The Washington times., 1912-08-06
TRIAL OF Street
GAR VIOLATIONS
! MADE A FARCE
Companies Are Again Grant
ed Delay on Important
| Charges.
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Continued from First Page.)
killed, what testimony can these men
from Philadelphia, st. Louis, and else
wnere 90 to show that 1t was not
Anxious for Delay.
why should these cases be railroad
cd through at this time anyhow" In
quired the court. This is August, and
We are not supposed to have jury trials
during the month. This establishes a
precedent."'
Simply your honor" replied counsel
Sr os .se try the, these
has been asked to hear them this month
in order to eliminate the danger and
satisfy the clamor of the public,
further s the 5sasSn why
Attorney Hoover, for the washington
Railway and Electric Company, de-
clared he would take an affidavit, IL
ready 10 @ dsfend He itself pg against the the
charges involving the running-board
violations. Mr.. Hoover bitterly assail-
ed the validity of the regulation pro-
G nunnns ss aao o cars Sf sna
that the case would be eventually set
tied in the District Court of Appeals.
He declared that similar regulations
ernments, and that 1t had been found
impossible to enforce them.
Cannot Be Enforced.
"our experts will testify that the COM
panies cannot possibly enforce this
regulation" said Mr.. Hoover. ''The
court knows that we have no power to
throw a man bodily from street car.
In W ha
tinually the object Of civil and criminal
actions" 0- "E ;
''As We see the regulation on Its
face" continued Mr.. Hoover, 1T is
null and void In that it Is impossible
to enforce it. This case will no doubt
60 to the Court of Appeals. your hon.
or, and when we bring 1t before this
court We want to go through this
court in a manner that will enable us
to take the case to the higher courts
Immediately
Following Mr.. Hoovers argument
Assistant Corporation Counsel Smith
for the District said that he was willing
to show Difference to Mr.. Hoover In tn,
matter und continue the cases as tn,
latter requested. Counsel for Traction
company then announced they wer'
prepared to 60 ahead with the hearint
Of the failing to properly greas'
"Gear- -greasing" Case Opens.
Attorney Hoover questioned the jur,
rs to whether any Of the men making
up the body had any grievance agains
the railway companies. whether, an.
Juror had any claim against the com
panies, or whether any man In the bo,
was personally acquainted with secre
Raiiwsy I 9omnlission, who is.appearins lt
as witness against the traction com
panies. The jury was satisfactory Il
sistant CorporationC Counse Smith quizzet
the jurors as to whether any Of then
were employed by street railways. OF
being informed that none OF the mel
in the box were street railway EN-
ployes the trial of the "gear greasing'
cases began. IT.,
Secretary Eddy, of the District Elec
trio Railway Commission. was tn
clared on cross-questiontng that he wa
special agent of the Interstate Com
merce Commission employed as an in
spector of the street railways. Of tn
trict Electric Railway Commission. H
testified that he examined a car on tn
Columbia road line and found that tn
sufficiently to prevent a peace disturb
ing noise being made while the ca
was in motion.
Verdict Of Not Guilty.
Four men who gave their ~occupa
tions as experts on car gears and tn
use of grease for such gears appeare
as witnesses for the car company. Rels
tive to the alleged violation Of the res
ulations charging the company wit
improperly greasing gears and thereb
allowing cars to make undue nois
while running. they testified that every
thing, had been done in accordance wit
the law. Both attorneys for the d.
Tense and the District addressed tn
jury. ..-
room and five minutes later returne
a verdict of not guilty: Following
recess until 1:30 p M, hearing of tn
charge of operating a car with gear
so badly worn that undue noises wer
caused, was begun.
Cases to Be Tried.
The cases which the companies war
tried while asking continuance of tn
more important matters are as follows
One violation, charging failure
have gears properly creased.
One violation, charging company wit
operating car on which the gear wa
30 worn that 1t made an undue noise.
One violation, charging failure
stop car and let passenger off at plac
designated by ringing bell.
One violation, charging failure to kee
car clean and sanitary.
Two violations, charging failure
have sign on car front, indicating Il
destination. 81.
Two charges loose, Journal boxe
which made undue noise.
One violation, failure to stop car an
take on passenger at Biltmore sire,
northwest.