Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-07
MATTER Of AUTHORITY
REGARDING OPEN CARS
District Electric Railway Com
mission Would Compel Use
If He Has Right.

Washington street railway companies
are to be required to explain why they
are not operating more open summer
cars, il II Is found the interstate COM
merce commission has jurisdiction in the
matter.
Inquiry was made of the interstate
commerce commission by the District
electric railway commission yesterday
afternoon as to whether 1t had jurisdic-
ton to compel the street railway com.
panies to provide a reasonable number
OF open cars to accommodate the trafit
during the summer months. The In
quiry was prompted by a number OF
complaints Of a formal character that
have been addressed to the District com.
mission. objecting to the closed cars as
hot. stuffy and inconvenient during the
warm weather.
Fender Question Up.
The District commission also listened to
arguments by representatives OF the
Washington, Baltimore and Annapolis
Railway Company as to the kind OF
fender that should be required on Its
cars within the District.
With reference to the number of open
and closed cars in operation on the local
lines during the warm weather, report
submitted to the commission by Secre-
tary Eddy states he has made thorough
investigation of the subject. and many
observations since the weather has been
such as to permit the use Of open cars
After reciting that the Capital Traction
Company is operating practically all
open cars, both motor and trailer, on the
Pennsylvania avenue, 1th street and Sth
street east lines, with an occasional
al sswr-l,S rk, &c M ne n
advantage" the report describes con-
ditipns found on each Of the other lines
in the city.
mo open cars are regularly operated
on any other OF the city lines owned or
controlled by the Washington Railway
and Electric Company"
Open Cars in Barns.
With the exception of the Pennsyl
vania avenue. 7th street and Sth stree
east lines of the Capital Traction Com
pany. the number of open cars operated
by both the principal operating com
panies in the District Of Columbia IL
much out of proportion to the number
owned or controlled by these companies
September ], 1909, as per the lists sub
mitted by them on or about that date
by order of the interstate commerce com
mission.
in good repair are stored in the car barns
instead of being put in use. and expresses
surprise at the fact. 1t states. however
that open cars are not used generally
throughout the country as much as for
merly.
The report then describes the different
kinds of car in use and their possibilities
1t also expresses the opinion that while
the open summer car il more comfortable
for the average person in hot weather, YET
1t has been found to be conducive to more
accidents than perhaps any other type.
The report concludes with the statement
IF it Is found to be possible and prac.
ticable to require the local street car com
panies to operate at least a certain pro-
portion OF open cars on every city lfns
some action should be taken which should
bring about that result. But there IL
some doubt as to whether the interstate
commerce commission has Jurisdiction In
the matter. An inquiry to ascertain thu
fact is recommended"