The Washington herald., 1919-01-08
CITIZENS QUIZ HAM
AT HEARING ON Is
TRANSFER POINTS
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CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.
pany and s3O.320.S7 for the Wash
! ington Railway and Electric Com
pany.
In answer to questions by Chairman
Kutz and Mr.. Hannah as to whether
the establishment of transfers at
Fourteenth street and New York ave-
nue. would really permit any more pas
sengers to ride on the cars than they
are at present accommodating. Mr..
Beeler stated that the cars at this
and possibly other points during a
half-hour period in the morning were
probably loaded to their maximum
capacity. but during the rest of the
day they were not. and the transfers
would be of great convenience except
for this thirty-minute period.
Mr.. Beeler explained that during the
afternoon the employees left their c,f-
| hCes at various times from 3:45 to $50
! O'Clock. and that in the nonrush hours
of both the morning and the after
noon there would be no congestion as
I result of the establishment of the
| transfers. He admitted that there
would probably be greater congestion
at some points from 9 to $50 o'clock.
Rather be Crowded Than Walk.
Asked by Mr.. Hannah as to what he
regarded Is the maximum capacity of
a street car for passengers, Mr.. Beeler
stated that it was about so per cent
greater than the seating capacity, or
about Y. but that so far as he was
/ personally concerned he would rather
ride on a car with 100 or more pas
sengers on board if he was in hurry
than to walk.
Nevertheless" declared presI-
dent Ham. ''if the Commission Is OF
the opinion that Mr.. Beeler's recon-
mendatiOns as to transfers should
be put into effect. we here and now
state our willingness to put them
into effect for a limited period.
I'm this connection, however.
deem it ~ecessary to call attention
to the fact that we are already fac
ing a deficit and probable loss OF
revenues on account of the trans
fers. As to arrangement for in
creased fare to be determined as a
result of the trial of the intercom-
pany transfers. we leave the nature
and extent of the relief to the Com
mission"
The witness declared that he was
mate as to whfS loss in revenues
the establishment OF the transfers
would involve for his company, but
as a matter of conjecture thought
they would be much greater than
the amount estimated bv Mr.: Beeler
President Ham stated that his COM
pany particularly objected to the
granting of transfers at Fifteenth and
G streets, Fifteenth and New York
avenue, Seventeenth and H streets,
Thirty-second and NJ streets and
Fourteenth and Pennsylvania avenue
This objection. he said. was mainly
on account of congestion already ex-
isting at these points. which would be
increased by the giving of transfers.
Vice President ]. H. Hannah, of
the Capital Traction Company. Occur
pied the stand during the greater
part of the morning session.
Mr.. Hannah estimated the loss to
his company through the establish
ment of intercompany transfers at
the points under consideration at ap-
proximately- $500
On behalf of the Capital Traction.
Mr.. Hannah stated that his company
particularly objected to the establish
ment of transfers at Seventeenth
and H streets, Seventeenth street and
Pennsylvania avenue, Fifteenth street
and New York avenue, Fifteenth and
G. streets and Fourteenth street and
Pennsylvania avenue.
'In my opinion" said Mr.. Hannah,
transfers at these points would
create an intolerable condition. They
would make for greater congestion
and would be a detriment to passen-
gers, especially during the rush
hours"
George E. Hamilton. president of the
Capital Traction Company. read a
carefully-prepared statement saying
that his company will oppose no legal
objection to the will of the commits
sion II its decision should be given
for the establishment of free inter-
company transfers at all points rec
ommended in the Beeler report.