Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-07
OPPOSE WILEY BILL
Local Street Railway Officials
Are Given a Hearing.
NOT DEMANDED BY PUBLIC
Universal Transfers Would Impose
Burdens on Lines.
DOUBT MEASURES VALIDITY
Speakers Declare Proposal Is Not in
Accord With General
Practice.
NOT DEMANDED BY PUBLIC
DOUBT MEASURES VALIDITY

After the second hearing on the bill in
/ PRODUCED by Representative Wiley OF New
Jersey to compel the Washington Rail
way and Electric Company and the Capt.
tai Traction Company TO issue universal
transfers had been under way today for
about hour several members of the
House District committee expressed doubt
as to the constitutionality of the pro-
posed measure and il was decided to ask
the corporation counsel for an opinion.
Gen. George n. Harries, vice president of
the Washington Railway and Electric
Company. and ]. J. Darlington, represent
ing the Capital Traction Company. do not
seem to have any doubts on the subject.
They are emphatic In their declaration
that the Wiley bill, If enacted into law,
would be declared unconstitutional by the
courts. Still, they are not anxious to
! have 1t enacted. just the same.
Gen. Harries and w. F.. Ham. treasurer
of the Washington Railway and Electric
Company, were the only witnesses heard
by the committee today.
Public Demand Lacking
NO general public demand for uni
versal transfers has been manifested on
the part OF the public declared Mr.
Ham. The recent extensions into the
northeastern and southeastern portions
Of the city enable almost any one within
the city limits to get to his destination.
whatever it may be. without the pay
ment Of an extra fare. 1t may be that
from suburban points II is not possible to
reach every point in the city without the
payment of an extra fare but In view of
the long ride afforded patrons from such
ic of al 10 hat
present fare should be demanded II they
are unable to reach their destination
otherwise"
Mr.. Ham submitted statement to the
committee showing that during 1909 the
Washington Railway and Electric Com
pany and its subsidiary companies haul
ed 59.295 121 revenue passengers and 25.-
sos. 153 transfer passengers. a total OF
Company hauled 48.9OO.599 revenue pas
sengers and 16.S91.S76 transfer passen-
gers. total Of 81. 79s.475.
From this" said Mr.. Ham. lit is seen
that these two systems hauled in one
year in excess of 42OOO,OOO free transfer
passengers. showing that a most liberal
transfer privilege is already taken ad-
vantage Of by the riding public.
Makes Abuses Possible.
Many abuses are possible with the
transfer system. Experience has proven
that the public evades the rules with
respect to the use Of transfers, and
In some cases that the employees of the
company connive with passengers in
the wrongful use of transfers. If street
railway companies were to live their
corporate lives over again no such gen
eral use of transfers would be given
as was given in the days of their in
fancy, when the difficulties and ex-
penses of operation were not definitely
In iC a
stances by the public authorities, to
cuTtai H., the use Of , transfer sner. =. .,o
Wiley bill. Mr. Ham thought the ex-
pense of accounting imposed on the
railroads would ,6 be very large asses As
thirty millions OF transfers issued per
annum exchanged between companies.
or $4,000 per day, one clerk could sort
examine and list possibly 100 transfers
per hour, or $50 per day, requiring the
services of 10 counters. at $3.50 per
day, total per day of s165. At least
necessary in rechecking the transfers
when received from the other company,
adding $40 per day In calculating the
prorates due each company, preparing
statements and making exchanges. the
services Of at least ten clerks would
be required.
ment Of the Wiley bill upon suburban
lines, Mr.. Ham said:
Would Work Injustice.
The proposed compulsory free trans
fers between suburban lines and city lines
would work irreparable damage to those
companies that have carried suburban
lines for many years at heavy loss,
the only benefit derived from them
being their feeders to the parent
company The Washington Railway and
Electric Company has for ten years car
ried such lines as the Brightwood Rail-
way Company and the Georgetown and
Teneytown Railway Company at a heavy
loss The justification for their carrying
them at such a loss was the hope that
the territory developed they might. in
the future. become profitable, and
also from the fact that they served
lines have the same transfer privileges
with the lines of the Capital Traction
Company that they have with the Wash
ington Railway and Electric Company
these companies as feeders. and the
amount spent in carrying them all these
years would be an absolute loss
UNCONSTITUTIONAL, Says Harries.
Gen. Harries. at the request of some
members of the committee. devoted his
remarks chiefly to the constitutionality
of the proposition involved.
We are satisfied" he said. that the
companies may not lawfully be required
to carry passengers turned over by an
other company. either free or for any
sum less than the full rate of fare This
railway practice In this country. He
also spoke of the absolute lack of public
demand for universal transfers