Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-11-13
COMPLAINS OF SERVICE
ON LOCAL RAILWAY LINE
Edward Blaine Says Congress
Heights Schedule Steadily
Grows Worse.

Since the public utilities commission
was created by Congress and since the
strike on the lines Of the Washington
Railway and Electric Company the
street car service to Congress Heights
has been steadily growing worse. until
now it seems practically impossible to
get any one to listen to a complaint or
make effort to better this service"
This statement was made by Edward
Blaine before members of the Public
Improvement Association of Congress
Heights at its meeting last night in the
school on Nichols avenue. and this was
followed by a general criticism OF tho
service furnished that suburb by the
railway company.
Gustave Bender said the association
had done everything within it's power
to secure better service and was at
a loss to suggest a new method of pro-
cedure to secure improvement
That the service is SO poor as to be
ton of Edward J. Newcomb, who told
OF some Of the things that had been
done recently to add insult to injury"
as he termed it. He said that most of
the cars during the rush hours operated
only to Portland street. thereby incon-
veniencing a majority Of the residents
Of the suburb.
Practically every member present told
of having to wait in the heart Of the
city from fifteen to thirty minutes for
a car to the suburb during the busy
hours. and then have that car SO crowd
cd that one could barely find standing
room. The association expressed belief
that the company is running this line
on the don't care" method and that
Congress should be urged to insist on
better service.
Mr.. Connors. representing Lodge 1913
Of Machinists. which is comprised of
employees of the Washington Steel and
Ordnance Company, told of efforts by
his lodge to secure better service to
the steel plant. but without avail. He
asked the cooperation of the associa-
ton in its fight for decent car service.
A. .. Mckay said he believed that If the
federal governments attention were
called to this condition it would order
better service to a plant solely en-
MFR. Mckay severely criticised the
Borland act. which assesses property
owners for permanent improvements
to streets. He called attention to the
nue. recently improved in the suburb
the half Of this avenue AUDITING private
property had been permanently i'm
proved and would be assessed against
faced government property, had only
been temporarily improved. and to his
mind the owners should refuse payment
Of assessments until the entire avenue
Ia permanently improved. This mat
ter will be considered further by the
association.
James F. Wood, representing the East
End Association, outlined a program OF
general improvements for the District
which. he said, would be presented to
the Commissioners. This program calls
chiefly for the. Improvement Of the lead
Ing highways into the District from
Maryland and Virginia. He also urged
the Endorsement Of the Carey bill, which
would re-establish pawnshops in the
District. This latter matter was re-
ferred to the Legislative committee
4 report was read showing that the
sum of 100000 was available for addi-
tional buildings at the Government Hos
p.tal for the Insane, which expenditure
it was said. would further add to the
beauty of the suburb.
DR.. f. e. Richardson was appointed to
represent the body On the general com
mittee having in charge the work of
the food commission. DR.. Richardson
told Of the house-to-house canvass to
be made the goth OF this month in
the interest of the conservation of food.
The association received permission
to use the school for its meetings. I. -
Weeks. vice president. presided at the
meeting.