Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-24
THEY FIND THE; WAY
Members of Railway Subcom.
mission Get Information
FROM RAILWAY OFFICERS
Interstate Commerce Commission
Makes the Request.
MR.. EDDY HAS OPEN DOOR
But Only as Employe Of Interstate
Commission-District Body
Ready for Work.
[R. EDDY HAS OPEN DOOR


Although the local street railways have
refused to recognize the authority Of the
District railway commission and to give
1T information necessary for its proper
regulation of the local electric lines. the
commission will get the information after
all, and it will be supplied by officials
Of the railway companies.
Shortly after the District commission
was organized and began to receive COM
plants 1t wrote letters to the heads Of
the Capital Traction Company and the
Washington Railway and Electric Com
pany asking them for information as to
car schedules and the number and char
acter Of cars used by the lines. In reply,
the heads of the railway companies told
the District commission that 1t under
stood that the recent law Of Congress
placed the control Of local electric lines
in the hands of the interstate commerce
and not in a District railway
subcommission. and that when that COM
mission requested information or issued
orders the railways would heed the re-
formation which the District commission
wanted and needed was forthcoming. 1t
was the turn of the railway companies to
laugh.
But now the District commission has
found Its turn to smile. When 1t received
the throw-down of the railway company
presidents it told the interstate COM
merce commission of its troubles, and re-
Quested the interstate commission to ask
directly for the information refused to
the DISTRICT railway commission. That
very thing the interstate commission did
Presidents Reply.
Replies from George E. Hamilton, presi-
dent of the Capital Traction Company,
and from Clarence F. Norment, president
OF the Washington Railway and Electric
Company, have been received by the in
terstate commerce commission, and have
been forwarded to the District commits
sion. These, state that the railway lines
are preparing schedules containing the
Information desired. and that these will
pe forwarded to the interstate commerce
commission as soon as completed. And
tnat commission says that as soon as re-
celVed the information will be placed at
the disposal Of the District commission.
Lnese schedules requested by the COM
mission, Will show the number and char
acter OF cars used on all car lines, the
times OF departure from the car barns.
the arrangements for all-night services
and the points where transfers are made
as desirable in connection with several
complaints filed with the commission.
In another letter, according to an an
nouncement of the District railway COM
mission, Mr.. Hamilton states that in de-
clining to recognize the authority of the
commission his company Is guided by
legal considerations and not by any desire
to hinder federal control.
Another Slight.
Additional letters from the two railway
presidents. however, contain another
slight for the District railway commits
sion. similar to the first one contained
in the letters in which the roads failed
to give that commission information
which it requested. Presidents Hamilton
and Norment have acknowledged the re-
,ceipt of copy of an order of the inter-
state commerce commission appointing
Mr.. III. C. Eddy as a subordinate of that
commission and assigning him to the
District electric railway commission with
the title of executive officer and secretary.
In their letters both railway presidents
say that Mr.. Eddy. as an officer or ex-
amining agent of the interstate commerce
commission, will be cordially received
and given the fullest information. The
Interpretation given to these letters Is
that the railway companies do not recog-
nize Mr.. Eddy as the executive officer and
secretary of the District railway commits
sion. This Is regarded as only the logi-
cal position to be taken by the railway
companies. following their first action in
refusing to recognize the legal status OF
the commission itself.
With the Information promised by the
railway companies in its hands and with
Mr.. Eddy. the executive officer. able to
get additional information in his capacity
as an employe of the interstate commerce
icrin he f0f IyIyo
sion will soon be in position to make
recommendations for the settlement of
some of the complaints presented to 1t
in the past few weeks.
The letters from the street railway
presidents, containing this second declara-
ton, interpreted to mean a refusal to
recognize the authority of the District
railway commission, are addressed to Mr..
Martin A. Knapp, chairman of the inter-
state commerce commission.
President Hamilton's Letter.
President Hamilton says:
Your letter of the 21st instant. with
copy of order appointing Mr.. H. c. Eddy
to temporary employment in the inter-
state commerce commission, and assign
ing him to the District electric railway
commission. with title of executive officer
and secretary to that commission, re-
ceived.
I'm reply I will state that Mr.. Eddy, as
an authorized officer, examiner or agent
of the interstate commerce commission,
will be very cordially received and given
the fullest information and assistance in
his examination into complaints against
the Capital Traction Company on file
with your commission.
I'm declining to recognize the authority
of the electric railway commission this
company is guided by legal considerations.
and is not actuated by the desire to op-
pose or hinder federal control: on the con-
trary. we believe that the company's in
terests will be served and safeguarded by
fair supervision and control. judiciously
applied by the interstate commerce COM
mission
President Norment says:
''In reply to your favor of July 81, an
nouncing the appointment of Mr. H. c.
Eddy as executive officer and secretary of
the District electric railway commission.
I beg to say that we will be pleased to
give Mr.. Eddy, as the agent of the inter-
state commerce commission, all the in
formation in our possession respecting
complaints which have been or may be
filed against our companies with the in
terstate commerce commission.
''It Is our desire and purpose to act in
harmony with and assist the interstate
commerce commission in every possible
way in the settlement of any and all diff
ferences in matters over which the inter-
state commerce commission has juris-
.diction."