The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-10
Times-Dlspatch Bureau.
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Washington, d. c.. Feb. Q.
The annual effort, which Is made by
citizens of Washington to obtain some
relief from oppressive conditions I'm
posed upon the capital of the nation
by the public service corporations Is
rather more strenuous this year than
heretofore. though it cannot be said
that there is better prospect of sue
cess The struggle for cheaper gas,
for better street railway service. for
cheaper telephone service. is at its
climax. 1t looks as though there would
be some Improvement in the street
railway service, by the enactment OF
legislation requiring the various lines
to grant universal transfers. But this
benefit will only be granted upon pay
ment of cash fare of cents.
Congress is the Common Council and
Board of Aldermen of Washington 1t
might be thought that the national
lawmaking body, charged with the duty
of government of the capital of the
country, would endeavor to make this
the model municipality of the United
States--an object lesson to every other.
AS matter Of fact, Washington is
probably the worst governed city in the
country. 1t is hopelessly ruled by the
ScI ppI WIZ IldNt
valuable franchises, which cost them
nothing, are practically untaxed.. and
yet the SERVED rendered is In many
cases hopelessly bad. and in all cases
far more costly than would be allowed
in other cities where conditions are
practically the same.
GEs Extortion.
The householders pay s1.25 per 1000
cubic feet for gas. with a discount of
rs per cent. If the bill is paid within
ten days. The citizens are demanding
gas at cheaper rate, and since the
enormous profits of the gas lighting
company on highly watered stock have
leaked out, the demand is still more
insstent.
The Senate and House Committees on
the District of Columbia are not show
Ing any indication of having heard
the demand. 1t is impossible to induce
several of the members OF the com
mittee to indicate in the slightest
manner the position they occupy on
the cheaper gas proposition. Other
cities report cheap gas. some OF them
way down as low as GO cents, yet the
committees refuse to heed, and con-
tinue to force the citizens of the Dis
trict TO pay twice as much per thou
sand feet as is paid in some other
cities
High Phone Charges.
The telephone system is fairly good.
The cost to the subscribers is very
heavy. The flat rate for residence
'pnones is siS a year. But the COM
pany will not make flat rate for
office phones. 1t is far more profit
able to follow the system adopted
some years ago. This allows the sub
scriber to be charged a fixed sum for
a certain number of calls, and all over
that number to be charged for at a
certain rate as excess.
The average contract for office
phones provides for 1900 calls year,
and all in excess of that are to be
paid for at the rate of three cents
call. Eighteen hundred calls are ex-
hausted long before the year ends.
Fifteen dollars month is not an un-
usual charge for a phone in business
office.
Congress will not take any action
to relieve the situation. Repeated Of
forts have been made to secure relief. |
When there Is any great amount Of
talk of cheaper telephone legislation
It is always noticeable that dis
-inguished appearing gentleman. very
nearly at the head OF big telephone
appears at the Capitol. He
knows many Senator'S personally, and
of them. There are talks in the Mar |
BILE Room, frequently followed by
lunch in the basement. But there
is never telephone legislation In the |
interest of the subscribers
UnspeHlsabic Street Car Service.
Ihe street car situation is unspealt- !
able. such service as Is rendered by