The Washington times., 1909-05-22
Suits Will Probably Soon Be
Filed Against Traction
Companies.
THE ROLLING STOCK
IS IN BAD REPAIR
Railway Commission Gets Report
of Conditions on Brook
land Lines.

Following the institution of proceed
ings against several traction companies
for alleged violation of the law regard
ing eroFding Of cars, other prosecutions
viii probably be begun at an early
date charging them with operating cars
with fiat wheels and improperly con-
structed wheel guards and tenders.
This decision was reached at q meet
ing OF the District Electric Railway
Commission, at which report was
made concerning the refusal of certain
of the companies to improve the condi-
ton OF their rolling stock Specific
cases were cited, showing that after the
concerns had been notified to remove
fat wheels and to install new tenders
and guards, they had refused to do so.
ignoring the orders of the Commission
1t was decided to send the complaints
to the United States district attorney
| with the request that prosecutions be
commenced as early as possible.
Number Not known.
How many companies arc mentioned,
and how many specific Instances are
contained in the data upon which the
separate charges will he filed, are not
known II was stated today, however,
that the information win be placed IN
the hands of the District Attorney nth
out delay, and that only an adverse de-
cision on his part, which is not antici-
pated, can prevent the suits.
Regarding the determination OF the
Railway Commission 10 force the COM
panies to keep their rolling stock in the
best of condition, District Commissioner
West. member of the former body.
today said,
"Regulations for the safeguarding Of
" enforced, Investigations have shown
that number of cars are defective in
this respect Orders have been made to
place wheel guards on all the cars, and,
Il not obeyed. the companies Will suffer
a penalty
Secretary Eddy. or the commission,
a. its meeting, nIede a report on the
operation Of the pay-as-you-enter ear
operated by the Capital Traction Com
pany on its Fourteenth street line, and
stated the company was preparing 10
rearrange il by installing cross seats.
A report was submitted by Secretary
Eddy on the conditions Of the Brook
land lines. containing a recommendation
aimed to provide more comfort for pa
irons during rush hours. The report fol-
lows:
Report On Condition.
Il have the honor TO report that I
have recently made careful observa-
tons in regard TO the conditions OF traf-
rush hours. both previous 10 and since
the Inauguration of the service extend
ing from North Capitol street and r
street to First ana Z streets southeast.
During the morning rush hour it
was found that many Of the southbound
cars on North Capitol street were very
much crowded at North Capitol and Fl
streets, where observations were taken
| tn a. he
vice above referred to was inaugurated
on this line. Subsequent to May l 90
seTyations were taken simultaneously
at North Capitol and I streets, ans
North Capitol and ii streets. and 1t
has been found that many of the Brook
during the morning rush hours while
the other cars which run down North
Capitol street. and thence on 10 First
and Z streets southeast, carry very
few passengers, in some instances being
entirely empty at North Capitol and II
streets. IS well as North Capitol and
7 streets.
1T was also observed that the cars
which had the heaviest loads at North
Capitol and II streets accumulated the
greater portion of the excess over the
seating capacity after leaving T street.
II would respectfully call attention to
the fact that if the patrons OF the North
Capitol street cars residing south Of 7
street patronize more literally the cars
Willcn nave recently DGSu put III SERVICE
on this line, transferring at North Capt
toi street and Massachusetts avenue ,
other cars which come as far as Four
teenth or Fifteenth streets On either r
or @ streets, the congestion in tile
through BrookIand cars would be very
much relieved"
Referring 10 the order of the Inter
state Commerce Commission that the
Georgetown and Ten4sytoWn Railway
Company shall have all OF its ears
operated in the District of Columbia
clean, sanitary, and in good repair by
Nav J." Secretary Eddy submitted a re-
port in which he said the order had
been complied with. with the exception
of two cars now in the shops of .ht
company, which are not being used.