Evening star., 1908-01-13
PRESENTS new AMENDMENT
MR.. MADDEN WOULD PROVIDE
FOR UNIVERSAL TRANSFERS.
Subject Considered at Secret Ses-
sion of the House District
Committee.

Universal transfers in the District was
the topic of discussion at a secret session
of the House District committee this morn
ing. Those present, in addition to the
members of the committee, were Commits
sioner Morrow, President Dunlop of the
Capital Traction Company, Vice Presi-
dent Harries of the Washington Rail-
way and Electric Company, Representa-
tive Madden of Illinois, author of the uni
versal transfer bill. and Representative
Hepburn of Iowa, an advocate of street
railway betterment and reform There
was considerable conversation on the part
of Representative Madden. President
Dunlop and Representative Hepburn, and
at noon. when the committee adjourned.
it was announced that consideration OF
the subject would be resumed at the
regular meeting of the committee Thurs
day.
New Amendment offered.
The chief feature OF the session was
the presentation by Mr.. Madden of a
new and more comprehensive provision
for universal transfers which he desired to
have attached as an amendment to the
Sims bill authorizing the local street
railway companies to extend their tracks
to the Union station. The amendment
suggested by Mr.. Madden follows:
THE extension Of lines. routes or route,
constructions. switches and trackage au-
thorized by this act is granted to the
Capital Traction Company Gncluding the
Rock Creek Railway Company of the Dis
trict of Columbia and the Washington and
Georgetown Railway Company and the
Washington Railway and Electric Com
GnClJdjnp 10 poflv
Company of the District Of Columbia and
the Columbia Railway Company, bodies
corporate organized by virtue Of certain
acts of Congress. only on the conditions
precedent that they. the said street rail-
way companies and their each and con-
nected street railways, and each of them,
together with the Anacostia and Potomac
River Railway Company, the Brightwood
railway Company, the Capital Railway
company. the City and Suburban Railway
Company. the Georgetown and TenIytown
Railway Company, the Washington and
Great Falls Electric Company. the Wash
ington and Rockville Railway Company,
the Washington Woodside and Forest Glen
hallway and Power Company. the Mary
land and Washington Railway Company.
the Washington. Alexandria and Mt. Yer
non Electric Railway Company, and all
other street railway companies in the Dis
trict OF Columbia. and all other said street
railway companies associated. connected
or consolidated. shall make, or cause to be
made and given at all times to all pas
sengers on any Of said street railways,
free continuous and universal transfers
for one passage for one fare, interchanRe-
able to, from and over the line and lines
of every other of said street railway COM
panies, which transfer shall be good and
receivable at all junction points, intersec-
tons or connection Of each and every one
of said street railway companies within
the District Of Columbia.."
This section just quoted was prepared
with the greatest care and was made suf-
fciently comprehensive to cover collect
lively and severally the parent companies s
and allied lines.
Penalties Provided.
The second paragraph OF the Madden
amendment provides the penalty for VIOLA
tions of the foregoing provision. There is
now statute on the books providing for
a universal transfer, but 1t cannot be en-
forced owing to the absence of any pen
atty for violation. So the Madden amend
ment provides that any street railway
company which shall refuse to issue a
transfer as above provided shall pay the
sum Of $25, to be recovered by the party
to whom the refusal is made by action
brought within one year from the time of
the refusal.
In addition it Is provided that every Of
Acer OF agent OF any street railway COM
pany who shall violate any provisions of
this act shall for every such violation be
punished by fine of not less than $40 nor
more than 800 by the Police Court of the
District on information filed by the cor
poration counsel. Refusal on the part of
any Of the street railway companieA to
Issue or receive transfers as provided
shall, under the provisions OF the Madden
amendment, annul the franchise Of the
offending company.
Mr.. Madden made a somewhat extended
argument in favor Of his amendment. ana
ne was followed by Representative Hep
burn. who advocated general betterment
of car service in the District.
President Dunlop Of the Capital Traction
Company replied briefly to both gentlemen,
but was cut short by the necessary ad-
journment at noon. 1t Is expected that
the arguments pro and con will be re-
newed with -vigor Thursday.