Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-17
House District Committee
Completes Its Trackage Act.
A COMPREHENSIVE SECTION
May Cause Considerable Debate
When It Comes Up.
NEXT THURSDAY AND FRIDAY
DAYS Set for Consideration of This
Act-Three Bills Sent by
the Commissioners.

After a spirited three-hour session today
the House District committee reaffirmed
its previously expressed approval of most
Of the sections of the Union station perma-
nent trackage bill and added a new and
comprehensive paragraph giving the Dis
trict Commissioners authority to regulate
the number of cars. sanitary condition
and the time schedules. This provision
was adopted as a substitute for those
favored by Representative Hepburn of
Iowa and Representative Taylor of Ohio.
This new section, which will probably
stir I'D good deal of debate on the floor
this week when it comes up, is as follows:
Section Is. That every street railroad
company Or corporation owning. control
ling, leasing or operating one or moEe
street railroads within the District Of
Columbia shall on each and all of its
roads supply and operate such number of
cars, clean, sanitary. in good repair, with
proper and safe power, equipment. appli-
ances. and service. comfortable and con-
venient. and so operate the same as to
give expeditions passage. not exceeding
fifteen miles an hour, to all persons de-
sirous of the use of said cars without
crowdng the cars or platforms
"The Commissioners Of the District of
Columbia are hereby given power to re-
quire. and compel obedience to all of the
provisions of this section and to make,
alter, amend and inforce all needful
rules and regulations to secure obedience; ;
and the Commissioners are given power
to make all such orders and regulations
necessary to the exercise of the powers
herein granted to them as may be rea
sonable and proper: and such railroad
companies or corporations. their officers
and employees; are hereby required to obey
all of the provisions of this section and
such regulations as may be made by the
Commissioners.
A penalty of not more than 81 900 for
each offense is provided.
Next Thursday and Friday.
Under an arrangement with Speaker
Cannon Chairman Smith of the House Dis
trict committee has secured next Thurs
day and Friday for the consideration of
this permanent trackage bill and such
other measures as are now on the Dis
tr1ct calendar or that may be favOrably
reported by the committee between now
and then. 1t is a question of some doubt
as to what sort of reception the track
age bill will get upon the floor on District
day.
If there are as many different kinds of
opinions concerning trackage and every
thing else in the measure there were
in the District committee itself when
consideration of the measure was taken
the two days won't be any too much time
iu " COlHplcte lll6 Dill. he COM
mittee is hopeful. however. that, having
turned out the best bill 1t knew how to
frame. that the House will be inclined to
be somewhat charitable and will devote
its energies to perfect the measure in
stead Of finding fault. Members of the
are inclined to feel that section
18. giving the Commissioners power to
regulate various matters connected with
the operations of the local railway sys-
TENS, should appeal to Col. Hepburn as
sufficiently drastic to meet even his ad-
views. The committee recognizes
the fact. however. that this regulation pro-
vision. the universal transfer provision
and the paragra phs relating to new con-
both in the vicinity of the new
Union station and crosstown. must be eX-
planned in detail to the membership of the
House. which, individually and collect
lively, seems more deeply interested in the
local street railway situation than any
thing else of national or local Importance.
Three Commissioners Bills.
The District Commissioners today sent
to Chairman Smith of the House District