Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-19
Numerous Complaints to the
Railway Commission.
MANY LETTERS RECEIVED
Excessive Blocking of the Aisles
Charged.
EGRESs FROM FRONT DIFFICULT
District Attorney Baker Awaiting
Instructions Regarding Prosecu-
ton for Overcrowding.

The merits and defects OF the new paw
as-youenter street cars which have re-
Gently been put i'm operation i'm this city
occupied much of the time OF the District
electric railway commission at its session
yesterday afternoon in the Westory build
ing. There were complaints galore but
only four of the compliments signed
their names and gave their addresses The
communications from the others, such as
'VoX Populi." ''Veritas," etc, were drop
ped in the waste basket by order of the
commission, which directed that all an
onymous communications hereafter be
treated in the same way.
There was also some discussion con-
corning the prosecution of the street rail-
ways for overcrowding their cars, and a
communication was read from District
Attorney Baker announcing that action In
that direction would be deferred until he
was instructed by the Department of Jus
tice. which he had asked for instructions.
Secretary Eddy was directed to continue
his investigation OF conditions Affecting
the pay-as-you-enter cars, and will, prob
ably at the next meeting Of the commits
sion. submit an exhaustive report upon
the subject.
Complaints of the Writers.
The tenor of the complaints against the
new cars is that they save the companies
at the expense of the comfort and con
venience of the public. One citizen OBJ
jects because the delay caused in paying
as the passengers enter the cars is ex-
tremely vexatious. especially in bad wealth
er. Another. whose objection Is sup
ported by the remainder, criticises the
slippery longitudinal seats. the crowdng
of the wide aisle preventing egress at
hn nv ha rtrlaS Of
the companies, and resulting in some in
stances in passengers being carried by
their destinations.
An exception to the general rule was a
letter from a citizen who heartily and
vigorously took up the cudgels i'm defense
of the new cars. He feels that the public
has made but little. If any. effort TO CO.
operate with the rules of the company in
order to secure the best results from the
new cars People persist in crowding the
rear of the cars at the point of entrance
and insist upon getting off by the rear
platform instead of moving forward and
leaving the car by the front door, which
is necessary to successfully operate the
system.
]. A. Hill Discusses New Cars.
j. A. Hill, chief OF division in the CEN
sus bureau, has sent a communication to
the District commission. in which he takes
the view that the new pay-as-you-enter
cars were introduced as an experiment
and will not be forced upon the public IL
1t objects to them: that they are un-
questionably a benefit to the railway COM
pany in that they render possible the col
lection of every fare; but he feels after
more than two weeks experiment with
them the verdict Of the public Is adverse
to the car. He believes it will be gen.
orally agreed that the large yellow cars.
with cross seats and wide platforms.
front and rear, which have been used on
the 14th street line are the most com
Portable and attractive cars in use In the
city; that to supersede them with tho
new green pay-as-you-enter car Is q re-
version to the earlier type in which the
passenger has to ride sideways and stare
at the passengers opposite. or limit his
coat standing in front of him. and have
his book or paper brushed aside by per-
sons crowding to the front exit.
He feels that in forbidding passengers
breathing fresh air and avoiding tuber-
culosis is denied. The carrying capacity
of the new car Is declared to be less than
the other, more people are required to
stand up, and fewer are provided with
seats The lateral seats he thinks are
a protection against fat folks who at
tempt to squeeze out more room than
they are entitled to. The comfort of the
public and the pecuniary interests of the
railway company are antagonistic. lie
says. and so there is not much hope for
relief from overcrowding, because each
additional car adds to the expense and
reduces the profits of the company.
Mr. Hill discusses the advantages and
of the new car a consid-
cradle length and finds, perhaps. a source
of strong objection to it from smokers.
who are denied the privilege of smoking
on the platforms. This he regards a
strong advantage, but he still desires the
use of the back platform for the sake OF
breathing pure air. He speculates upon
the query whether or not the companies
will provide open cars when the hot
weather comes. or continue the closed
car that they may not
lose fares. He quotes section is of the
act of May % and submits that his criii-
cisms raise questions of vital concern to
the public and the commission ought 10
pass upon them.
One citizen asked the commission if it
is legal for car companies to refuse to
already riding on a transfer. and cites
from an F. street car to the herdic line
from the bureau of engraving and print
ing line to the F street car.
Airbrakes Being Installed.
The commission was also in receipt OF
I'm Information that all the cars of the
Georgetown and Tenleytown line are be
ing equipped with airbrakes, as ordered
by the interstate commerce commission
upon the recommendation of the District