The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-04-26

Nearly four hours of debate was
required by the House yesterday
for the passage of the bill of Rep
resentative Wiley, of New Jersey,
providing for universal street car
transfers in the District of Co
lumbia.
1t finally went through without a
dissenting vote, after having been
subjected to several amendments.
the most important Of which takes
from the Supreme Court of the
District and confers upon the Com
mlssloners authority to determine
such disputes arising from the ad-
Justment OF accounts between the
various companies as cannot be set
tied by mutual arrangement.
Il.
An amendment by Representative stat
ford, OF Wisconsin. making the issuance
OF transfers mandatory was agreed 20, as
was an amendment by Representative
Carlin. Of Virginia. providing for an in
terchange Of transfers between the Capt.
tai Traction Company and the Washing
ton. Alexandria, and Mount Vernon Rail-
road Company, at Twelfth street and
Pennsylvania avenue northwest. This
amendment. agreed to by a vote OF 2S to
- VIII nave the effect of cheapening the
fare between Washington and Alexan-
dria cents. and Will enable patrons OF
the Pennsylvania avenue line 20 ride on
transfers between Twelfth street and the
Long Bridge. An amendment OF Repre-
sentative Kahn. Of California, for the
issuance Of transfers between competing
lines only, a payment of a scent cash
fare. was defeated
Mr.. Kahn held the view that If such
a provision were put in the law the rail-
road companies would not contest the
act Otherwise he thought they would
throw the law into the courts He ad-
vOcated the cash fare proposition as a
certain means Of obtaining universal
transfers.
Penalty for Violations.
One objection to the bill was voiced
by Representative Wanger, Of PennsyI-
vania. who criticised the Wiley bill be-
cause IL provided no penalty for viola
tion. Mr.. Wiley answered by saying that
the corporation counsel Of the District
had held that such penalty was not
necessary, the general law being appli-
cable TO the case. After a considerable
debate. an amendment by Representative
Stafford, providing a penalty Of both a
fine and Imprisonment for violation. was
incorporated in the bill
An amendment was also agreed to
specifically stating that the tranfers
should be free" although Chairman
Smith. OF the District Committee. and
Mr.. Wiley, author of the bill. contended
it was not necessary
When the bill had been completed
Representative Sims, Of Tennessee. a for
mer member Of the District Committee.
offered as a substitute for the entire
Wiley bill his own bill providing for
universal transfers. originally introduced
in May, 1905. The Sims bill contained
a clause requiring the payment Of / cent
additional fare by persons requesting
transfers. a feature which he thought
would meet any constitutional objections
which might be raised legally against
compulsory transfers besween independ-
ent street car companies. He said he
believed it was n better bill than the
committee bill. Without any debate, he
asked for a vote. which resulted in a
tic. a votes being counted on each
side Of the question. Representative
BouteI Of illinois,. who was in the
chair. cast the deciding vote. and the
Sims substitute was defeated This vote
seemed to show that ninety-four mem
bers had voted. About minute later.
the point OF no quorum having been
made, Mr.. Bouten was able 10 count
only elghty-three members present on
the floor A roll cali en- the Sims sub
stitute resulted in its defeat, ayes. los.
noes. 112.
An amendment by Mr.. Stafford that
Congress reserved the right to repeal or
amend the act was adopted. and the
bill was then passed with no opposition.
In its final form. the bill provides for
the Issuance OF free transfers by the
street railway lines in the District. in
terchangable from the lines Of one COM
pany to those Of another. the companies
70 have the right 10 stipulate that the
transfer shall be good only for a "trip
in continuation" so that passengers will
be unable to affect a round trip" ar
rangement. The companies are not to be
required 10 issue a transfer on a
transfer.