The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-06-28
Fewer Open Ones Even
Than Last Summer on
Some Lines.
PROTESTS ARE THICK
FROM MT. PLEASANT
Passengers Packed Into Closed
Cars Like Herrings-Wisdom
of Course Questioned.

The street railway companies OF
Washington not only are refusing TO
give heed to the demand for open
cars, but are actually operating fewer
open cars On their lines than were op-
arated a year ago-
This is particularly true in the case
OF the Washington Railway and Elec-
trio Company, and the patrons of that
corporation are outSpoken in their con-
demnsIiOn Of the attitude Of the COM
pany officials.
Last summer a number Of open cars
were operated or the Mt. Pleasant lire
Of the Washington Railway and EIec-
trio Company. This year the company
evidently is making no effort 10 cater
10 the comfort Of their passengers
The few open cars owned by it. il was
learned today, have been transferred
TO what are known as riding lines,
such as the Glen Echo line.
In order that the company may derive
the greatest possible revenue the people
who are unfortunate enough 10 live
along the Mt Pleasant line are COM
PEELED TO pack themselves into the
closed cars Going down town in the
morning there is the same old conges-
ton that marked the traffic on this lire
during the winter months, with the
added inconvenience Of heat
May Make Complaint.
l. is not improbable that a formal
complaint Of the obnoxious ConditiOrs
will be made 20 the Railway Commission
unless the street car companies show
some disposition to come 20 the relief OF
the people who are compelled 70 ride on
the street cars.
A number OF prominent citizens al
ready are talking Of lodging a formal
complaint with the commission, TO The
effect that the failure 20 provide open
street cars. or at least conference.-the
cars, is in effect a deliberate refusal on
the part OF public service corporations,
enjoying extremely valuable privileges,
to recognize public necessity
1t is pointed out that the commission
Is endowed with the power 10 compel
the street car companies to provide for
the comfort of its patrons. In support
OF this argument II is declared that the
commission issued an order compelling
the companies TO heat their trailers
during the winter months.
Why. numerous citizens are asking,
cannot the commission compel the street
car companies to provide for the COM
fort Of their patrons during the summer
months as well as during the winter
months.
In Class By Itself.
Washington is practically the only city
of its size in the United States which
SIS compelled to submit TO transportation
in closed cars throughout the summer
months. In New York city. for instance,
where the introduction of open cars
during the hot months is an enormous
financial undertaking, a vast majority
OF the closed cars give way TO open or
semi-convertible cars
This policy OF looking out for the COM
fort OF the riding public in New York
is not confined 10 what street railway
men term riding lines. Many of the
open cars are those which are operated
through the city streets and never get
within ten miles Of a summer resort.
The. same is rTue OF conditions prevail
ing in Boston and practically every
other city ia the East.
In financial circles in Washington the
question is raised whether the stock
holders Of the street railway companies
are not actually losing money by rea-
son Of a shovt-sighted policy which pre-
vents the operation of open cars
Car Rides Popular.
Washington. unlike most cities, is
without the numterless summer resorts /
whore a heat-Sufferinc public can cool
CT during an afternoon or evening. IN
Continued on Eaga Nine