The evening times., 1900-02-08
BERRY's BILL OPP osED.
Argument Against Reducing Fare

Argument Against Reducing Fares
On street Cars.
George Trues6eu President OF the Wash
ington Traction C0mpan~. appeared before
the House Distrie, Com-aittee this morn
ing in opposition 20 -he -ezry blI psoyi5-
ing for Scent fare. arg .ght car service
and vestibuled cars. Nr Truesdeu. refer
ring 20 q statement made yesterday by
Mr. Perry said the Traction Company had
not purchased Tia Heroic COMPANY
Mr.. Berry who was present asked II it
was not true that the fare on the herdics
was formerly g cents. b1t was now q cents.
Mr.. Truesdel said il was. but HIS com
pauy had nothing 90 DO with fixing the
fare on the herdies. Nr. Sims asked if it
was not better for the travelling public
that the fare te cents on the herdics.
with privilege OF transfer, than TO pay
cents and get no transfer. I think so.
said Mr.. Trues dell.
Mr.. Truesd,I said lhere were eleven
roads now controlled by the syndicate.
With the exception OF the Metropolitan
and the Columbia. which were good pay
ing properties, not one Of the other nine
roads had been paying operating expenses.
They were operated al a loss Last year
the City and Suburban Road fell beaind
$4,000 in its operating expenses.
Mr TTuesden read to the Committee q
letter he had addressed 10 Commissioner
Beach, giving his reasons why the Berry
bill should not be favcrsbly reported by
the Commissioners. The first section of
the bill, he said, would. IL enacted INTO
law, abolish all existing safeguards which
the street car companies have found ne-es-
sary TO establish for their own protection
in connection with the present transfer
system.
Mr.. TruesdelI then proceeded TO argue
against the various sections OF the bill
Referring 10 the proposed reduction Of fare
he said:
Aside from the reduction in the exist
ing rate Of fare the proposal 10 establish
by law three different rates Of fare al diff
terent hours Of the day is fraught with
great loss and mischief to the railroad
companies. without, il is believed CORES
ponding benefit 10 their patrons"
The present rate of fare in the District
or Columbia he said. was as low as i'm
any other city in the United States and
with perhaps TWO or three exceptions in
the world. Its receipts or earnings per
passenger were less than in any city Of
equal size in the worlG
Mr.. TTuesdell said there was not rail-
road in the city that could live under the
Berry bill. Two of the roads. Mr. Trues-
dell said lay handsomely. but under the
Berry bill they could not stand the loss
Now l submit said Mr. Truesdel!.
that it is not fair 20 the people nor to The
District to pass a bill that would place
their railroads in the hands Of a receiver"
II ha h., a.,
pass the bill he wanted it to carefully con-
slider the matter. NJ. S;Try. he said. had
not read the reports Of the street railroad
companies and did moi know what the op-
Grating expenses are.
He did not believe the committee. after
careful investigation, would recommend
the bill. To pass the measure. he said.
would be to practically conhscate the
property. The companies would be forced
TO cut the wages of the employees.
Referring TO vestibules for the cars Mr..
TruesdelI said they would increase the
number Of accidents. re had brought the
first vestibuled cars G. Washington. They
were used on the &c dngtOn Road for
while, but the motormen did not like
them
The question Of expense. he said. did not
enter into the case. he wanted the CS5n-
mittee TO bring before them people wto
could tell them something about vesti-
bules.
At the conclusion o. Mr.. Truesdelrs ar
gument the committee adjourned. subject
10 the call Of the chairman.
India Contributes To the War Fund.
CALCUTTA, Feb. S-The Indian Gov
ernment has contributed e50.000 to the
imperial war funds
SI.25 TO baltimore and Re- Si.23
turn via PeRnsylVanin Railroad.
Tickets au sale SATURDAY and sunday. February
10 Good 10 r.tst.- nail Nfonds ~ fr.ta-r-