The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-08-19
Traction Officials Have
Twelve Days TO Answer Or
der of Commission.
PREPARATIONS MADE
TO PUT IN HEATERS
Body Expected TO Hold TO Order
Disseminating Use of the
Follow Car"

In twelve days the order OF the Inter
state Commerce Commission 20 the Dis
trict electric railway companies, requir-
ing them to show cause why the use OF
trailers should not be discontinued, viii
have expired by time limit. The COM
panles we're directed to make their at
titude on the trailer question known BIZ
September ]. and. as yet, none OF them
have responded In any form.
Just what is to be the outcome Of the
trailer problem IS becoming a problem
In itself The apparently indifferent
attitude of the companies toward the or
der is giving the entire situation a more
complex color. That the commission Is
out for the scalps Of the trailers. how
ever. Is generally admitted,
Companies Standing Pat.
Preparations to install heaters in trail
eIs and make other improvements OF a
permanent nature are regarded as es-
tablishing the TACT that the companies
intend to put up a fight against any at
tempt TO abolish this type Of car. What
ever the comIni-sion decides to do ear
ly action is anticipated, and may come
next month IN the form of a sweeping
order requiring the discontinuance 5E
trailers
One OF the r. ncipal communications
which came bel-re the District Electric
Railway Commission yesterday dealt
with the trailer qgestion. The writer
declared that he would rather ride IN
an up-to-date type Of car In winter,
which was not heated. than to ride ir
a heated trailer.
After considering the communication
| the commission left its plans as much
| in doubt as ever by replying TO the
writer that the companies had been or
I dered 10 show cause by the first Of
next month why the use OF the trailer
should not be discontinued.
May Not Show Cause.
The companies may or may not show
cause but. in case Of the former, il is
now generally believed they VIII not
do so until Immediately preceding the
expiration Of the time. In either event,
| il is regarded az fairly certain that the
commission has a policy-not favorable
to the trailer-worked out, which win
be strictly followed and promises to
result finally IN the abolition Of that
type Of car.
An ingenious suggestion made up
another communication received by the
commission. dealing with the subject
of congestcd cars Tie writer outlined
a plan bv which passengers, when un-
able 10 find seats. are 10 be given stand
ing checks by the conductor. On their
mex. car ride, all they viii have 10
do viii be to present these checks and
8 cents. which will entitle them to
transfer If. on using the transfer,
they again fail TO get a seat, then
they are to be returned a penny, max
ing the ultimate fare paid ? cents
II is the opinion of the originator Of
the plan that, If adopted, 1t will have
the effect of making the companies,
themselves, solve the problem Of con-
gested traffic. He did not make plain in
his letter to the commission, however,
what a passenger would do, who was
given q standing check on first entering
the car, and then found vacant seat
later.
Objects to Noisy Cars
Other. communications received dealt
with the subjects re ating to placing
large white disks on cars. which would
indicate a certain line or route taken
by the car, and may be seen at a dis
tance Of several blocks. and the usage
by the street car companies of sprink-
ling cara One writer objected 10 the
noise that IS being caused, he claims,
by the operation Of several loose cars
on the Berwyn and BrOokland lines.
Secretary and Executive Officer Eddy
read the communications 70 the commits
sloners. and replies are being mailed to-
dav TO the correspondents. informing
them thai thew are hPing- considered