The Washington times., 1908-07-19
Traction Board to Take
Complaint to Interstate
Commission.
REQUEST REFUSED
FOR INFORMATION
President Hamilton Writes Letter
Doubling Authority of Sub
sidiary Body.

The snub which the Capital Traction
Company. through it's president. George
F. Hamilton, has attempted to admin
lister TO the District Electric Railway
Commission, by refusing to recognize
he right Of the latter TO legal exist
ence, tomorrow viii be brought Off
ciaIIy 70 the attention OF the Interstate
Commerce Commission, the creator OF
ana sponsor for the subcommlssion-
The Interstate Commerce Commission
gave TO the traction board the power
20 investigate on behalf or the former
complaints against the operation and
equipment OF street cars IN this Dis
trict, and to have violations OF the
regulations governing the same prose-
cuted in the Police Court through the
United States District Attorneys office
The letter from the Capital Traction
Companys president, In which the trac-
ton boarc was given 70 understand that
that railway company intends TO ignore
the subcommission's behesis. will be
forwarded 10 the Interstate Commerce
Commission by the traction board to-
morrow
Refused Request.
The letter from Mr. hamilton was IN
reply 20 a request from the electric
railway commission for information as
10 the schedules and equipment OF the
Capital Traction Company's cars The
letter did not contain the desired in
formation. Instead. IL told the traction
board plainly. although in the language
OF diplomacy. that the schedules and
equipment were none Of its business.
Before Eending the letter 10 the larger
body. the traction board declined TO
make public It's exact words The sub
stance Of II. however. was this
The Capital Traction Company has
been advised that under section IS OF
public act 13s. which gives the Inter
state Commerce Commission supervision
over the street railways IN the Dis
trict OF Columbia, the matter OF equip
ment and schedules is placed N the
hands OF the Interstate Commerce Com
mission.
The Capital Traction Company is in
formed that the Interstate Commerce
Commission has appointed certain gen
tlemen az a commission TO investigate
and report on matters pertaining &c
which complaint is made.
Disputes Authority.
The Capita Traction Company will
act as reuired BY law. when notified OF
! specific instances Of grievances by the
Interstate Commerce Commission.
In other words, although the Inter
state Commission has named a commis-
sion 20 investigate complaints, and 70
arbltrate these with the street rail-
way companies, the Capital Traction
Company will deal only with the Inter
state Commerce Commission direct
Conflict in Prospect
The capitalization Of the feeling
which has fer some time been known
TO exist against the traction board in
/ the minds OF the street railway officials,
/ is regarded as Indicating an inevitable
conflict between two Of the most power
ful bodies in the District-the Inter
/ state Commerce Commission and the
| group OF railway officials.
| The Interstate Commerce Commission
already has declared uDequivocany thai
its appointment Of agents was distinctly
/ provided for by law. and that it hold:
itself ready to support the status Of
the Electric anway Commission. TIT
larger commission holds that the onl!
question to be determined is that OF
| salary for the members OF the subcoIn
mission. since the act to regulate com
merce specifically states that the Inter
state Commerce Commission shall havl
! authority 10 employ and fX the com
pensation OF such other employees as I
may find necessary 20 the proper per
Torrance of its duties
In the meantime, there IS consideranl
public anxiety for definite settlement
OF the status OF the Electric aiIwa,
Commission. The car riding public Ia
come to feel, as did one man who wrot
to the subcOmmissiOn: AT last we hav
representation in the matter Of accom-
mediation for street car passengers. al
ter having worked for five years I
secure the appointment Of such a com
mission"
The Electric Railway Commission nov
has many matters before II for con
lsideTation during the summer Thes
Will be carefully investigated during tn
| coming weeks, and will be taken I'D q
, a meeting of the entire board 10 be hel
in September. In the absence of Ger
John NJ Wilson. chairman, a specis
meeting viii be called by District Con
missioner West, who IS also q ;nembe
Of the board. II any matter develop
! which seems to be Of sufficient fmpo1
lance Tor such action.