Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-25


ly drawn. He suggested that the pro-
vision in the bill that the companies
need not issue a transfer on a transfer
might be construed to apply not only to
under different ownership, but also to
branch lines of the same company.
Mr.. Wiley didn't think so.
But you have no objection to an
amendment along this liner asked Mr..
Stafford
mot at ALL replied Mr.. Wiley.
Urges Gree" Transfers.
Representative Johnson of Kentucky,
democratic member of the District COM
mittee, said he had undertaken to amend
the bill in committee to remedy some of
its defects, but had been unsuccessful.
Il have three objections to this BILL"
he said, but the main one is that the
people of the District Of Columbia are
asking for bread, and by this bill they
are handed a stone
Mr.. Johnson contended that paid trans
fers are being issued between the COM
peting companies, and that the bill should
be amended so as to make it plain that
hereafter such transfers should be free
as we'll as "universal.'
Il will accept that amendment" said
Mr.. Wiley.
II offered it In the District committee
comment Mr.. Johnson made.
The Kentuckian also objected to the
lack of a penalty to compel company
to issue transfer and a competing COM
pany to accept it. Another objection he
registered was that no provision was
made in the bill for a time limit on
transfers.
Suggests One-Cent Transfers.
Representative Sims of Tennessee, who
was for years a member of the District
committee, but who was relieved from
service on that body this Congress, an
nounced he intended at the proper time
to offer a substitute for the committees
bill This, he said. provided for univer-
sal transfers at a uniform cost of one
cent each.
He had long been an advocate. he said.
of the universal transfer proposition
but there seemed to be some doubt as
to the constitutionality Of any law pro-
posing to compel one street railway
company to carry without compensation
any passenger riding on a transfer is
sued by another and a competing COM
pany.
Il put the one-cent proposition in"
he said, so that the bill would be abb
solutely legal
But Mr.. Sims announced that he would
not object to the elimination Of the
way about 1t.
Representative Kahn of California
told the House that the local street
railways would issue universal trans
fers voluntarily II permitted to charge
a fiat five-cent fare and not to issue
tickets.
For Transfers Conditionally.
IT am going to offer an amendment"
said Mr.. Kahn. making it obligatory
upon the local car companies to give uni
versal transfers to passengers paying a
five-cent cash fare"
Other members expressed the opinion
that in the shape presented by the COM
mittee the bill. lacking a penalty clause.
would not amount to anything, as 1t
could not be enforced
Representative Borland of Missouri, a
member of the District committee. ex-
pressed the hope that the friends of the
measure in the House would not disagree
as to the form in which 1t should be
passed to such an extent as to endanger
it's success. He explained that no pen
atty had been provided inasmuch as 1t
was well understood that the bill would
be up in the court not long after its
enactment into law for determination as
to the constitutionality Of the universal
transfer proposition.
Representative Stanford Of Wisconsin,
clared that In his opinion 1t was not con-
stitutional The Wiley bill. he commended.
dia not propose to take property without
compensation, and his objection to that
bill was that it did not contain a manda-
tory provision. Mr.. Stafford read the Ian
guage of an amendment he thought of
proposing. which, he said, would be In
effect mandatory.
Representatives Smith and Wiley both
indicated their willingness to accept an
l ,lvS,n he IF frov, q
fers mandatory.
Complaints of Lack of Cars.
| Representative Slayden of Texas sait
| that the committee in reporting II
favor Of free universal transfers hat
| overlooked greater evil. He had heard
no one complaining of the cost of trans
| portation, but every day and on every
| hand had he heard and did hear com
plants concerning the lack Of cars
That was a far greater source of incon
was also Of more Importance to thu
| travelling public to get seats and to have
| cars run frequently than to transfer
| from one line to another.
Mr.. Slayden at this point depressed t.
urge the necessity of elevators In thu
| new Union station to take passenger
| from the lower platform upstairs.
At this point Mr.. Kahn reiterated his
| previously expressed intention OF offering
An amendment providing that transfers
1 shall only be interchanged between com.
| peting lines upon payment of a cash five.
1 cent fare.
.'If this Is provided he said, 1.-The rail
| way companies will not contest the act
otherwise they will throw the bill intt
| the courts"
i Representative Hamilton Fish of New
j York, a member OF the District commit
i tee. asked II this was the same amend
i ment that Mr.. Kahn had offered In thu
1 committee when the Wiley bill was beins