The Washington herald., 1912-01-24

The universal transfer bill is as follows:
The Bill I'm Full.
"Be n enacted by the Senate and the
House OF Representatives Of the United
States in Congress assembled, That thirty
days after the passage OF this act all
street railroad companies now or here
after operating their systems or part OF
their systems within the District OF Co
Iumbia shall at all times issue to all pas
sengers applying for the same free re-
ciprocaI continuous. universal transfers,
interchangeable from the line or lines Of
one company TO the lines Of another,
good and receivable at all functions. In
tersectIons. or connections, or wherever
the tracks of any line approach within
200 feet the tracks Of any other line; pro-
vided:
THAT said companies shall have the
right 10 stipulate that such transfers
shall be used only In continuation OF a
trip in one general direction within the
District Of Columbia, TO prevent passen-
gers from travelling from one point 10
another and return on one fare.
Provided, further, That the existing sys-
TEN of transfers on the lines respectively
OF the Capital Traction Company and the
Washington Railway and Electric Com
pany shall be continued and made perma-
nent. The adjustment OF the accounts
between street railroad companies result
ing from this interchange OF transfers
shall be mutually agreed upon between
the said companies. and in any case OF
failure TO reach such mutual agreement
the matters in dispute shall be deter
mined by the Commissioners Of the Dis
trict OF Columbia. who are authorized
and directed TO require every street rail-
road company TO comply with the pro-
visions OF this act and are hereby vested
with the power to regulate such transfers
and to fix the rate or rates at which the
same shall be redeemed on their own
motion after notice and hearing.
Provided. That the findings OF said Com
missioners shall be and are hereby de-
clared TO be prima facie reasonable. Any
party interested in such proceedings may
appeal from the decision OF the said Com
missioners 10 the Supreme Court OF the
District OF Columbia, and until reversed
or modified by said court the decision.
finding or order OF said Commissioners
shall be and remain IN full force and
effect
Commissioners Of the District Of Column
bia are hereby authorized and directed
to enforce compliance with the provisions
OF this act in any court of competent
Jurisdiction by mandamus or other rem
edy. either at law or in equity, in the
name Of the District OF Columbia.
Sec. 2 That every street railroad
company and every officer or employe
Of any street railroad company who shall
neglect or refuse to obey, or shall vio-
late any of the provision of this act re-
lating to the issue to and receipt from
all passengers Of any such transfer or
transfers, shall. upon conviction. be pun
ished by a fine of not less than SO nor
more than $40 for each and every offense.
Every such neglect. refusal. or violation
shall constitute a separate and distinct
ofense. Every such prosecution shall be
in the Police Court of the District OF Co
lumbis on information in the name of the
District OF Columbia, filed by the cor
poration counsel of said District or one
Of his assistants
Sec. g. That Congress reserves the
right 10 alter. amend. or repeal this act"