The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1911-09-29
OPERATING RULES
! FOR CITY CARRIERS
TO Be OVERHAULED
District Railway Commits
sion Recommend Changes
For Public's Benefit.

A revision Of the regulations under
which the various street railway COM
panies of the District operate, which
will result in the perfection OF q sys-
TEN of handling traffic and safeguard
ing the lives of both passengers and
pedestrians, unexcelled by any city IN
the country, is to be made by the Dis
trict Electric Railway Commission.
Announcement was made from the
headquarters of the commission in the
Glover building this morning, that the
revision now being worked out By the
commissioners, will be the most sweep
ing known during the history Of the
carriers.
A more perfect system of car equip
ment, including the installation Of au-
tomato and instantaneous airbrakes;
new system of signaling, both with
lights and otherwise. more especially for
the suburban cars on their night runs;
the stipulation of the maximum speed
which suburban cars may travel when
passing stationary cars, and a dozen
other changes in the regulations as they
now stand, will be included in the re-
concentrations which the Electric Rail-
way Commission will make to the In
terstate Commerce Commission.
Difficult Undertaking.
The work of preparing revisionary
amendments to the regulations will con-
stitute the most difficult undertaking
yet to confront the commission during
its life of three years. At a special
meeting held yesterday afternoon. the
proposed changes were discussed for
several hours. The commissioners,
however, announced that 1t would be
impossible for them to perfect the
amendments for some days yet, SO
sweeping are the changes contemplated.
THE railway companies are endeaV-
oring to, and are, succeeding In living
up to the present regulations. sald
II. c. Eddy, executive otncer ana sec
retary of the District Electric Railway
Commission, this morning. But there
is scarcely a day when something Is not
brought TO our attention which shouid
not exist, but which the commission is
powerless to remedy. owing TO the IN
efficient regulations now In force
The new amendments will apply more
particularly to the cars on the sub
Urban lines. When the commission
finally completes its work, Mr. Eday
believes that the commuters OF the
District will find 1t as easy 10 90 10 a.u
from their suburban home as the resi-
dents Of the more central parts OF the
city.
No Long Delay Found.
Complaints from o. ]. Field, chfer
clerk. department Of Justice, regarding
alleged general delay to street car trat-
fic at the Union Station, when the SUD-
T,-ban morning trains arrive, have been
Investigated by Secretary Eddy, and a
report was made at yesterdays meet
ing Of the commission. There appears
to be a sufficient number of cars, con-
sidering the number of different lines
which pass the station" Mr.. Eddy told
the commissioners. Amy delay of any
thing like ten minutes. which Mr.. Fields
mentions, must have been due to a
tie-up or some, other unusual deten-
ton"
Residents in the vicinity OF Eighth and
East Capitol streets, whose raps have
been disturbed recently by the Wash
ington Railway and Electric CompanJ
cars on the Lincoln Park line. have beer
promised redress. If the motormen Or
crossings provided for In the regula
tions, which is said to be responsible
for the noises, the commission wants e
know. Mr. Eddy said that thorough
investigation will be maize, and II the
regulations are violated. the onenoer'
will be hailed into court.
Charge Investigated.
a complaint from several Brooklanc
residents, to the effect that the pitmar
at North Capitol and w streets. where
the cars change from the overhead t.
the underground trolley, often is alb
sent from his post of duty, and tina
often the conductors and motormen are
compelled to affix and detach the pillow:
ana trolley poles. thus causing delay!
Eo-,1 nc Mrc n1suor