The Washington herald., 1910-01-25

Urging legislation TO remedy street car
conditions in the District, especially over
crowdng. the Interstate Commerce COM
mission yesterday filed its second annual
report to Congress, embodying the report
OF the District Electric Railway Commits
sion
Less crowded cars. more trailers. ex-
tended night service, stops at certain
corners, improved seating arrangements
and better roadbed are among the re-
forms recommended.
The commission reports that modern
equipment. safety appliances, better heat
ing. power brakes. better route signs,
and through service are some OF the
things the car companies improved.
improvements of a Year
The Interstate Commerce Commissions
report reviews the improvements that
have been made during the past year,
and goes into the status of the lawsuit
pending against the companies for over
crowding. II speaks OF it's request last
year 10 be relieved Of the duty Of super
vising the Districts street railway af-
fairs.
Credit is given the street railway COM
panies for voluntarily insututinG re-
forms which the commission was pow
erIess 10 compel. Through service on
the Brlghtwood line OF the Washington
Railway and Electric Company IS cited
as an instance.
Overcrowding Of cars has. the report
says. been somewhat diminished. but.
it is conceded requirements Of the com
mission have not removed the evil
The law designed to regulate this con-
dition has not been observed by the COM
pany. according to the report Pro
cedure against the street railway COM
panies in the Police Court by the COM
mission resulted in a favorable ruling
upon the constitutionality Of the law.
but the case has been carried to the
Supreme Court Of Appeals on a writ Of
error. and decision is now awaited
which viii fix the responsibilities OF the
street railways.
W0uId Give Up ArduOus Task.
Asserting that the responsibility Of reg
ulating the great interstate carriers Of
the country is Of sufficient magnitude to
demand all the time and attention Of the
commission. that the local street rail-
ways present problems foreign in char
acter TO those for the solution OF which
the commission was formed, and that the
members of that body are absent from the
city for extended periods Of time. the re-
quest is made that other hands be given
the duty Of supervising the local carriers.
The report is signed by Martin A
Knapp. Judson c. Clements, Charles A.
Prouty, Francis A. CoclreIl. Franklin K.
Lane. Edgar z. Clark, and James S.
Harlan.
a record of activity IS disclosed in the
annual report Of the District electric rail-
way commissioners.
The report Of the commissioners is a de-
tailed account Of its last years work, the
results OF which are summarized in the
report Of the Interstate Commerce Com
mission improvements in the local street
railway service, It is apparent from the
report, followed initiative action by the
commissioners, the Interstate Commerce
Commission cooperating with them cordi-
ally and giving force to their suggestions
Twenty-nine meetings and one hearing
were held during the year. the report
says. while 10 complaints and $50 letters
were received. Fifty-seven complaints
We're not acted upon, because they were
trivial or referred to conditions not with
in the authorized power OF the commits
sion to consider. Twenty-one were dis
posed of directly by the commissioners.
A number relating to speed violations
were referred 10 the District Commis-
sioners for Investigation by the police
department. Reference Of twenty-six was
made 10 the Interstate Commerce Com
mission, and action taken upon most OF
them in accordance with the recommends
ton Of the commissioners. Eight Of the
complaints are still under the considera>
tion Of the commissioners
Crowding and Noise.
Complaint was made Of the crowding
of cars. noise caused by cars. conduct
OF employees. defective car equipment, de-
fective track and roadbed. lack OF all
night service on certain lines, excessive
speed Of cars, cars not stopping at cor
ners, seating arrangements Of cars. and
the operation Of pay-as-you-enter cars.
Many Of the communications relate to
the lack Of proper transfer facilities be-
tween various lines. Thorough investiga-
tion OF this matter, was made, the report
declares, and the conclusion reached that
the existing conditions are far from sat
isfactory 10 the travelling public.
Crowded cars received much study by
the Commissioners. Advice for the remedy.