Evening star., 1916-09-06
w. Nick. Clayton Tells Com
mission 1t Has Disappointed
Travelling Public. i.
CRITICISES 1T FOR COX"
ON STREET CAR SERVICE
Lively Tilt at Hearing Today on
Standardization-Scope to Avoid
Rate Issue.

A lively tilt between William Mex.
Clayton. chairman of the public util-
tiles committee of the Federation of
Citizens Associations, and the public
utilities commission marked a hearing
given by the commission today on a
proposed standard for street railway
service in the District Of Columbia
When informed that the proposed
standard is designed as a measure of
the adequacy of service and that it is
not the present intention to raise that
standard beyond a point where it would
become a rate Question-which neces-
sarily would have to await the COM
pletion of valuation of railway prop
erties-Mr. Clayton expressed disap-
pointment that the commission was not
considering measures of more imme-
date benefit to the travelling public.
Better Treatment Expected.
We expected to receive better treat
ment from the commission and we have
failed to receive it." he said.
Pressed by Commissioner Brownlow
as to whom he represented, Mr.. Clayton
finally replied, the majority of the
travelling public"
He expressed the opinion that there is
no need of standard for measuring
service; that the commission, through
its inspectors, can easily determine
when car service is inadequate, and
that it should adopt measures designed
directly to improve conditions.
COX" on Car Service.
He also criticised the commission for
what he termed placing its O. K" on
the car service now rendered in the Dis
trict. since the proposed standard prac-
tically agrees with the average service
furnished on the majority of lines. He
said that the public is disappointed that
the question OF universal transfers has
been showed into the background pend
ing the completion Of the valuation
work.
In attendance at the hearing were
representatives of a number of civic
and other organizations, practically all
OF whom expressed opposition to adop-
ton OF the standard II It should mean
the establishment of limit upon tho
number of persons that may be carried
on street car.
Measure Of Service.
Commissioner Kutz explained that
this would not be tho effect of the
standard. which was sought merely as
measure Of service for rush and non
rush travel during definite periods of
time.
The principal spokesmen for the rail-
way companies were J. H Hanna, vice
president Of the Capital Traction Com
pany, and Clarence P. King. president
Of the Washington Railway and Elec-
tric Company.
Mr.. King questioned whether the
m ha MI
public utilities law to establish q stand
ard for street railway service. He also
contended that q rate question Is in
volved in the matter. and pointed out
sideration of rate questions until com
pletion Of the valuation.
Not Successful Elsewhere.
He stated that no standard of the
character proposed for Washington has
ever succeeded in any city; that local
street railways are furnishing service
equal to or superior to that furnished
in any other municipality: that the
standard would hamper rather than i'm
prove service here, and that the entire
proposition is more theoretical than
practical
Speaking for the Capital Traction
Company, Mr. Hanna stated that there
are SO many complications and dim.
culties in the way of establishing a
standard that, In his opinion, 1t would
be wise to take only initial steps at
this time.
six-Month Test Proposed
He proposed that. as an experiment.
tentative standard be adopted to ap-
ply only to rush-hour travel, and that
the test continue for six months, at
the end of which time the commission
and the companies would be in a bet
ter position to consider the practical
bility of the entire scheme.
Mr.. Hanna likewise stated that the
problem of standardizing street car
service has not been satisfactorily
solved by any city.
Others who spoke were Evan H.
Tucker of the Northeast Citizens As
sociation, who expressed doubt as to
whether a practical means of meas
uring service could be devised; 2. Hill
ton Jackson. Herman E. Gasch. J. H.
Cookman, Jesse Pawling and G. A.
Wilburt, president of the recently or
ganized street railway mems union. Mr.
Wilburt favored the testing of a
in some such manner as that
by Mr.. Hanna.
The commission is expected to act In
the matter in the near future.