their aooption as Ten
tative regulations.
1t is the intention Of the commission to
devise a new set of regulations for the
railways. contemplated by the law.
This complete code will not be prepared
until the commission gets information
from other cities and from the Washing
ton railway managers.
The police regulations relating to fend-
ers. wheelguards and other appliances or
cars, speed of cars at crossings and along
thorough hfares were adopted as they now
stand.
The only change was suggested by Mr..
Smith. and il was adopted. This is
regulation requiring all cars to stop on
the near side of the street in all Sec
tions of the District. 1t was explained
that in the southeast section of the city
cars stop on the far side of the street.
and this causes confusion.
Police to Report Violations.
A further motion was carried request
ing the interstate commerce commits
sion to ask the Commissioners OF the
District to instruct the major and
superintendent of police to report to
the commission all violations of the law
relating to the speed of cars in order
that prosecutions may De instituted by
the interstate commerce commission in
the Police Court 1t was stated by
member OF the commission that il was
not known yet whether the cases Will
be brought in, the United States branch
or the District branch OF the court
1t was also decided TO request the presi-
dents of the Washington street railways
to submit the schedules of all the lines In
the District of Columbia. showing the
number OF cars in use. the kinds of cars
used, and especially the all-night service.
The chief salaried officer of the commis-
sion will be an executive officer. He ts -