Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-06
WANTS D. c. TOOWN
STREET CAR LINES
Senator Norris May Introduce
Measure to Take Over
Railways.
SAYS THE STRIKE SHOWS
NEED OF SUCH ACTION
Nebraskan Says There Should Be
But One System Under One
Management.

Declaring that the strike of the street
railway employees emphasized the need
of action, Senator Norris of Nebraska
said today in an interview that he
would support any measure looking to
the taking over OF the street railways
of the capital by the District govern
ment. He said that possibly he himself
might introduce bill for this purpose.
There should not be two railway
companies in one city any more than
there should be two telephone COM
panies.' said Senator Norris. The
street railways are natural monopoly.
L believe that the District government
should condemn and take over the
street car lines here.
This action would lead to a consoli-
dation of the two systems now exist
ing and would bring about a very great
saving in the expense of operation.
through the elimination of duplication
of work and of trackage.
More Pay, Shorter Hours.
"Of course. this would mean that the
pay of the employees could be increased
and hours lessened.
The consolidation of the two exist
ing corporations into one private cor
poration might be beneficial But If
such a consolidation We're made, how
ever. it should be accomplished with
out the issue of watered stock or other
securities. On the whole. | would much
prefer to see the municipal govern
model system could be developed in the
capital which would prove of great
value to other municipalities.
Il believe that the street car con-
Il ff.t-k- and ,af.f
tie and work too long hours now in
Washington. There have been strenu
Gus protests against the Borland
amendment to the legislative. execu-
tive and judicial appropriation bill now
before the House which would make
the government clerks here work eight
hours. Personally, l believe that eight
hours is about the proper amount OF
though. that a very large number OF
the government employees are entitled
to have their salaries increased.
Are Entitled to Reduction"
But these street car employees are
striking. as l understand it, because
they are compelled to work eleven to
thirteen hours a day, and are striking
for the privilege of working only ten
hours, spread over twelve hour day.
They are certainly entitled to such a
reduction in hours of service. They
are striking, too. because they are
paid only from 221a cents to % cents an
hour, and / think they are justified in
asking for more money.
For days after the Borland amend
ment was introduced the local news
papers were filled with vigorous pro-
tests by citizens of Washington against
the wrong of making the government
employees work eight hours day. 1t
seems to me that the business men OF
Washington have an excellent oppor-
tunity to voice their sentiments now
in favor of the street railway employees
being given shorter hours of labor.
But it seems also that it makes a lot
of difference whether the government
is the employer or private corpora
ton is the employer when it comes to
rousing the protests of business men In
the support of the employees"
Would Change the Routes.
Senator Norris said that naturally the
street car companies made every effort
tbay could 70 run by as many govern