The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-08-04
Commission Rules Against
Traction Company's
Objections.
FIVE RULES UPHELD,
AND TWO MODIFIED
Sustains Prediction Made BY The
Times That Regulation Will
Hold.

The Capital Traction Company, it be-
came known today. has been turned
down by the Interstate Commerce Com
mission on an appeal TO that body to
modify a number Of its recent regula-
tions issued for the government and op-
Grafton of District electric street rail-
ways.
The defeat meted out TO The company
Is as far reaching in its effect as that
delivered a week ago to the Washington
Railway ami Electric Company which
was also turned down by The commits
zion on a similar appeal.
The action Of the commission sustalns
the prediction made by The Times some
time ago that that body intends 10 sup
port almost In their entirety the large
number Of orders and regulations issued,
OF which one is that the railway COM
panies shall show cause why the trailer
shall not be abolished AS yet the
companies have not attacked this fea-
lure o. the orders, but from the firm
stand the commission has Iaken in
backing up the orders and regulations
that have been attacked it is regarded
as practically assured that it win as
sumo a similar attitude In regard to the
abolition of the trailer.
Seven Requests Made.
Seven requests were made by the
traction company that the orders be
modified or annulled in seven places.
( Five OF these the commission has re-
fused TO grant The other two it has
modified. The company has been In
formed accordingly.
Chief among the turn downs. and one
affecting more than any other The COM
fort Of the public, was the request OF the
company that the order requiring heat
ers 60 be placed IN Irailers in winter
! be annuliel. This the commission re-
fused absolutely 20 grant.
The order or The commission was that
temperature OF not less than 20 de-
grees nor more than 60 degrees shall be
T maintained in trailers, when the temper
allure OF the weather is less than 40
degrees. The company insisted that 10
have one car heated would be sufficient
as this would give the passengers the
right 10 choose between warm and cold
cars, as not all passengers. liked 10 ride
IN warm cars.
: according to the mandate Of the COM
mission. all tTailers must be provided
with heaters by November I, nOtWILh-
standing the protest OF the traction COM
+ pany.
The Capital Traction Company also
lost on its complaint concerning the
5 heighth OF the tenders. Six inches was
the maximum height for tenders allowed
by the commission. The company claim
ed il had several cars IN which the
wheel guards are so constructed that
= tenders having a height OF ten inches
would not violate the objects sought TO
be attained by the regulation. The
( commission refused TO modify the regls
3 lation in order TO provide for the ten
3 inch fender.
+ The commission practically said It
didn't care anything for the charter of
+ the company. when the complaint
( against the regulation requiring the car
body to be kept in repair was eonsid-
+ cred.
In making its complaint on this regu-
: lauons the company insisted its char
Z ter provided for the repair Of the car
. body and tntimated that the jurisdiction
OF the commission was heing extended
too far : hen IT sought to regulate this
subject The commission, however, took
a different view OF the matter. and al
lowed the regulation TO stand
The Traction Company Jared slightly
better than did the Washington Rail-
way and Electric company on It's COM
plant against the regulation governing
& brake-haHgers.
i May Be Upheld.
The Washington Railway and Electric
Company objected in toto 20 the reEu-
lation, and lost out in the same pro-
portion. The Traction Company insisted
that It's cars are so built as 70 make
i-the brake-hanger usless The an
swer Of the commission was that If the
ompany can make this fact apparent
the regulation may be modified. other
wise. II viii 60 into effect November !,
I as ordered.
In reply TO the company's objection
10 the regulation that cars be required
70 stop at all crossings the commission
answered that the regulation would not
be changed, but would be interpreted
literally when involved IN complaints
against the company.
The two requests which were modified
TO the company's advantage were with
respect 10 sand boxes and guard rails
The original order Of the commission
was that each car must be provided witt
four sand boxes. This was changed 4
Two boxes, one 10 be placed at each END
OF every car operated.
With respect TO the order requiring
al open cars 20 be equipped witt
guard rails. the Commission extended
the time FOR II 10 go into effect from
September 1. 1893, 70 April /. 1910 Thh
modification was made 10 order to al
low the cars to be equipped with guarC
rails during the winter, so that thel
viii not have 70 be taken from serv
ice now and made ready 10 c0mpll
with the original order BY the frs
Of next month
The District Electric Railway Com
mission which IS the branch Of the Ia
f-terstate Commerce Commission through
which matters dealing with the loca
street railways are handled. viii NEE
this afternoon 20 consider a uumbe
81 complaints made by citizens.