The Washington herald., 1919-01-10

A petition signed by IL 200 employees
of the Bureau of Engraving and Print
ing and the Department of Agricul-
ture was presented by a delegation at
the intercompany transfer hearing
before the Public Utilities Commis-
sion yesterday.
These employees, through their rep
resentative, John ]. Deyiny, superin-
tendent of work. whose request for in
tercompany transfers at Fourteenth
street and Pennsylvania avenue, and
Twelfth street and Pennsylvania ave-
nue., is recommended by Mr.. Beeler
presented indisputable evidence that
the granting Of transfers would be
of greatest convenience to the thou
sands of employees who work at these
bureaus.
At the same time, they claimed.
these would be a source of profit to
the Virginia Railway
Company, which is now operating
half-filled cars past these bureaus
during the rush hours both the morn
ing and afternoon. Mr.. Beeler, while
on the stand. declared there could be
no possible objection to the establish
ment of the transfers and that his
observations showed that the company
was operating cars with many va
cant seat and plenty of standing room
to accommodate the employees. Mr..
Deviny's statement follows:
Here's the Petition.
We, the undersigned, representing
the employees of the Bureau of En-
craving and Printing and Depart
ment of Agriculture to the number
of 1920. respectfully request that
free intercompany transfers be
granted at Fourteenth street and
Pennsylvania avenue. and Twelfth
street and Pennsylvania avenue
northwest, for the following
reasons:
This Intercompany transfer priv
ilege is designed for two purposes,
to give the public a one-fare basis
to parts of the city now reached
only by the payment of two fares,
and to relieve the car congestion by
permitting the transportation of the
people with less hauling than under
the present arrangement. If BY
holding to the cars of one company
it is possible for a passenger to
reach his destination approximately
by a roundabout route. and trans
fer will carry him by a much shorter
route, a gain in the passengers and
Company's interest will be effected
by giving him the transfer privilege.
I There are some parts of the city
that cannot be reached from other
parts save on a two-fare basis.
These should assuredly be covered
by the transfer arrangement.
TN considering the question of re-
ciprocal transfers between the two
street car systems. the Commission
crs should be guided by the public's
interest. The railway companies are
under obligations to afford transfer
privileges to the people at such points
as may be decided upon as the pub
lies interest may indicate or demand.
They have been given 20 per cent
increase of fare in consideration of
! higher cost of maintenance, and in
granting this increase the Commis-
siOners declared that IT must be ac-
cOmpauied by some compensation to
the public in the way of an enlarged
transfer system.
would Relieve COngestiOn.
Tn asking for intercoupln- trans
fcrs at Twelfth street and Pennsyl-
vania avenue, between the Capital
i lutllbl company anu lll- W dSnlll--
i ton Virginia lines. it is explained that
! this would materially relieve the con-
gestion on the Fourteenth street line
of the Washington Railway and Eiec-
trio Company by diverting a large
portion of the traffic over the Wash
! ington-Virginia lines to the Avenue
at Twelfth street. Under the present
method the major portion of the traf-
| fic is over the Washington Railway
and Electric Company lines to Penn
sylvania avenue.
That the plan would be feasible
( both ways is shown by the fact that
a great many cars Of the Washing
ton-Virginia line en- route to the city
in the afternoon pass the bureau
practically empIy. Traffic is heaviest
at this time. and by diverting a por-
tiOn Of il through the granting of
intercOmpany transfers il would he
possible to relieve the public of what
Is believed by the petitioners an WI
fair discrimination, and the payment
of two cents for transfers.
"As you doubtless know. it is i'm
possible for those living on the Capt.
tai Traction lines to reach the Bureau
or Department of Agriculture for one
| fare. Tiny are compelled to purchase