The Washington times., 1910-07-07
Ruling Asked of Interstate
Commerce Commission
AS to Authority.
REPORT OF Mr.. EDDY
BEARS OUT CHARGES
Many Open Cars Reported As Idle
In Barns With Closed
Ones In Service.

Declaring that the washington Pail
way and Electric Company and the
Capital Traction Company have a large
number Of open street cars IN good re-
pair and ready for operation, which are
being kept IN the barns, while closed
cars are being operated on the various
lines throughout the city. the District
Railway Commission today asked the
Interstate Commerce Commission 70
render an opinion as TO whether the law
gives IL the right 20 compel the traction
companies 70 operate at least a reason
able number Of open cars.
The action Of the Railway Commission
was the result Of the hundreds OF com
plants which have been fled with that
body by The Times in behalf OF the
patrons Of the two street car companies,
and a special report on the subject pre-
pared by Mr.. Eddy, SecT--ary OF the
Street Railway Commission
Mt Eddy has made most thorough
investigation Of the equipment OF the
street car companies, and his report
substanriates the charges made By The
Times and 5y the patrons OF the street
car companies
Action Officially Advised
As q resaIt Of his Investigations M-.
Eddy reaches the conclusion that
Should IL be found "Io be possible and
practicable TO require the local street
car companies 20 operate at least a
certain proportion OF open cars on
every city line. some action should be
taken which would bring about that
result
M Eddy calls attention 10 the fact
that there IS some doubt as 90 whether
the Interstate Commerce Commission
has power under existing law TO com
pei the street car companies TO put on
more open cars, and for that reason
suggests that the Railway Commis-
sion ask the Interstate Commerce
Commission for an opinion
Ar Eddy's report demonstrates quite
clearly that the Washington Railway
and Electric Company Is the most grew
foUs offender IN refusing TO meet the de-
rnand o. its patrons by furnishing oDen
cars 2ghich are included in their equip
ment, ready for oDeration. lut which
are lying Idle iE the car barns
Times Charges Borne Out.
The report also bears out the asser-
ton made bv The Times on July ) that
instead Of the ten open cars which SD
Derintendent Nofe-J declared were be-
ing operated on the Nj. Pleasant line
OF LEae rf4S--ElLLlL E--llWaE and ElEC-
tric Company. there were ir fact but
i've open cars running on ,1at lire.
There IS another feature Of the report
which is Illustrative OF the policy Uf
the Washington Railway and Electric
Company in ignoring the demands Of
the people who make its financial -.rc-
cess possible On June q, 1903, the Dis
Jrfct Railway Commission made a rea-l-
laLiOn requiring the street car eoupauias
. equip all their cars with tenders The
regulation was TO become effective on
September ! Of the same year. but at
the request Of both companies the en-
forcement Of the regulation was post
pOned until January I Of the present
year in order that the open cars might
continue in operation during the va m
weather.
Tenders Not On Cars.
In the case Of the WASHINGTON
Railway and Electric Company. forty
OF these open cars which were in
operation last summer are still in the
Continued on 5 tn Pase)