Evening star., 1922-09-24
Fifty Years Ago<
i'm The Star

. There was no public utilities COM
mission in Washington fifty years ago,
SO that citizens
Suit to Annul the who felt that
W. & G. Charter. t@e, co @4u mnI.,o s1a1o
against the street railway companies
had to go to court with their griev-
ances. In The Star of September 16.
1877. Is an account of a suit entered
in the Supreme Court of the District
by District Attorney George p. Fisher
for the repeal of the charter of the
Washington and Georgetown Railway
Company. The information recited
several grounds for repeal in the
failure OF the company to comply with
its charter requirements 1t had not
cohformed to the altered grades and
pavements on certain streets. It had
not laid its road around the southern
boundary OF the Capitol grounds and
along said southern boundary east
erly to Pennsylvania avenue" That
the company. with intent to defeat
the provisions Of the charter in re-
gard to fares and transportation. has
adopted certain transfer regulations
under which 1t refuses and neglects
TO carry passengers at a rate Of fare
not exceeding 5 cents between either
terminus of said main railway and
the terminus OF either of its said
branch railways" 1t had failed TO
return the value as real estate Of the
roads for assessment and taxtion II
mad neglected to keep its tracks and
space Of two feft beyond well paved
and In good order.
Other grounds of complaint were
cited. The company had not placed
hrst-class cars on its lines and had
not run the cars during the day as
. often as every five minutes, except
as to 7th and 18th streets, And on
tnese one IN fifteen minutes each way
until IL o'clock at night. as often a.
every half hour. 1t had failed to pro
vloe passenger room. ticket offices and
depots for the convenience Of the
public. particularly at the intersec-
lions or 7th and 18th streets with
Pennsyivania avenue. 1t had failed
gress.
Carnivals of crime are not particu-
larly modern manifestation in this
country. One OF
Chicago Anti-Crime them was the
r...1 subject of COM
plant and
comment fifty years ago. as noted by
the following in The Star of Septem-
Der II. 1872:
1T is a curious commentary upon
the results of the sickly sentimental
ism upon the subject of capital pun
ishment put forward of late years thai
the newspapers all over the country
are urging the organization of vari
ttxya
with the law officers. to put up some
bar against the carnival Of crime pre-
vailing. In Chicago a citizens com
mittee of twenty-five has been ap
pointed to aid the city authorities in
the prompt arrest, speedy trial and
lessness. robbery and even murder
having become alarmingly frequent
in that city. and the police and courts
having proved powerless to stay the
evil. At the meeting at which this
committee was established, an even
merchants. bankers and other busi-
ness men. the most vigorous enforce
ment of the laws. and the most thor
ouRh execution and the severest pen
alties were strenuously advocated.
State Attorney Reed lectured the mer-
chants and business men. the very
class who called the meeting. for 30
maneuvering as to keep clear of serv-
ing on the juries. and among other de-
fects pointed out the absurdity of the
law in practically debarring a man
who reads the daily newspapers from
serving as a juror. Mr.. Reed said that
in one murder case alone he had been
to excuse twenty-six men
simply because they had read a news
paper account of the terrible affair.
The committee Of twenty five is en-
powered to offer reward. engage coun-
sci and employ the services of special
detectives in other agencies. whenever.
deemed advisable by it, and it is ex-
pected that the funds for the work
will be furnished by voluntary sub
scriptions Of the law-loving and law
a hiding beople of the city,"