The Washington times., 1910-11-21

What may fnaugurate the most exteu-
tive Cleanup campaign ever directed
toward conditions IN washington street
cars Is contemplated IN an order now
being considered by the Interstate Com
merce Commission
This became known today when Com
missioner Lane stated that that bod-
has before II 4 r,-o5sssg5 -as-slsFs--- -
curing the stree railway companies 70
furnish q detailed statement on OF be-
fore January L 1911. setting forth the
hnethOd OF methods they employ 70
maintain sanitary conditions IN their
cars
The order was prepared By the Dis
tTict Electric Railway Commission st
its meeting last Thursday and has been
sent 70 the Interstate Commerce Com
mission for final action
The District Commission has main
tained absolute silence regarding the
order and no expression Of opinion con-
cerning Il could be secured from that
source today.
Commissions Order.
The order is the following
II IS ordered that every company
operating street railway cars in the
District Cf Columbia shall Submit
70 the interstate Commerce Comufs-
sion on OF before January ] Ig!I 2
MeIn9o CT methods are being en-
pIoEec to maintain cars operated ny
Il IN a clean and sanitary condition.
At the present time the only order in
erect relating 70 the feature OF santa
Ion Ion = q seneral regulation promulgated
oy the Interstate Commerce Corn7fs-
SION a year ago requiring that cars shan
be maintained IN a sanitary -C17f+F,,,
No methods as 70 how this end should
oe attained were outlined
Working Basis.
Should the Interstate Commerce Com
mission adopt the order It now has nm
der advisement, and the railway co1-
panies outline the methods thev e7,n1oz-
II would mean that the oo-,--,s---s--
would have a vvorIine, basis fY1 --15+s 81
OF sanitation legislation Il could ei+ba-
/ order changes in the present nafhOSs
or require that an entirely new system
In short. the plan being considered
viii put The burden on the railway COM
panleS IN the matter Of showing the kind
OF sanitation maintained IN their cars
Wniie the interstate Commerce Comr1fg-
sion viii be the judge OF Whistler Id is
sufficient
Regarded as Significant
The consideration OF the sanitary
problem AT this tine is regarded as sig
nifcant Secretary Eddy is known to be
at work on a report describing ventf-
lating systems employed on cards in
various cities, to the end that this
feature IN local cars may be improved.
Ventilation is properly cIassed under
the head Of sanitation, and z-ith the
comm iSSion giving its attention ID the
general subject. as well as the sesarate
features under IT. the belief is arising
that the commission has determined 10
make Washington street cars. II possI-
bic, the healthiest 10 be found nv
where IN the country
Alexander Rrftton, Chairman OF the
BoaTI Of Trade committee on transoOr-
tauOn, .Shich IS now making a study
Of the question Of seats in local street
cars, was interested in learning Of the
new order which is before the COM
mission.
Seating Problem
While admitting the matter to be Of
much importance, he said he did not be
lieve his committee would investigate it,
but would be content with trying 10 ar
rive at a satisfactory solution OF the
seating problem
AIr. BrittOn's committee is to meet
again Friday. and Secretary Eddy, of
the District Electric Railway Cor1rnfs-
and give his views on the relative merits
of longitudinal and cross seats
It could not be learned today when the
Interstate Commerce Commission will
act on the proposed regulation, but there
is a probability that IL viii deduct suf-
fcient time from the railroad rate hear
ings, which began this morning TO dis
pose OF the matter IT has pursued this
railway orders have been submitted 10
II, and. in view OF the order under con
TEN Diaflon requiring a response bv the
companies before January j. il is prob
aple ttat the regulation VII be acted
upon this week