The Washington times., 1912-01-19
SENATE REPORT
FAYORS UNIVERSAL.
TRANSFER Plan
Committee Indorses Com
missioners' Bill-Other
Matters Acted Upon.

Matters Acted Upon.
The Commissioners universal trans
Ter bill which recently was introduced !
In the Senate by Senator Gallinger. was
ordered favorably reported by the SEN
ate District Committee at meeting
this morning.
The citizens conference plan for uni
versal transfers which recently was
urged on the committee at public
hearing was turned down.
Senator Works of California was the
only member of the committee who op-
posed the Commissioners bill and who
suppor ted the citizens conference plan.
Senator Works is expected to speak for
the adoption of the citizens conference
measure in the Senate, but there is little
question that the Commissioners bill
Will be passed. ~.g
No Serious Controversy.
No serious controversy over the
matter developed In the committee to-
day. The Commissioners bill was con-
sidsred in detail and several amend
mentts adopted, and then 1t was or
dered favorably reported.
AZ the bill stands, the companies
are required to put universal transfers
into effect thirty days after the pas
sage Of the act. Transfers are to be
interchangeable from the l&ine or lines
Of one company to the line or lines of
another. receivable at all functions. or
wherever the tracks Of any line ap-
proach within 200 feet the tracks of
any other line, It is provided that the
companies shall have the right to stip-
ulate that such transfers shall be used
N nf a ri n
general direction within the District
OF Columbia.
This provision as to travel in one gen.
eral direction was one Of the amend
nents inserted in the bill today. Another
important amendment provides that the
existing system of transfers on the lines
fbe ths anS
Company shall be continued, and made
permanent. The effect of this Is to re-
auire each company to give passenger
system, and then to transfer the pass
enger to the connecting line of another
company. providingethat In doing this
eral direction to his destination, and
not merely seeking to take a long and
circuitous route on single fare.
Commissioners to Settle.
The Commissioners bill as repor ted
provides that the company shall agree
upon the proportion Of fares due to
each, and In case Of failure to reach
such an agreement the dispute shall be
settled by the Commissioners. The find
ings OF the Commissioners are declared
to be prima facie reasonable. Any
party interested In such proceedings
may appeal from the Commissioners to
the Supreme Court of the District of
Columbia.
The Commissioners are authorized and
directed to enforce compliance with the
MI ~aav Arn~ ~.rRA L., T. ~
rnandamns, or otherwise. A penalty Of
not less than. SO nor moro than $40 is
imposed for each and evry neglect or
refusal Of a street railway company. or
any OF It's employees. to live UP to the
provisions Of the law.
Such prosecutions are to be in the
Police Court on information filed by the
Corporation Counsel or one Of his as
The public utilities question was not
discussed by the committee today
Senator Gallinser suggested that the
tee on public utilities headed by Sem
ator Oliver. and this was done.
Adds Favorable Report.
A favorable report was adde. on
the bill to restore the name of Ore
gon avenue to the street lying be-
tween New Hampshire avenue and
Eighteenth street northwest. and to
extend 1t to include Cedar place. An
amendment was added to the bill
providing that the name of the high
way from North Capitol street to
Rock Creek Park. now known as
Oregon avenue. shall hereafter be
known as Concord street. This action
of the committee probably will LEAD
to a settlement OF the controversy
that was stirred up when the Dis
trict Commissioners changed the
name of Oregon avenue to Swami
street.
The committee also ordered a favor
able report on the Bacon resolution
Commissioners for. changing the name
of Oregon Avenue to Swami street.
Senator Gallinger has prepared an ex-
tensive report dealing with this ques-
tion. The position of the committee is
that while the action of the Commits
sioners in making the charge was tech
nically within the law, that the ex-
istence of such authority by the COM
missioners is not advisable.
In connection with the report on this
resolution letter will be filed from
Major Judson: setting forth the various
other data and letters also will be filed.
DR.. Woodward Appears.
DR.. william c. Woodward, District
Health Officer, appeared before the COM
mittee In support of the bill to amend
the law with respect to disinterment
of persons who have died of contagious
or infectious diseases. No action was
taken on the bill, the committee de-
Gliding to await certain information
which DIR. Woodward will obtain as to
the practice In other cities.
The bill for the relief of The crossing
policemen was refer red to the subcom-
mittee on police and fire departments.
All but three members of the conf
mittee were present today. Senator Lor.
inner attended the meeting for the first
time since he has been member o. the
committee.