The Washington times., 1912-03-13
HOUSE COMMITTE
HEARS PLEAS FOR
NEW TRANSFER BILL
Measure Presented to Dis
trict Body by Citizens
Chairman.

An entirely new universal transfer
bill was presented today to the House
District Committee by Charles w. Darr,
chairman of the Citizens Conference on
Universal Transfers, at the special hear
ing this morning While over an hour
was given to a discussion of the trans
fer question, no conclusion was reached.
Only two persons were heard this
morning-Mr Darr and i. V. Heating,
of the Citizens Conference. Mr.. Darr
presented the proposed new Dlll, and
Mr.. Keating pointed out the weaknesses
of the transfer bill passed by the Sem
ate, as viewed by the citizens commit
tee.
Both declared that the people of the
IJ:3trlct were not interested in either
or any bill, but simply asked the COM
mittee to see to 1t tnat some bill which
would result In the issuance of universal
transfers be enacted as soon as possible.
The proposed new bill was declared to
be, in the opinion OF tpe citizens com
that passed by the Senate.
When the time for the hearing arrived
only three members of the committee
were present, and the room was filled
with representatives of citizens, labor,
and commercial organizations and OF
the street railway companies.
In the room were George f.. Hamilton,
president of the Capital Traction Com
pany; d. S. CARL, general manager OF
the same company; Clarence p. King
president and J. T; Moffett, super
intendent OF the Washington Rail
%'S stel%agan, snS alee'4c j. C0"RSag; Ryan; at t.
torney for Central Labor Union; w. A.
Foster, Evans Tucker, Col. George A.
Arms, +. c. Graham, William Mex.
Clayton, representatives of the District
representatives of citizens organizations
and the public service corporations.
Committeeman Absent.
Congressman johnson, chairman of
the committee, was plainly disappointed
when at 1890 o'clock only cour members
besides himself were in the room.
The Republican caucus WAS blamed
for some of the absentees. ON a vote
the five members present, congressman
George. Dyer, Anderson, Lobcck. and
Redheld, favored proceeding with the
hearing. Mr., Adair. Mr.. O'Shauncssy,
and Mr.. Dies came in later.
Mr.. Darr reviewed the work of the
citizens conference
After drawing a bill of our own W..
teit that we were willing to take half
loaf rGthe" than none il there wore
TO he no hearings" Mr. Darr said.
But since the House committee has
agreed tC a hearing and will probably
make amendments to the bill. we have
decided to ask for a bill that without
doubt viii give the people universal
Mr.. Darr read the new bill which had
been drawn by The special committee
of the citizens, conference. and asked
that it be inserted in tie bill passed by
the Senate after the enacting clause.
The proposed new bill provides for the
issuance of a receipt to everJ Passenger
upon payment of. fare, Which recent
shall be used as transfer at any con
Meeting point.
Mr.. Keating feared that the Senate
bill would not give transfers, and
while the citizens conference asked
the adoption of a new BILL its chief con-
Germ was to get a bill that oud in
sure the issuance of free transfers. He
took up the Senate bill in detail, point
ing out what were considered TO be
weak features.
Congressman Anderson asked Mr.
Keaung why the citizens were not
anxious about the passage of the new
bill.
"Gf you feel that the Senate bill will
give lis tranefers, then we are agree
able to its passage replied Mr.. kcat-
ing.
The committee went into executive
session before Mr.. Heating lad COM
peted his explanation of the Senate
bill.