The Washington times., 1908-10-06
Investigating Complaints Of
Patrons of Brightwood
Line Made at Hearing.
SUBURBAN CITIZENS
DEMAND MORE CARS
TenIeytown and Rockville Resi-
dents Also Demand That They
Get Adequate Facilities.

The District Electric Railway Com
mission today is examining numerous
afhdavits and photographs submitted
to II by dissatisfied passengers, tending
to prove that inadequate service Is be
ing rendered by street railway lines
running from various suburbs of Wash
ington.
Characterizlng conditions on the
BrightwOod line Of the washington
Railway and Electric Company as IN
siderable" and asserting that, lin no
other municipality OF the country would
such conditions be allowed to exist. d"
protesting residents Of Brightwood,
Petworth, Takoma Park, and Park
View crowded the offices of the COM
mission at a public hearing
A large number Of residents Of Ten
leytown and Rockville were also grant
ed a hearing. and their complaints
We're scarcely less bitter than those
heard at the preceding hearing
Il assure you, gentlemen, that we
have not been altogether idle in re-
spect to the matters of which you have
spoken today" said Gen. John NJ.
Wilson, chairman Of the commission, at
the conclusion Of the hearings I'VE
shall do our best to satisfy you as far
as II lies in our power
Lack of Service Claimed.
Lack Of through service on both the
IirIghtwood and Rockville lines, and
overcrowdinE were the principal points
" criticism and discussion. The Bright
wood avenue people also laid great
stress on their assertion that there is
constant danger TO life and limb at the
Seventh street loop.
Secretary Eddy read a report showing
that in the case Of both lines the ser
vice is poor in several respects, and
that fl is not only announcement but also
dangerous to passengers.
William NICK. Clayton. an attorney,
appeared As representative of the
joint committee of the BTightWOOd Cit
liens. BTightwOod Park Citizens. Pet
worth Citizens, TakOma Park Citizens q,
and Park View Citizens Associations.
He declared that the people along the
BrighLWOOd line We're entitled to through
service into Washington. that they
should have the same privileges as are
in this respect accorded to those who
live much farther away, as In Laurel,
Hyattsville, Berwyn, and other Mary
land towns.
Unfairness Charged.
AN unfair use is being made by the
Washington Railway and Electric Com
pany Of the deficit Of the Brightwood
line" he said. If this line, with its
Zlways overCrOwded cars. does not pay
there is not a street car line in the
city or IN the country that does pay
Louis P Shoemaker. the next speaker,
said:
There is scarcely vacant lot along
BrightwOOd avenue all the way to Sol
dieTs' Home. II the company operating
cars through such a territory cannot
make il pay. il is time that the COM
pany be compelled TO give up its charter
and let some company that can make fl
pay take charge of the line"
Other speakers were Terence V.
POwderly, OF the immigration Service,
and Judge Charles s. Bundy. Among
the photographs submitted were some
said 10 show cars so crowded that pas
sengers were obliged 70 stand even on
the front bumpers
As to the conditions on the Tcnley-
town line, these men spoke: James II
Taylor. representing the Cathedral
Heights Citizens Association: j. NOta
McGiu, president OF that association, &.
G Lancaster, OF the TenleytOwn Citi-
Zens Association: L. L Hooper, 5. D
Caldwell, and A G Ruebsam-
From the facts presented, the Electric
Railway Commission Will prepare rec
concentrations which viii be submitted
10 the Interstate Commerce Commission
for approval