The Washington herald., 1918-12-18
$1,000 WORKERS
ASK FOR FREE
CAR TRANSFERS
Petition Commissioners to
Urge Utilities Board to
Pass Ruling.
TWO CENTS TOO MUCH
Extra Charge to Bureau
and Department Claim
ed Unreasonable.
TWO CENTS TOO MUCH

Eleven thousnd employees Of the Bu-
reau of Engraving and Printing and
the Department OF Agriculture through
Representatives yesterday presented
petition to the Commissioners asking
for free intercompany transfers at
both Twelfth street and Pennsylvania
avenue northwest.
The petition cites the fact that the
Public Utilities Commission had stated
its opinion that the granting Of the
scent fare contemplated a universal
transfer system, and that officials of
the car companies said they would in
terpose no legal objection TO such a
system
Declaring that no action looking
TO the issuance of free transfers has
been taken either by the Utilities Com
mission or the companies, the petition
ers set forth in an accompanying let
ter that II is impossible for the 500
employees OF the bureau and the 3.0oo
employees of the Department of Agr1-
culture to reach their places of work
by paying only one fare. They are
forced to pay an extra cents for
transfer making each trip cost cents.
Too short a HauL
This extra charge, it is contended, is
unreasonable for so short a haul, and
1t is stated that 1t constitutes an
actual burden on many lower salaried
efpIoyes.
The employees request that the Com
missioners use what authority they
possess to register an opinion in IA
vor of issuing an order by the Public
Utilities Commission directing the
Washington Railway and Electric
Company, the Capital Traction Com.
pany and the Washington Virginia
Railway Company to issue free trans
fers at Fourteenth street and Penn
sylvania avenue northwest. and
Twelfth street and Pennsylvania ave-
nue. northwest
employees of the Bureau Of Engray-
ing ana Printing and Department Of
Agriculture to the number of 1l.o0o
respectfully request that free inter-
company transfers be granted at
Fourteenth and Pennsylvania avenue,
and Twelfth and Pennsylvania ave-
nue. northwest" reads the letter.
I'VE are and have been of the
opinion that an inter-company trans
fer system would Immediately follow
the granting of the scent fare and
have been unable to understand the
attitude of the car companies in this
matter.
'As you doubtless know it is i'm
possible for those living on the Capital
| Traction lines to reach the Bureau or
Department of Agriculture for one
fare they are compelled to purchase
2-cent transfer, which the trip costs
IL cents, or "A cents per day, we feel
that the 2-cent transfer is unreason-
able for so short a haul and that il
constitutes an actual burden on many
Of our lower salaried employees.
These Cars Empty.
I'VE wish particularly to bring to
your attention the possibilities of the
Washington and Virginia Railway
, Company to serve us in this matter OF
transfers and better transportation.
! An examination of this line will show
( these cars running practically empty
at the times we desire to use them.
the establishing of reciprocal transfers
between this and the Capital Traction
Company would relieve the congestion
+ that obtains today at other points
serving this section of the city.
In conclusion to wish to refer TO
I
| the last hearing.
"The Public Utilities Commission
stated it was their opinion that the
granting of the scent fare contem-
7 plated a universal transfer system, to
which the. officials of the railway COM
pany said they would interpose no
legal objection to ap order by the
/ Public Utilities Commission requiring
such transfers at points where in the
| opinion of the commission the pub
lie interests may indicate or demand.
I'VE, therefore, respectfully ask
that the authority you possess be used
| registering your opinion in favor of
| Issuing an order by the Public Utili-
ties Commission directing the Wash
| ington Railway and Electric Company,
| the Capital Traction Company and
| the Washington and Virginia Rail-
! way Company to issue and accept free
| transfers at the points mentioned
| above"
The letter is signed by chairman,
Edward r. Williams; plate printers,
Elmer S. Jordan: machinists, o. Wom-
bic; engineers, J. A. Williams; Federal
Labor Union. Nora James; engravers,
! Edward NJ. Haas: transferrers, Ben
| jamin Goldsworthy; plate cleaners. Will
liam r. Brown; firemen and oilers, d.
]. O'Leary; carpenters, John T. Wells;
painters, Elton o. Pillow; steam. fit-
tiers, Preston c. Shannon; plumbr-s.
Frederick Zulch; pressmen, c. H. Har-
wood; Department of Agriculture En-
ployes, r. VI. Reese, chief clerk. Ap-
proved, James L. Wilmeth, Director OF
the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.
|
na.kh Ende Th;rd uunror