The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-12-04
RAILWAY DICTATION
IN DISTRICT CHARGED
Commissioners Helpless as
to Street Improvements,
1t Is Alleged.

Sensational disclosures concerning an
alleged condition whereby the District
is practically dictated 10 in many in
stances by the street railway cOmpa-
MES in the matter Of its street improve
ments today are admitted to have been
made to members Of the committee
which is framing public utilities com
mission.
With the recent repaving of F street
cited as an example, the committee is
said 10 have been supplied with data
purpOrting 10 show that the local gov
eminent has no control worth speaking
OF over the street railway companies,
and IS frequently forced 10 make or
alter its plans TO suit the Improvement
policies of the companies.
In addition TO the + street example,
It IS said, the committee has been fur
n1shed with instances showing that
the Commissioners have not required
the companies TO fully comply with the
provisions OF their charters The
BrlghtwCOd line IS mentioned specif-
caIIy
The disclosures are alleged TO have
been made TO show the necessity OF the
proposed commission being Clothed with
full power 10 regulate the railway COM
panies and compel them TO carry out
the provisions Of their charters
Up to Commission.
The compIexity Of the situation was
intensified today when Cuno H Ru-
dOIph, president Of the Board Of Com
missioners. said that the matter Of see
ing that the companies complied with
the requirements Of their charters came
within the province of the District
Electric Railway Commission
Former Commissioner Henry L West
took the ground that the Railway Com
mission has nothing 10 DO with the
q aTteT question, and that IL is Up to
the District Commissioners tc look after
this feature
Members of the Federation Of Citi-
zens' Associations, whose committee Is
framing the utilities bill, claim that
the apparent misunderstanding as TO
where authority Is vested TO insure the
carrying out Of charter provisions
proves the necessity for the creating OF
a utilities commission 10 govern public
service corporations
The F street repaving matter Is said
70 nave attracted the greatest attention
On the part OF the members OF the
committee The repaVing was con
Quoted last spring According TO in
formation which members OF the COM
mittee have received, the Washington
Railway and Electric Company tore up
its tracks with the object primarily OF
establishing new elevation in order
TO obtain better drainage.
Company Should Pay.
II this was the case and the street
did not need TO be repaved, as Is
claimed, the company. 1t is pointed out
should have borne all Of the repaving
expense.
However, the District paid from
point two feet north Of the north rail
20 the cUTbing on the north side The
territory affected was from Fifth 10
Seventh streets and from Ninth TO
Fourteenth streets, along + street The
south side Of the thoroughfare was not
disturbed
In the engineers Office OF the District
today IL was said that the cOmpany. had
taken Up its tracks principally to put
down new rails and not TO change the
elevation II any change was made IN
the elevation. IL was said, was in
GppTeciabIe
Il vas admitted, however. that the
District could have paved the street
either earlier OF a year OF two later.
but followed the policy Il did because
II was better 70 do so Immediately after
the company had completed its i'm
pTOvemeuJs-
In short. the District, IL would appear,
finds itself forced to make Improvements
after the railway companies nave fin
ished theirs, regardless Of whether they
are especially needed.
q This condition II has been pointed out
70 the committee, could not exist, If the
railway companies were brought under
the control OF a public utilities commits
sion
Charter Not Fulfilled
According 70 further statements which