Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-29
MINUS BLOW HOLES
Necessity for Universal Trans
fer Bill Without Flaws.
NEW MEASURE SUGGESTED
Outcome of an Informal Hearing at
the Capitol.
CITIZENS GIVE THEIR VIEWS
Chairman johnson of the District
Committee Recommends That
Lawyers Be Consulted.

with only four members of the House
District committee present at the hear
ing on the johnson bill for universal
transfers for the District of Columbia,
oehnlte step was taken last night to-
ward framing legislation which will not
be filled with blow holes" to use an ex.
preston employed by Chairman johnson
At the close Of two hours of arguments
from representatives Of citizens associa-
tons and other organizations. Chairman
johnson suggested that inasmuch as there
Is hint that the transfer legislation. II
enacted, would be the target for the
sharts OF legal archers in the ranks of
the traction companies, the citizens Or
CARNATIONS interested should present a
substitute bill prepared a9tet an exhaus-
tive conference of lawyers This sugges-
tion met the immediate and enthusiastic
approval Of every one present., and un-
doubtedly the universal transfer move
ment Will shape its course in that d.
rection.
Arguments presented last night to the
| -FOUR members of the committee, Repre-
sentative johnson, Representative KONG.
Representative O'Shaunessy and Repre-
sentative Looeck, were quite similar to
those presented at other meetings on this
subject, although one or two new points
were brought out, and the hearing was
enl1vened occasionally by the wit of Rep
Iesentatlve OShaunessy, who made con-
tlnual references to certain transfers as
mere souvenirs of a car ride"
Hamilton Declines to Talk.
George e. Hamilton. president of the
capital Traction Company, declined to
make any statement to g. committee meet
Ing which lacked so many members, but
the advocates of universal transfers were
prepared and willing to talk
The question is" said Chairman john
son, do you gentlemen wish to talk to
Tour men: II you do. go ahead. but re-
member that you are talking to only four
out of twenty-one."
This is an important matter" respond
| ed Mr.. Hamilton, land the full COMMITTEES
should get all it can on both sides. so the
arguments can be carefully considered I
would like to go into the matter fully be-
lore the whole committee either verbally
or In a written argument. With all due
| respect TO the members present. think
| That arguing this question tonight would
be like arguing a case before an appeI-
| ate court with two or more Justices alb
sent
Charles A. selden. who recently bought
| at trustees sale the Washington and
Baltimore Transit Company, presented
many arguments based on experiences
with a traction company. Mr.. Selden
made the statement a few days ago
that his transit company had failed to
operate simply because the line could
not get its transfers accepted by other
roads, He said that the one bit of in
formation needed most of all is how
much 1t costs the railways in Washing
ton to carry one passenger one mile and
that this information is withheld by the
companies. He also said that Washing
| ton roads are receiving more money than
any DINERS In the country. in proportion
Ar ~
Ject of the advisability of continuing
the 14th street line down the hill on the
east side Of the New Willard, which sug-
gestlon was referred to at various times
throughout the hearing.
p V. Heating, representing the citizens
conference, presented a variety of figures
saying that his observations led him to
believe the companies can carry a pas
1-6 cents. give transfer and make
money. p. ]. Ryan. speaking for the
| Central Labor Union, said his organiza-
ton Is not welded to any particular
transfer bill, but is entirely in favor Of
the general proposition.
Cost Of Short Haul.
Samuel Sowerbutts of the Northeast
Citizens Association told the members of
the committee that 1t costs two car fares
to ride from the rear of the Union sta
ton on the H street side around to the
front door:
DO many people make that attempt?"
asked Representative O'Shaunessy.
Many people would like to-" answered
Mr.. Sowerbutts.
b. j. Northcutt of Lincoln. Park Citi-
zeps' Association derided the statement
made by an adversary Of the universal
transfer that there is no general demand
for the legislature sought.
This reminds me of a cook who used
to skin cells alive. When she was CRITICS.
ed for it she replied. oh, they don't mind
road companies believe the public are 81 SO
used to paying two fares that no one
| minds 1t in the least"
Washington Topham and T. W. Smith
spoke briefly for universal transfers. and
Representative Lobeck brought I'D the
| question of advisability Of a line contin-
| uing down 14th street northwest and
| reaching into the southwest where the
| bureau Of engraving and printing and the
bureaus Of the Department of AericuI-
ture are situated.
Only Woman Speaker.
Mrs. Katherine MacLennan. the only
| woman who spoke at the hearing. al
though three or four were present, was
greeted by a burst Of applause when she
| told of her trips to Mount Olvet ceme-
terry.
Il live near 9Th and streets south
east she explained. land In going to
| the cemetery I have to pay four fares.
That makes round trip cost eight car
| tickets. l. wrote to one OF the traction
companies about it, and received the re-
ply that by going to 18th and New York
| avenues northwest 1 could get a transfer
| to- 18th and II streets northeast How
ever. when 1 go to the cemetery I don't
| care to take long vacation. nor do 1
see why I should go to 14th and New
| York avenue northwest to get to 18th
| and H streets northeast
E. l. Tucker, D. H. Oertly and ]. LIE
Clerc spoke in favor Of transfers. After
| hearing these arguments Representative
| O Shaunessy said:
why don't you get all your lawyers
| together and write a bill that is sure to
| stand"
| Representative Johnson took I'D this
| strain and spoke on several technical and
legal phases Of the bill. ending with the
suggestion which met with so much
| favor, that a bill be framed which meets
the approval Of general conference of
lawyers.