The Washington herald., 1907-07-04
RECALLS OLD CHARGE
Complaint Is Filed Against
w, A. & {. C. Road.
EXCESSIVE RATES REDUCED
Virginia Corporation Commission
Ordered Company 10 Put on More
and Larger Cars-Cnse still Open
on Docket for Further Inyestiga-
tiOn-Demnnd Immediate Action.

! Charges alleging inefficient service and
excessive rates were preferred against
/ the Washington, Arlington and Falls
Church Railroad six months ago by At
torney r. c. L. Moncure, on behalf of
/ the patrons Of the road These charges
were taken up and an investigation or
dered by the Corporation Commission Of
/ the State of Virginia. Hearings were
/ held in the Alexandra County courthouse.
/ Attorney MonCure prosecuting the case.
Three months ago Judge Crump, chair
/ man OF the commission. handed down a
| decision reducing the fares, ordering the
company TO put on larger cars. and re-
quirng Il 70 file with the commission
| complete schedule Of rates and time table,
and TO print and distribute the same for
/ the benefit OF the public.
| The new schedule, put into effect Sun
/ day morning, which, 1t was said. IS In
/ large part responsible for yesterdays
| wreck. and which was the one held IN
1 view by the commission. has not yet been
| printed for public distribution, at least
not within the knowledge Of the patrons.
for whom It was intended.
/ The changes in rates ordered by the
| commission cut the fares in half
Twelve cents TO Clarendon was reduced
/ 70 a maximum OF cents, and other points
along the line were pToportionately re-
Iduced.
New Railroad Law.
/ The decision was given under the new
Virginia railroad law. Copies Of it were
/ fled in the Commissions record and with
/ the company and Attorney Moncure.
one OF It's most significant features. in
view Of yesterdays accident is the fact
/ that the case was kept on the docket for
further examination and orders, If this
was necessary. or another complaint was
+ lodged This clause enlarges the posi-
biity Of the commissions taking action
on the wreck The commission is other
wise empowered 20 order an investiga-
ton in all such railroad cases within its
/ jurisdiction.
Attorney MOncuTe announced yesterday
afternoon his intention Of Immediately
/ taking the matter up again with the
commission for action. The recent de-
cisi0n is as follows:
/ The Commission Is Of opinion that the
/ net earnings Of the defendant railway
/ company from all the lines operated by it,
derived by deducting all operating ex-
penses and taxes from the gross passen-
ger revenue. constitute an exceedingly
. profitable return upon the capital actually
invested In the property Of the corpora
/ ton. and that the travel upon and earnings
I OF tho road viii steadily Increase with
/ reasonable fares and under proper man
aComgnt.
/ That the present system Of passenger
/ fares I'm effect on the defendant railway
/ is complicated and confusing and
fines the passenger traffic
very largely TO its reEula 49,
deprlves the road Of some revenu s...-I
/ it would otherwise acquire from occa-
sional or casual travel
Must Publish Rates.
1T appearing in the evidence that the
defendant railway company is construct
I ing a connecting line by which its lines IN
| Alexandria and Fairfax counties will he
connected with the tracks of the Wash
/ lngtou, Alexandria and Mount Vernon
Railway. thereby giving its patrons
through travel over the tracks Of the
[ last named road on the new bridge over
| the Potomac, into the lower part Of
Washington. instead of landing its pas
s1ugers as is now done. al R0sslyn. the
east end OF the AqueduCt Bridge over
/ the Potomac. the commission orders
I that so soon as the connecting line is
completed and put into operation the
defendant railway company shall after
arranging its passenger rates in accord
ance with this order. print, In convenient
form. all its various passenger fares for
public distribution.
1.-THE commission IS of the opinion that
better accommodations should be provided
( by the defendant company during the
rush hours in the morning and evening,
! especially on the line known as its main
line. and. II it should prove necessary,
| that additional cars should be put on
/ during the heavy travel in the morning
aud evening hours; and that all Of the
larger cars recently purchased by the
company should be placed in use and
operation as early as practicable"